May 27, 2002

Metroplex Mission leaders urged to rescue the spiritually perishing
___By George Henson
___Staff Writer
___ARLINGTON--Helping non-Christians see Jesus is more important than helping Christians see Billy Graham, a motivational speaker told organizers of Graham's Metroplex Mission in October.
___Graham will preach at Texas Stadium Oct. 17-20. A broad representation of Christian churches is working together to prepare for the event.
___The emphasis in preparation must be on inviting non-Christians to hear Graham, said Ron Hutchcraft, whom the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association brought to address about 400 Metroplex church leaders at First Baptist Church of Arlington.
___God wants to rescue people who are perishing in sin, he said, but Christians must reach out to those in need.
___He called participants to "be a part of the rescue mission (Jesus) started by giving his life."
___Hutchcraft compared the situation to the sinking of the Titanic.
___Most of the lifeboats that left the scene of the sinking ship were not full, and many were only about half full, he said. Many people in life jackets called out, but those in the lifeboats were afraid and simply kept paddling themselves to safety. When a rescue boat finally made it to the scene, he said, 328 people were found floating in the water in life jackets--dead and frozen.
___"They didn't die because the Titanic sank; they survived that. They died because the people who were already saved wouldn't go back for the dying," Hutchcraft said. "Today, there are many more outside the lifeboat than are in it. Who will say, 'I'm turning my lifeboat around?'" he asked.
___The difference between the Titanic and life in Texas today is that many of those who are lost and dying don't know it, he warned.
___"They're dying and going to hell, but they don't know it. Billy Graham knows, but he doesn't live in their neighborhood, go to work with them every day, see them at school. But you do. Do you know why you work where you do, ... live where you do, ... go to school where you do? Because you were assigned to be placed there by Jesus Christ."
___Because of that God-given assignment, Christians must both show and tell, he urged.
___Living an exemplary life is not enough, he said. "You can be the best Christian ever, but nobody is ever going to look at you and say: 'Bobby is such a nice guy. Jesus must have died on a cross for my sins.' You're going to have to tell them."
___Hutchcraft asked participants to pray daily for God to open a door, a natural opportunity to talk about Jesus; open a heart, for the person to be ready to hear; and to "open my mouth," to overcome fear and share the gospel.
___

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