Harvest Crusades/ Greg Laurie

Summary

Harvest Crusades ("Harvest") is dedicated to proclaiming the gospel through evangelistic crusades at various locations in the US and radio and television broadcasts ministries known as "A New Beginning with Greg Laurie." A New Beginning features Greg Laurie's humorous, practical and understandable teaching of God's Word. The half-hour radio program is designed to equip listeners with the necessary tools to live out their faith. Harvest Jam is another program that combines a Gospel presentation by Greg Laurie with the sounds of Christian alternative and pop artists. Harvest Crusades is related to Harvest Media Ministries and Harvest Christian Fellowship (a church). Harvest Online is the Internet outreach of Harvest Ministries. Harvest Crusades have been taking place since they began in 1990. Through God's direction, thousands have come to salvation in Jesus Christ. In 1996, the Harvest Crusades began to be broadcasted live in text, audio and video and have continued since. In early 1998, the Crusades bookstore was transferred to the Church. This organization is a nonprofit. Contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Contact Information: [ Back to top ]

Organization Details [ Back to top ]

Purpose [ Back to top ]

Harvest Crusades ("Harvest") is dedicated to proclaiming the gospel through evangelistic crusades at various locations in the US and radio and television broadcasts ministries known as "A New Beginning with Greg Laurie." A New Beginning features Greg Laurie's humorous, practical and understandable teaching of God's Word. The half-hour radio program is designed to equip listeners with the necessary tools to live out their faith. Harvest Jam is another program that combines a Gospel presentation by Greg Laurie with the sounds of Christian alternative and pop artists. Harvest Crusades is related to Harvest Media Ministries and Harvest Christian Fellowship (a church). Harvest Online is the Internet outreach of Harvest Ministries. Harvest Crusades have been taking place since they began in 1990. Through God's direction, thousands have come to salvation in Jesus Christ. In 1996, the Harvest Crusades began to be broadcasted live in text, audio and video and have continued since. In early 1998, the Crusades bookstore was transferred to the Church. This organization is a nonprofit. Contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Mission Statement [ Back to top ]

Harvest Ministries uses the following ot express its mission:

"Knowing God and making Him known." Our primary mission is to proclaim the gospel message simply and clearly through all available means and technologies and to bring believers into a full and mature relationship with Jesus Christ.

Program Accomplishments [ Back to top ]

These are the organization's program accomplishments as reported by Harvest Ministries:

All Harvest Crusades combined since 1990: Total Attendance - 2,372,850 (over 2 million); Decisions for Christ - 191,785.

Statement of Faith [ Back to top ]

Harvest Ministries is related to Harvest Christian Fellowship which subscribes to the following statement of faith:

We believe the Bible to be the only inspired, infallible, and authoritative Word of God.

We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ; in His virgin birth; in His sinless life; in His miracles; in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood; in His bodily resurrection; in His ascension to the right hand of the Father; and in His personal return in power and glory.

We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful man, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is essential, and that repentance from sin and acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is the only way to come into a relationship with God.

We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by Whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life. We further believe His power and gifts are available to believers today.

We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost: they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.

We believe it is important to uphold the Scriptural practices of the early church. Therefore, we hold to the practice of water baptism and the regular taking of communion. We do not believe that either of these practices is essential for salvation, but that they serve as a demonstration of our living faith in Christ.

History [ Back to top ]

Harvest Ministries grew out of the Harvest Christian Fellowship Church whose history is recorded as follows:

Harvest Christian Fellowship was started in 1972 as a Bible study of about 30 people, led by 19-year-old Greg Laurie. Greg Laurie's ministry began at Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa, the largest church in the state, under the tutelage of Pastor Chuck Smith. The Riverside Bible study soon grew too large for the facility, and so, by faith, the group lead by Greg, purchased land and buildings at 6115 Arlington Ave. Pastor Greg and the believers repaired the existing church and on first Sunday in 1974 that the church was open for services, the crowd filled it to overflowing. Speakers were placed outside the building and crowds gathered, even in the rain, to hear Pastor Greg Laurie teach from the word of God. By 1976, crowds on Sunday night were so large that services were moved to a local auditorium and plans were begun for a new sanctuary which was completed in 1979.

During this time, in addition to the several Sunday services, bible studies were being held during the week at both the church and in area homes. Pastor Greg also preached the gospel in local parks and stadiums, such as a July 1978 concert at a community college stadium, attended by 5,000-7,000 people during which many made decisions for Christ. Also that year, a Harvest Crusade style Celebration was held in Hawaii where over 500 decisions were made for Christ.

In 1982, Calvary Chapel Riverside became Harvest Christian Fellowship and the sanctuary added seating for an additional 1,000 people to accommodate the overflowing crowds attending the 3 services on Sunday. "A New Beginning" radio program, begun a few years before to reach other areas with the good news of Jesus Christ, was now regularly heard on seven radio stations.

In addition to teaching and preaching, Pastor Greg continued to reach out with the gospel to other areas of the United States and other countries. In 1983, for example, Pastor Greg went to New York, New Jersey, Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington DC to preach and share the gospel. Over the next several years, Harvest Christian Fellowship grew and expanded its ministry in the community to share the gospel with people in jails, convalescent homes, hospitals and by God's grace to minister to those who came to the church with other physical and spiritual needs.

Now, with weekly attendance of more than 15,000 people, Harvest Christian Fellowship has grown into one of the eighth largest churches in America, according to the International Megachurch Research Center. Harvest has become the third largest church in the state of California.

Since then, over 2 million people have heard Laurie speak at Harvest Crusades in California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, New Mexico, Hawaii, Colorado, New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Illinois, and Florida. Through these crusades, over 168,000 people have indicated that they have made a decision to commit their lives to Jesus Christ.

The crusades have outgrown even Laurie's expectations. From the early years of his ministry, his passion has been to preach the Gospel to as many people as is humanly possible, and to train and equip others to do the same. The ministry of Harvest Crusades has undeniably been blessed and used by God in a unique way.

The trademark of a Greg Laurie program, whether it be a Sunday morning church service or a stadium crusade, is the contemporary, yet straightforward, style and format. All programs feature contemporary music, concise messages from the Bible, and an informal atmosphere. All of this contributes to an entertaining and non-threatening environment that attracts people of all ages, but particularly young people.

Pastor Laurie is also the featured speaker on the nationally syndicated daily radio program entitled "A New Beginning."

He is sought after as a speaker for churches and conferences, and is a regular speaker at The Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove, in Asheville, North Carolina, and the Billy Graham School of Evangelism. He serves on the board of directors of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

Laurie has authored several books, including The New Believer's Bible; Life. Any Questions?; The Great Compromise; Every Day With Jesus; On Fire; The Invisible World; Five Minutes with Jesus; Discipleship: Giving God Your Best; The New Believer's Growth Book; The God of the Second Chance: Experiencing Forgiveness; and his most recent book The Upside-Down Church. Whether speaking or writing, Laurie is gifted with the ability to apply biblical principles to current events in a way that is relevant and easily understood by people of all ages from all walks of life.

Ministry Needs [ Back to top ]

This organization has not offered MinistryWatch.com with specific needs to be posted on the profile. At such a time that MinistryWatch.com receives a response from the ministry, it will be posted immediately.

Research Analysis

Transparency Grade [ Back to top ]

MinistryWatch.com 5 Star Financial Efficiency Ratings [ Back to top ]

Ranking Category	Rating	Overall Rank	Evangelism Sector
Overall Efficiency Rating		4 of 348	1 of 28
Fund Acquisition Decision		4 of 348	1 of 28
Resource Allocation Decision		of 348	12 of 28
Asset Utilization Decision		of 348	12 of 28