|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
WOW!!!!! I wish everyone reading this could have been with me at the FCA Fields of Faith at Shotwell Stadium in Abilene, TX on Wednesday night, October 8th. Over 7000 students (and leaders who care about students) filled the home-side seats there in Shotwell Stadium. It was a bright, clear night with absolutely perfect weather as the band, Burgundy Road, began the worship time. 3 amazing students gave their own testimonies, challenging their classmates from across the Big Country area. There were busloads of kids from many schools, including Abilene High, Cooper, Wylie, Jim Ned, Coleman, Hamlin, and as far away as Eastland. (That's just a partial list!)
Jon stood to preach the Truth: John 15:7 What it means to have true influence and live the powerful life that God wants for all who will trust in Him.
Then he asked everyone there to bow his or her head; he asked two questions that required the courage of raising a hand while no one looked but Jon. Then he literally said, "Just raising your hand doesn't mean you are right with God; now you have to put action behind your decision. I am going to count to 3, and if you raised your hand that you wanted to ask Jesus into your heart, you come now. There will be someone here to help you seal that decision. But don't come unless you really mean it. 123."
Just like that. No dramatic pauses between numbers, no emotion-driven music in the background. Just 123. And then they came. And came. And came. For almost 20 minutes they streamed down the aisles of the stadium onto the field. They huddled around Jon while he gave them instructions, then they headed toward the south endzone with counselors to accept Christ and be given an FCA Bible.
Next, Jon said, "Now, if you raised your hand that you want to rededicate your life and influence to Jesus Christ, to be a true disciple with every part of your life, I am going to count to 3 for you. Come let someone pray with you. 123."
The floodgates opened again. For 15 minutes, students lined up to come onto the playing field, to focus the way they play the game of Life this time. Jon prayed with them as well, and then sent them to the north endzone with counselors.
At some point, Burgundy Road began to play again, doing a great job of providing the perfect blanket of music so that counselors and seekers could create their own private moment in the midst of the many. Finally, as counselors gathered information on students to help them get plugged into the church of the student's choice, Jon turned the last of the service over to the band to lead in worship.
It was such a sweet and humbling worship. The Holy Spirit had moved across the stadium, and everyone was touched by His Power. Lives were changed, mine included.
Over 900 made decisions that will change their lives.
I wish you could have seen it...
|
This wonderful testimony came in to the JREA website by email. It is proof of the Power of God to radically change a life for His glory. I praise God for the friend who loved someone enough to "drag" them to church:
A little over 10 years ago Jon Randles came to a small town where I lived to do a revival. That week changed my life. Through the Spirit working in my
life, Jon was able to lead me to Christ when I was 13. I grew up in an abusive home, but a "church" home nonetheless. I had been told that God was like my father
and therefore I had an image of God as one who hated me and was waiting to destroy me. Jon spoke a message of love which is the true Gospel and I responded. I wanted
to take a moment and say thank you Jon for being obedient to Christ. I am now in my last year of seminary at where I am seeking a Masters. God has placed a desire within me to pursue full-time missions in Asia. I look back at my life and am amazed at what God has rescued me from. That night when I was 13 when my friend dragged me to church probably would have been my last night as I had been contemplating suicide for some time. How He has changed my life and I am so grateful for His ever amazing grace. So, Jon, thank you. Thank you for perserving through it all and continuing to share a Gospel of love and grace. Know that I have been praying for you for many years now and will continue to do so.
|
The week of March 2-5 Jon enjoyed a wonderful time of revival with FBC, Grapevine, Texas, where Mike Mowery is pastor. We have known Mike for several years, with Jon preaching for him at his church in Fort Collins, Colorado in the past.
The best part of the revival, however, was being with our son, Zack, who serves as Student Minister--and our wonderful daughter-in-law, Autumn. They have spent the last year developing a relationship with the neighbors in their apartment complex. As a result, 6 of their neighbors came on Wednesday night. Trudie, a 40-ish woman who came with her husband, asked Autumn during the Invitation, "I raised my hand (to accept Christ)--now what do I do?" Autumn led her to the front toward Zack and Zack put her with an older woman to counsel her. God was moving in such a powerful way! I felt so lucky to be a witness to that.
|
|
We rode a nice tail wind all the way home from El Paso on Saturday night. We had spent Friday and Saturday in Las Cruses, New Mexico working with AMI Ministries doing a Marriage Enrichment Conference. The couples were hungry for teaching, but also for encouragement! You never really want to think in the midst of your own family struggles that someday God plans to use them to encourage others not to give up. It just means we boast in our weaknesses, knowing that it is only by the grace of God that we have made it through thus far. Jon and I have been married for 30 years...through college, seminary, the birth of three children, sicknesses, moving, poverty, stupidity, victories, overexpectation, truth, growth...life is so full of the unexpected and the hoped for. We are not perfect, so we are glad to boast only of the testimony of Christ in our difficulties and frailties. He always saw us through! In 30 years He has managed to rub off all the grandious ideas that we "know it all," and has stripped us of the desire to judge others. Instead, we just encourage you to seek FIRST the Kingdom of God and His Righteous. Then, all these other things will be added to us. God bless you and your family to be a testimony of His enduring goodness.
|
|
The last few months have been a true blur! I have been able to go with Jon to Missouri, Idaho, and many churches around Texas. Every place we go, people are being brought to a saving knowledge of Christ. Jon's additional "job" as Director of Evangelism for the Baptist General Convention of Texas has added a new dimension to his ministry...teaching and compelling evangelism. It seems as though our state has put evangelizing the lost on a "back burner" and those without Christ are still starving to death for the Bread of Life. I feel so blessed and proud to be a part of this ministry.
|
|
The month of October took Jon all over the U.S., literally. The sweet people of College Heights Baptist Church in Soldotna, Alaska invited me to come with Jon and Justin Cofield (doing the music) for autumn in Alaska! I guess I thought Alaska only had two seasons: winter and not winter. But the leaves on the trees were indeed changing color and putting on their own show. Pastor Scott Coffman and his staff were very well prepared for Revival, targeting the many unsaved and unchurched men in their area. They began with a Men's Advance ("Women may retreat, but men advance") and included the men from the First Baptist Church in their sister city, Kenai. The Kenai pastor ended up bringing his people every night, and some of them came to Christ. To see the front of the church filled with men on their knees was amazing!
|
|
This "From the Road" section is being written by me, Kelly Randles, the famous red-headed wife! Now that all our kids are adults, I am able to travel with Jon more often. Because Jon is so busy, he is unable to blog or even type a line because of shortness of time. But that time is being incredibly well-spent reaching more people than ever for Christ.
|
|
|
|
Site Design by
|
|
|