HOPE FOR AMERICA ~

By Laura Johnston ~ Southeast Missourian

Author Tim LaHaye said he can feel the Holy Spirit moving across the nation as he travels the country speaking to audiences about his books in the "Left Behind" series.

On Thursday night, as people stepped from their seats and answered an invitation to accept salvation, members of the audience at the Hope for America crusade bowed their heads in prayer.

Each night at the close of the service, counselors have walked forward to greet those who come to make professions of faith or rededicate their lives to Christ. They take down names and addresses to make follow-up calls and referrals for churches participating in the crusade.

Each person who comes forward should receive a note mailed the following day by a counselor as well as by a phone call of encouragement. The volunteers, who ranged in ages and professions, received special training prior to the crusade.

The Rev. Johnny Seabaugh of the Good News Christian Center led the training sessions. Each counselor had to be a born-again Christian and a member of a church supporting or participating in the crusade.

Crucial moment

People who come forward during an invitation "are at a crucial point in their lives," Seabaugh said. And they don't want to be preached to then -- they've already heard the word of God, he said.

It take a lot of guts to come from seats in the top rows down to the stage.

"We have to be sensitive to that," Seabaugh said.

Holy Spirit's work

LaHaye said he can see God at work, even in Cape Girardeau.

"The Holy Spirit is doing work in America," he said Thursday night. Crusades and revivals can be the "the launching pad for the gospel."

LaHaye's best-selling series "Left Behind" gives a fictional account of Revelation and the tribulation period before Jesus' second coming. The tenth book in the series is due out in July, and two more will follow: "The Remnant" and "Glorious Appearing," due in 2003 and 2004.

About 1,800 worshippers celebrated God and country during the fourth night of the Hope for America crusade at the Show Me Center. LaHaye continued his two-part message about God's mercy as shown in biblical prophecy. Tonight's service is at 7 p.m. with John Hagee.

Veterans were honored during the service, which included the Pledge of Allegiance and the song "God Bless America." Firefighters and police officers also were recognized.

As a great world power, America has done much to share the gospel with the world, LaHaye said.

"And as long as we are faithful to the word of God, then he will work to protect America."

People should understand that God designed the tribulation to reveal his mercy, LaHaye said.

"You must understand God because your understanding of God determines everything else in your life -- the way you look at life and the future," he said.

And people today have had their sense of security shaken after the events of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. "We've been shaken from a false sense of security," and the only real security comes from knowing Jesus, he said.

ljohnston@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126