I will confess right now that unlike many of the H4U team, instead of immediately celebrating the harvest for these recent Hope For Events (H4U) on August 11 and 13, 2023, I viewed it with some skepticism. Based on my own experience, I’ve responded to altar calls not just once, but several times. Those times, I had not been assured that salvation was mine to keep.

I viewed it as an emotional high, and faith is not based on emotions. I found it difficult to fully agree that it was a success and I asked the Lord why I felt that way. I very much wanted to fully celebrate with everyone.

I was saddened knowing that some of those who came forward to profess need for the Lord were probably influenced by peer pressure or simply felt an emotional high. I wondered who among those who came forward would actually continue to live for Christ as they prayed to accept Jesus those nights. But I also believed that there were those who really needed Jesus and wholeheartedly gave their lives to Christ. There were those whom God will raise to become leaders. I truly believed that. But I didn’t know how many. And that saddened me.

I was reminded of the Parable of the Sower. Some seed fell on the wayside, some on stony places, some among thorns, and some on good ground. I’ve been a recipient of the seed, of God’s gospel, and I have been all these kinds of soil. As a youth, I heard the Gospel many times but didn’t understand it. I’ve received God’s word emotionally and joyfully, but it only lasted a short while. I’ve received the good news, but trials and persecution caused me to stumble. And I’ve been through a phase where the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choked me and I was unfruitful. The devil was very happy during those times. Yet these very failures were times that helped me to become strong in my faith. They were teaching and learning opportunities. God did not give up on me.

So when I confessed my skepticism to the Lord, and asked why, this is how He changed my heart:

• H4U is the Lord’s event. He is the One who calls on the people.
• The Lord knows their hearts, and He will be the One who will continue to work in their hearts. He is not taken by surprise.
• Just like I went through phases of “soil”, some of the listeners may go through their own phases.
• The Lord is sovereign.
• The Lord is faithful.
• The Lord is not disappointed.
• The Lord will not give up on them because He loves them much, much more than I do.

Truly, one of the most important work during these events is the capture of personal information after the altar call so that the local churches can follow up with these new believers and disciple them. The new believers need nurturing. They need guidance. They need feeding. They need assurance. And if not everyone gets connected with a church, it is the Lord who will continue to pursue them.

I am thankful for this experience of H4U with all of the team. I thank the Lord because He is sovereign. I thank the Lord for the obedience of this team to be workers for the harvest. I entrust the new believers in the care of the Lord. As Bill Bright, the founder of Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) said, “Success in witnessing is simply taking the initiative to share Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, and leaving the results to God.”

God is very good! I am looking forward to other evangelistic opportunities!

Matthew 13:3-9

3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

Matthew 13:18-23

18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”