One Night

Some Came Merely for a Freebie…and
Left with the Greatest Free Gift Ever Offered

Some came for the free stuff, and there was plenty of it…computers, surround sound systems, iPods and tons of gift cards. Some showed up for the tunes, and hip hop artist Kaboose and The Spark delivered in resounding fashion with music that made the junior high and high schoolers jump, dance and sway. Some were there for the huge, colorful inflatables, blissfully bouncing until they had no bounce left. Some arrived to release their pent-up energy by taking sledgehammers to an old car, piano and television. Some entered the gates for the chance to win $15,000 by making a series of basketball shots. Some came for the free pizza and soda. Some might have even been there to worship God.
It really didn’t matter why they came. The only thing that mattered was that they were there. At church. On a Wednesday night. Twelve hundred of them. Suddenly, leaders at Kenosha First Assembly of God Church in Kenosha, Wisconsin, had an awesome opportunity, privilege and responsibility all wrapped up into one. Well over 1,000 junior high and high school students, many of whom had not set foot in a church in their entire life, represented a captive audience for a presentation of the gospel. Some of the kids might have been hearing that message for the first time.
Once the music died down, the lights stopped flashing and the last freebie was handed out, Pastor Jon Brown stepped onto the stage. After encouraging kids to be respectful and give him their undivided attention for a few minutes, he began by comparing a high-definition television with a BWHOJ (black-and-white hunk of junk). He explained to the students that if they believe the lie that the party life is the HD life, then they’re getting ripped off. The real HD life is the one that can only be found through faith in Jesus Christ.
“If you only knew,” he pleaded from the stage, “that there is something better out there – life in HD – full and in living color. Maybe some of us think we’re living the HD life, but deep down inside we feel empty, broken and hopeless. Satan’s lie is that you don’t need God…that you can do it on your own. But you’re getting ripped off. The real HD life comes to you for free. All you have to do is take it.”
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page 1 of article written by Timm Boyle
(for more on this story: www.ag.org )