[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 148 (Friday, November 15, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2070]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E2070]]
    TRIBUTE TO GREG LAURIE PASTOR AND FOUNDER OF HARVEST CHRISTIAN 
         FELLOWSHIP EVANGELIST AND FOUNDER OF HARVEST CRUSADES

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 14, 2002

  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an 
individual whose dedication to the community and to the spiritual well-
being of Southern California, the nation and the world is exceptional. 
Southern California has been fortunate to have dynamic and dedicated 
community leaders who willingly and unselfishly give time and talent to 
making their communities a better place to live and work. Greg Laurie 
is one of these individuals. The week of November 24th will mark 30 
years of dedicated service and Greg's work will be celebrated by his 
family, friends, colleagues, church members, and all those whose lives 
he has touched through his work.
  Greg Laurie is a native of Southern California, born in Long Beach on 
December 10, 1952. His interest in the ministry began with a girl he 
followed into Bible study. At 19 he committed his life to Jesus Christ 
and grew a Bible study of 30 people into a church of more than 15,000 
people. Greg is senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in 
Riverside, California, the eighth largest church in America. As a 
pastor, Greg has sought to meet the challenges and opportunities of 
religion in the 21st century. In his 30 years of faithful service to 
the Harvest Christian Fellowship he has provided unwavering spiritual 
support and guidance.
  In addition to his work in the church, Greg sought out a way to 
present the gospel of Jesus Christ to Southern Californians in a non-
traditional, non-church environment. With the help of a fellow 
colleague, Greg began the Harvest Crusades, a multi-night event of 
upbeat music, genuine worship, and a clear presentation of biblical 
messages. The first Harvest Crusades saw more than 90,000 people 
attend. Since that time, crowds totaling over 2.8 million people have 
attended Harvest Crusades in California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, 
New Mexico, Hawaii, Colorado, New York, Pennsylvania, Florida and North 
Carolina. In May of 2000, Harvest Crusades ventured outside the U.S. 
for the first time to present Harvest 2000 in Wollongong, Australia. 
Tens of thousands more people have participated in the Harvest Crusades 
via the Internet.
  Besides conducting evangelistic crusades, Harvest Ministries sponsors 
A New Beginning, an international daily radio program with messages by 
Greg Laurie, as well as a weekly television program, Harvest: Greg 
Laurie. Greg also serves as a board member of the Billy Graham 
Evangelistic Association and Samaritan's Purse. At the Billy Graham 
Atlanta Crusade in 1994, Dr. Graham stated ``The media have been 
writing Greg Laurie up as the man who is going to be the evangelist of 
the future-and he is.''
  In recognition of Greg's exemplary work as a minister and evangelist, 
his 30th anniversary as pastor will be a week long celebration of 
programs, activities and ceremonies. Greg's tireless work has 
contributed unmeasurably to the spiritual well-being and betterment 
Southern California and the world. His outstanding involvement in the 
community makes me proud to call him a fellow community member, 
American and friend.

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