CANTON − Pastor and evangelist Greg Laurie will bring a free Harvest Crusade event to Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium this summer.
The June 13 event will feature live worship and popular contemporary Christian music artists Chris Tomlin and Jeremy Camp.
Laurie announced the Stark County visit on social media and the Harvest website, describing it as a large-scale, one-night evangelistic event.
The event is free and open to the public. It will include a gospel message from Laurie “and an invitation for attendees to make a personal commitment to Jesus Christ,” a press release said.
The event also will be streamed and available at harvest.org and the Harvest+ app.
“What a night this is gonna to be,” Laurie said in a Facebook video. “So start praying for this event … let’s be praying to God (who) will bless it in a powerful way.”
“We’re seeing a remarkable openness to spiritual things among this generation,” Laurie said in the announcement. “My prayer is that the Harvest Crusades add fuel to the fire, so to speak, of the spiritual awakening we’re seeing across our nation.”
What is a Harvest Crusade?
“The Harvest Crusade is designed to bring hope to individuals and families across Ohio through the clear presentation of the gospel,” the press release said. “Attendees are encouraged to invite friends, neighbors and loved ones to experience an evening of worship and community.
“In addition, each Harvest Crusade is supported by local churches and volunteers, and the June 13 event was scheduled at the invitation of Ohio pastors and church leaders.”
Tomlin performed in 2024 at Canton Memorial Civic Center as part of a national tour.
Who is Greg Laurie?
Laurie, 73, is prominent pastor and Christian author. He has nearly 600,000 subscribers on YouTube and 1.6 million Facebook followers.
He is the founder and main speaker of the Harvest Crusades, senior pastor of Harvest Church, host of nationally syndicated radio and television programs, and a bestselling author and inspiration for the 2023 “Jesus Revolution” film from Lionsgate.
Laurie has co-authored books, including “Jesus Revolution: How God Transformed an Unlikely Generation and How He Can Do It Again Today” and “The Upside Down Church.” He’s also authored books, including “Wrestling with God: Prayer That Never Gives Up.”
He preached during AmericaFest, the first Turning Point USA summit following the death of Turning Point founder Charlie Kirk.
Harvest Crusades have drawn more than 6 million
While the Canton event is free, the Harvest website says donations can be made to support it.
Started in 1990, Harvest Crusades combine worship music, gospel preaching and a call to faith in Jesus, the news release said.
More than 100 Harvest Crusade events have happened in the U.S., Canada, New Zealand and Australia, with more than 6 million attending, the organization said.
“These events are intentionally designed to be accessible, welcoming and free to attend, with a focus on inviting those who may not regularly attend church to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ,” the announcement said. “Recent Harvest Crusades held at Angel Stadum in Anaheim, (California) and Utah Valley University in Orem, (Utah) have filled venues to capacity and overflow.”
Reach Ed at ebalint@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Evangelist Greg Laurie bringing Harvest Crusade to Tom Benson Stadium
Reporting by Ed Balint, Canton Repository / The Repository
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
