The Apostle Paul speaks very clearly about the call of the evangelist in Ephesians 4:11-12 (KJV): “And he gave some, apostles; and some prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” On the afternoon of April 24, 1992, I got down on my knees and surrendered my life to my Lord to give the rest of my life to do the work of the evangelist. Yes, it has been very hard, but it was also very hard for the Lord Jesus to empty Himself of the glories of Heaven to walk among men and to then allow religious leaders to crucify Him on an old, rugged CROSS for sins that He did not commit!
On a daily basis, I must die to myself in order to be alive in Christ Jesus so that I can be His representative to this spiritually lost world! The Apostle Paul speaks powerfully once again in Galatians 2:20 (KJV): “I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” As I look the men in the eye each week in the place of incarceration, I tell them that if my Lord asked me to die for them so that they can have an abundant life here and eternal life in heaven with Him, I would gladly do so!
Oh, how I wish that you could see them making prayer requests and then laying hands on their fellow inmates and praying for them! Oh, how I wish that you could see them singing the great song Amazing Grace! Oh, how I wish that you could see the men reading the text for the message! Oh, how I wish that you could see them hanging on my every word as I share the gospel message with them! Oh, how I wish that you could see them during the time of invitation as they pray to be Born Again and to recommit their lives to their Lord! Oh, how I wish that you could see them coming to me after the service and thanking me for coming! Many of them are crying tears of relief as they have truly repented of their sins! Many of them are crying tears of great joy as the mighty powerful Holy Spirit has touched their hearts! One young man came to me this past week and said: “Boy, was that message for me!” One young man wrote on his decision card as a prayer request: “To be cleansed from my sins again, to resist all of the devil’s temptations, to be the way the Lord created me to be, to have assurance I am one of His kids.” One of the leaders in the facility recently stated to me: “We do not have the problems here that other facilities have because we bring men like you in here to preach the gospel.” Then, he asked me this question: “Can you tell me why I can feel the power of the Holy Spirit in here, but I cannot find a church where I feel His presence?” I responded: “Why should the Holy Spirit go where He is not welcome?”
Pastor John Rogers just told me that he and his wife, Tina, were going through a drive thru restaurant four days before Christmas and the young lady who served them said: “I know who you are! You are the man who got me saved at First Priority!” Yes, after over 21 years, Pastor John has personally seen several thousand young people who have truly been Born Again! He has graciously asked me to assist him on Friday morning, Jan. 21, at Westview Middle School in Morristown. Will you please pray passionately that young men and women will be saved on that day?
The Mid-Winter Bible Conference sponsored by the Toonie Cash Evangelistic Association will begin this coming Wednesday night Jan. 12 in Johnson City, TN. Evangelists from across the state of TN will be there. Churches from the area will be hosting the evangelists this coming Sunday, Jan. 16. I am honored to be serving alongside Pastor Jim Chapman of Calvary Baptist Church in Johnson City. Please pray for a great harvest of souls this coming week!
JESUS is coming very soon! I do not want to see anyone leave this life and live forever in the place called HELL! Will you please pray that our great God will continue to divinely and sovereignly place this soul-winner right where He needs me the greatest? I dearly love and respect the very few people who stand with me! Thank you!
For Souls Forever In Heaven,
Jeffrey L. Harvel
2 Timothy 4:1-5
Jeff Harvel 