Hunter Harvest a heavenly spectacle

The Newcastle Entertainment Centre has hosted rock bands, basketball games and school extravaganzas, but in early September it was filled by the churches of the Hunter Valley.

Over four nights from September 8 to 11, over 25,000 people filled the Entertainment Centre for the Hunter Harvest. This spectacle harked back to the old-time revivals and the Billy Graham crusades, but with up-to-the-minute technology.

Much of the show played like a modern rock concert: laser lights strobed the audience and a computer animation flashed clouds, water and fire.

Though older members of the church were there in strength, the four nights were claimed by youth and young families, some with established church connections and some just curious to see what it was about. The event was completely free, offered by Harvest Ministries, churches and local business as a gift to people of the Hunter Valley.

Each night, a worship band began by playing contemporary songs of praise. International Christian artists Rebecca St James and Delirious? performed sets, as did local artists Steve Grace and Planetshakers.

The night’s centrepiece, though, was a message delivered by American evangelist Greg Laurie. His message was simple: in the Bible and in Jesus we find a solution to the problems and anxieties that confront us.

These sentiments struck a chord with many audience members; at the nightly altar call, hundreds of people streamed to the front to make new commitments or rededicate their lives.

Reading the extensive coverage in the local papers and watching the news, you could see this event make an impact on the popular consciousness. Everybody in the Hunter knew that the Church was doing something big, whatever their response.

And, at the heart of the massive production were local Uniting Church members joining with Christians from all denominations.

The Harvest Story began in 2003 when Greg Laurie and his team from Harvest ministries in America brought a rally to Newcastle. The public response was overwhelming — the Saturday night gathering broke the venue’s attendance record.

When planning began for a 2005 rally, congregations in the Hunter Presbytery decided that this time they wanted to be a part of it.

Whitebridge Uniting Church was particularly active. Members of the congregation discussed Harvest at a prayer meeting, raised money for Harvest and sent seven of its members as volunteers.

Sue Warren, Chris Sheehan and Jenny McKinnley sang in the choir, while Peter and Anne Ferguson, and Greg and Jeanette Yates were all involved in the counselling process.

Peter Ferguson was particularly impressed with Harvest’s desire to be “more than a fly by night thing”.

The follow-up process was really important. “After Harvest does its job,” said Mr Ferguson, “it’s up to the churches to do theirs.”

Every person who went forward at one of the rallies had the opportunity to indicate whether they were looking for a church in their area. This information was then communicated to representatives from churches that had registered with Harvest (including many Hunter Uniting Churches) who then arranged for follow-up contact.

Through this process, interested people could be welcomed into a Christian community. “It’s a great witness to Newcastle,” said Whitebridge member Mike Warren. “A wonderful and life-changing experience. There aren’t a great deal of places where young people can experience Christianity en masse — to see that the church is bigger than four walls.”

Many church members I spoke to echoed this sentiment. While not personally able to engage with the slick presentation or readily digestible theology, they saw in Harvest, something that would benefit others; show a different church culture.
Richard, a youth worker at St Luke’s in Belmont, took a group of ten teenagers to Harvest on the Saturday. “Here’s one opportunity for them to make a commitment,” said Richard, “and to hear the gospel in a way that’s effective for some people.”

For some of Richard’s group, the experience was about entertainment — good music and big crowds. For others, the experience was potentially life changing, with at least one member deciding to start taking his faith more seriously.

Walking around the Entertainment Centre before and after Harvest, I could see why it was so appealing to youth. The large concert venue offered the sensory stimulation they are used to, as well as the anonymity of crowds, but also a sense that here was a safe place.

Hunter Uniting Youth Fellowship member Brad Shaw spoke of his enthusiasm for Harvest: “I had this exciting image when people were being led down the front … All different types of people were streaming down through the aisles. Tall, short, young, old, black, white.

“I imagined that this is what will happen in heaven. Lives fixed on God. All singing, all dancing, all excited.”

Matt Fenwick grew up in the Hunter Region and currently works at the Justice Policy Research Centre in the University of Newcastle.