Winter campaign goes on without Winter

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C.

A Terry Winter evangelistic campaign scheduled for Feb. 16-21 in Prince George, B.C. might have been cancelled when Winter died unexpectedly last December. However, the $150,000 needed for Prince George Alive had already been raised, and the 20 supporting churches decided to go ahead. David Macfarlane, senior pastor of Chilliwack Central MB Church in Chilliwack, B.C., was asked to serve as the main speaker. Macfarlane and British evangelist Michael Green had already been scheduled to lead the pre-campaign evangelism training in January, as they had done for previous Terry Winter crusades.

The campaign opened on Tuesday night with a banquet. Macfarlane spoke on "The Value of a True Friend", and 90 people made first-time commitments to Christ.

Wednesday night, over 800 people attended a piano concert with the Bowker Brothers. Macfarlane again gave the invitation, and over 40 people made first-time commitments.

The Thursday to Sunday night events were held in the Multiplex Arena. Saturday night was youth night, with Dave Currie of Northview Community Church in Abbotsford, B.C. speaking. Maralee Dawn, a children’s evangelist, led an outreach to children.

Juliana Thiessen, Miss Canadian Universe 1998, gave her testimony, as did Damon Allen, quarterback for the B.C. Lions football team, and Janice Croze, Winter’s daughter, who works with Youth For Christ in Vancouver. Other special music was by Kelita, Hiram Joseph, and The Suspenders (all Canadians). Silage (from Nashville, Tenn.) provided music for the youth night.

Attendance built throughout the event, with a near-capacity crowd of 4400 attending the final night. Macfarlane spoke on "Heaven Guaranteed", the topic Winter usually used to close his campaigns. The evening included a video of Winter speaking on heaven at a campaign in Red, Deer Alta. last October.

Altogether in the campaign, over 500 made first-time commitments to Christ. Another 1000 made recommitments or asked for further information. Those who responded were placed in nurturing groups for follow-up.

from reports by David Macfarlane and ChristianWeek

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