Tent crusade starts Sunday
By SHERRY DIGMON
News Staff Writer
The end of this week, you’ll see the big tent going up in Rivercane. Sunday night, the first service will be held.
For months, organizers have been meeting, praying, and praying some more for the Fire in the Field tent crusade set for Sunday through Thursday, October 7-11.
Several area churches are sponsoring the crusade. Among local clergy and laymen taking lead roles are Pastor Cornelius Phillips, Rev. Dr. Kenny Moore, Rev. Arnold Hendrix, Rev. Jim Thorpe, Don McDonald, Pastor Gene King, Don Metzler, Pastor Trevor Daughtry, Tom Tschida.
Evangelist Ken Freeman will bring the message each evening. The son of an alcoholic mother and an absentee father, Freeman’s life was filled with abuse and neglect. Often times he and his sister would be left for days while his mother satisfied her addiction to alcohol and possible other drugs. Other times she’d leave them with a boyfriend who would physically and sexually abuse them. There were times he thought about suicide. Other times he thought about murder. His life seemed out of control. Freeman spent his life running, trying to survive. He was bitter, hurt, and alone.
Despite a horrifying childhood, Freeman defied all odds with one choice that would change his life forever, his decision to accept Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. With that one choice Freeman’s years of mental and physical abuse turned from a useless mess, to a powerful message.
He has been in the ministry for over 30 years, serving as a youth leader for about 12 years, and an evangelist for well over 25 years.
Freeman and his wife Debbie have two children and eight grandchildren.
Thanks to Hurricane Florence, the musician who was scheduled from the beginning has had to change his plans. Gerald Simmons is an insurance adjuster and is needed elsewhere next week.
In his stead, Brandon and Jennifer Johnson from Pensacola will lead the singing each night.
Brandon was born into ministry, traveling with his parents throughout much of the southeastern United States as full-time evangelists. In recent years, he has served as the full-time music director at World Harvest Church in Columbus, Ohio, and Lake City Pentecostal Holiness Church in Lake City, SC. They have also led worship for northeastern North Carolina Assemblies of God camp meetings as well as the South Carolina International Pentecostal Holiness Church state convention. The Johnsons are gifted in a broad array of music ministry, including contemporary praise and worship, southern gospel, and everything in between.
They have been married for 10 years and have three children.
The Sunday night service will be held at 6 p.m. Services Monday through Thursday will be held at 7 p.m. Just look for the big tent behind Hardees on Highway 21.