Crusade bringing God's message to SETX

LIBERTY— With the mission of bringing communities together, a three-month-long evangelistic crusade named Go Tell Southeast Texas arrives in the area. 

Rick Gage, founder of Go Tell Ministries Inc. and Go Tell Crusades, Inc., created Go Tell America to visit small communities around the country to bring together different Christian denominations to spread the Word of God. 

With 34 churches already involved, events span over a few months in preparation for the April Go Tell Southeast Texas worship services. 

"Their goal is to reach the smaller communities and to bring the word of God to the people that don't normally get included," volunteer Pam Braschear said. "In our world today, we feel like that is something so needed because people have kinda strayed away as a whole." 

There are about 12 preparation teams for the three-month-long event. Teams range from counselors to banquet coordinators to church coordinators. 

"We're trying to build a large coalition of local churches there in that region," Gage said. "It takes an army of people to put these campaigns together and impact a community." 

Gage approaches his crusades similarly to Billy Graham, but he focuses on small towns and small communities. 

"People in rural areas just kinda get overlooked, and their lives are important too," Braschear said. 

The Kick-Off Banquet is the first major event for GO TELL SETX and is a fundraiser for the four-day crusade in April. The banquet will feature a silent auction and guest speaker Levi Skipper, head pastor of Sagemont Church in Houston. 

"I have been absolutely amazed at the things that people have so generously donated," Braschear said. "We will have items ranging from the retail value of $10 up to $5,000." 

Braschear further explained one woman donated eight pieces of jewelry totaling about $19,000. 

If interested in attending, tickets can be purchased individually or tables or available for purchase. Individual tickets are $25, two are $45 and a table for eight is $500. 

To purchase tickets for the banquet, contact Trinity River Baptist Association or Braschear. Both contacts are listed below. If interested in an auction item, but are unable to attend, contact Braschear. 

"I've got an awesome team to work with. They've been wonderful," Braschear said. "Our team consists of several different denominations. That's the part I really like." 

A few events will focus on children of all ages including a pizza dinner and youth rally. The rally will feature guest speakers including a champion boxer with an interesting story. 

"Our kids face a much tougher time than I did when I was growing up," Braschear said. "Part of their mission, they go to the schools. They do a youth rally. They're very good with the children and the young people." 

Lucy Gibson, banquet organizer and coordinator for Kenefick Southern Baptist Church is most excited for the final event, the four-day worship event. 

Gibson described a video of people flooding a football field asking questions and seeking a closer relationship to God. 

"To me, that's my vision and what I'm praying for," Gibson said. 

"The big importance of Go Tell is, I think, getting into the smaller communities. It's not only bringing church people together, it's bringing communities together," Gibson said. "We're just trying to reach the unsaved souls, the lost souls." 

Gage, from Houston, was originally a college football coach but later felt the call to follow in his father's footsteps. Freddie Gage, Rick's father, began his evangelist path at the age of 19. 

Rick took inspiration from his father as well as Graham. Gage began his ministry in 1986 in Georgia but travels around the country and internationally to spread God's love. 

The Associated Press called Gage "America's small-town Billy Graham."  

Gage provided a few statistics to explain the urgency of his mission. With 350,000 evangelical churches in the United States, 85% have plateaued or are in decline regarding attendance. Each year, 5,000 churches close their doors. 

Gage said there are 72 million generation Z in the country and 57 million do not have a personal relationship with Jesus. 

"The need and the urgency has never been greater to reach the unchurched," Gage said. 

The Kick-Off Banquet will be on Monday, Feb. 3 at 6:30 p.m. at the Elks Lodge No. 2019 at 650 Wallisville Road, Liberty.  

A prayer breakfast will be held Saturday, March 1 at 9 a.m., open to all.  

A student rally will be on Wednesday, April 2 at 6:30 p.m. Students from participating churches will gather to pray and prepare for GO TELL SETX. 

A youth pizza night will be Wednesday, April 16 at 6:30 p.m. 

GO TELL SETX services will be from Saturday, April 13 to Wednesday, April 16 at 7 p.m. at the Liberty High School Stadium. Counselors will be in attendance to help guide if needed and a choir will perform on Sunday. 

"This is an opportunity for the people of God to bring their lost friends and their lost family to a neutral site venue where they can hear a clear presentation of the gospel each night," Gage said. "It's a lot easier to get a lost person to come to a football stadium to hear the gospel than it is to get them to come to our sanctuaries."  

For more information on Go Tell Ministries, visit https://gotellministries.com/. For more information on GO TELL SETX, visit the Facebook page Go Tell America Southeast Texas Crusade. 

To volunteer or to join as a church, contact Pam Braschear at pam@gumgrovebc.com or by calling Trinity River Baptist Association at 936-336-9232.