COOPERATIVE EFFORT RESULTS IN CHRISTIAN CRUSADE

When the Impact America Crusade opens tonight, it will be the result of the cooperative effort of about 50 area churches.

The work of these churches should help draw some sizable crowds to the public meetings, which are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. nightly Sunday through Sunday, March 19-26 at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau.

Featured will be Christian speaker Lowell Lundstrom of Sisseton, S.D., a man noted for his Bible teaching, strong salvation message and humor.

Admission is free. Children ages 6 through 12 will be encouraged to attend a Kids Krusade featuring Ed Sornberger and his "critters."

Jackson area churches helping sponsor the crusade are the First Assembly of God, the First General Baptist Church, Shawnee Hills Baptist Church and the Futrell Temple Church of God in Christ.

In addition, nearly 400 local volunteers attended a seminar on Christian life and another 400 were present last month for a Victory Banquet keynoted by Lundstrom.

Pastor Luther Rhodes of the First General Baptist Church of Jackson feels the crusade gives the cooperating churches the chance to reach many more people than would be possible working alone.

"The magnitude of this allows us to work together and reach that many more souls," Rhodes said in explaining his church's support of the crusade.

Area musicians and singers will open virtually every evening's program and the Lundstrom Singers and Band will also perform. Guest performers include Grand Ole Opry star Billy Walker tonight, the Ozark Harmony Boys on Monday and Larry Herron's Trumpets of Fire.

Themes for each evening are as follows: "America at the Crossroads" tonight, "Seven Signs of the End Times" on Monday, "Five Ways to Fire Up Your Marriage" on Tuesday, Youth Night on Wednesday, "The Faith that Made America Great" on Thursday, "Why the Gospel is Good News for You" on Friday, "Secrets of Happiness and Success" on Saturday and "From Country Rock to Christ" on Sunday.

In addition to the nightly crusade, Lundstrom and his wife, Connie, will co-host a "Lovers for Life" marriage seminar on Saturday morning, March 25 at the Show Me Center. More than 135,000 people have attended this four-hour seminar which stresses ways for couples to keep their love alive and exciting. The evening meetings are free; the seminar has a $20 per couple registration fee.

Lundstrom and his gospel team travel nearly 300 nights a year conducting city-wide, interdemoninational crusades called Impact America. The guest speaker has authored 15 books including "Certain Hope for Uncertain Times," "Heaven's Answer for the Home," "How to Get Up When You're Down," "How to Pray with Power and Get Results," "How to Step Out of Debt" and "How You Can Enjoy Supernatural Prosperity."

He has written 600 gospel songs including "A Rich Man Am I," "Appleseed Song," "George," "Great Love of My Life," "Heaven Won't Be Complete Without You" and "Jesus Is Really Coming Soon."

He has recorded 62 music albums. The three most recent ones are "Wings of the Wind," "Man with a Mission" and "Dreamin.'"

For seven years he served as president and chancellor of Trinity Bible College in Ellendale, N.D.

Lundstrom can be heard on more than 170 radio stations daily with his "Lowell LIVE!" hour-long talk radio show broadcast by the U.S.A. Radio Network. His co-host is daughter, Lisa, who will be the guest speaker at the crusade's Youth Night on Wednesday.

For 12 years, "The Lundstroms" weekly television show has reached millions in the United States.