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MCALLEN—Cheers and applause arose from the crowd of 2,348 people who gathered in McAllen's State Farm Arena to watch the elite athletes of Team Impact perform feats of strength, but the response of 403 youngsters and adults to a gospel invitation provided the greatest demonstration of power.
“There were many adults and entire families who came forward,” reported Jack Harris, SBTC associate for personal and event evangelism. He met with pastors from participating churches on April 2 to distribute decision cards so they can follow-up on those who responded to the gospel.
Area Southern Baptist churches and volunteers from Laredo, Brownsville, Farmersville and Dallas laid the groundwork weeks earlier, distributing evangelistic materials and tickets to the April 1 evangelistic rally to 108,000 homes, more than double the goal.
One woman who received the material on her door knob told her daughter about the event, after being unable to persuade her to attend church with her. Her daughter and son-in-law took their five children with them to see Team Impact, and then walked forward in response to the invitation.
Michelle Canchola of McAllen prayed with the family as the woman’s daughter and three of her children professed faith in Christ.
Team Impact athletes also spoke in 25 schools prior to the event, presenting Positive Behavior Support (PBS) assemblies on bullying and respecting authority. Canchola's husband, Loui, pastor of Cornerstone Church in McAllen, spoke with two teenage boys who made professions of faith at the rally after hearing the team's presentation at their school.
“They were blown away by the feats of strength,” Canchola told the TEXAN. “I spoke with them to make sure of what they had done and they were very sincere. I'm just overwhelmed at what God has been doing.”
