His memory is now being revived through a brilliant portrayal by actor Jonathan Roumie (from "the Chosen" Series).
Poor kid of two OC teen parents, he was messed up and raped at age 8 by a neighbor, but Christ rescued him from that old horrible life.
The film (Jesus Revolution) is about the spread of the gospel and how God sent that last great awakening to America (Let's pray God does it again). The movie points to the person of Jesus Christ, that was Lonnie, Chuck, Greg and Cathe's Savior. Who is Greg? Good question, but more importantly who is Jesus ..to you?
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| Randy Zieglar 4A rated on waves, and a Calvary Evangelist first witnessed to me while surfing in Dana Point. |
May I ask.. do you need a personal revival inside today? Ask. Do you remember the Jesus Revolution? It can happen again! It can happen in your today, or happen for the first time.
My former So Cal pastor, Laurie first heard the gospel at school. Laurie had not been raised in any church environment. In 1970, when Greg was 17 years old, he repented and got saved outside while attending Newport Harbor High School under the youth ministry of evangelist Lonnie Frisbee, as the Jesus Movement was starting to explode in Southern California.
Lonnie Frisbee to @GregLaurie: “Jesus said that ‘You are either for Me, or you are against Me.’ There’s no middle ground with Jesus. You’re either for Him or against Him.. which side are you on?”
Greg Laurie decided that day that he was definitely FOR JESUS rather than against Him. (Isn't that how you feel as well?)
Like Lonnie, Chuck Smith and Greg would say: "You too were created to know God in a personal way—to have a meaningful relationship with Him, through His Son, Jesus Christ."
Yes you too, even now, can experience God's love firsthand!
He walked forward with a group of others young kids to accept Christ. Lonnie led the group in a prayer of repentance and simply receiving Christ by faith. Greg repeated his words, asking Jesus Christ to come into his heart and forgive his of his sins (in SoCal in the same area this also happened to me in 1977. I decided, hung a U-turn and trusted Jesus).
Then Lonnie led a multitude to Christ and was one of those characters whose whole was more than the sum of his parts. From a distance, he seemed unimpressive. But up close, he had a so called "powerful charisma" that was larger than life.
When Lonnie delivered a sermon, hundreds of people came forward. Everything he did was pretty big. He started a small Sunday School class that mushroomed to 300 people, and teenagers all over Riverside were coming to Christ.
"Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? Shew us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy salvation." Psalm 85:6-8
Lonnie Frisbee was "a flawed man who passionately sought the will of God and shared that passion with countless seekers, a man who made mistakes but made such a difference in the lives of countless young people in an era when the youth of this country desperately needed a way back to God. Lonnie might have gone into the wilderness for a period, but he knew how to get home again, and he did return to the Lord." Now go see the movie Jesus Revolution, you'll be glad you did.
And that's where Greg went to rep the Lord as a pastor, rep the Kingdom and Calvary Chapel too (starting a church called Harvest Christian Church). God has used him there, at his Orange County location, and all over the world to do a great job. What more's been said of Lonnie's life? (click)
We as a people are so divided in the USA. 43% of Americans think we are headed towards a civil war!
Is Another Jesus Movement Going To Happen? Where.. how?
"If all the sleeping people will wake up, if all the lukewarm people will fire up, if all of the dishonest people will confess up, if all the disgruntled people will cheer up, if all the estranged people will make up, if all the gossipers will shut up, if all true soldiers will stand up, if the dry bones will shake up, if all the church people will pray up, then we can have a revival!" ~ Anon.
So who were Chuck and Kay? A humble pastor and wife team.
"When our aim is to please God, we weigh all of our actions.. not merely out of obedience but with an attitude of love. There is a big difference." ~ Kay Smith, Chuck Senior's wife
Kay was JOYOUS, a lot of fun to be around, totally contented and happy inside. She had a great Savior, a great Christian marriage and she began to sense a huge burden of concern for those Southern California young people who weren't loved at home.. and that's what took her to her knees in prayer for them before the Lord. She wanted His wisdom in how they could effectively reach out. Praying for the lost and hurting is so important because God delights to respond! Christ gets the glory.
Kay was always looking for and reaching out to people who were hurting.. to minister to them. It didn't matter who they were or where they came from.
The Apostle Paul in Ephesians 3:17 urges all of us believers to be rooted and grounded in (God's selfless) love.
"Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong." Ephesians 3:17 nlt
Kay would have lots of fitting Scripture verses and encouraging reminder stories of how much God loves each of us. Even in painful times, His love for us never ceases, and often He uses those painful times to grow us believers. All-knowing, Almighty Jesus is always gentle but very strong. So tenderly, He just carries us to a place of peace; underneath us are the everlasting arms.
"The eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you. He drives out the enemy before you; he cries out, ‘Destroy them!’" Deuteronomy 33:27 nlt
Not to pedestalize the people at all, but young people saw the joy and compassion of the Lord in Chuck and Kay. They "glowed" (not with natural light) said Janette Smith Manderson (daughter).
Let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You.
"But let all who take refuge and put their trust in You rejoice, Let them ever sing for joy; Because You cover and shelter them, Let those who love Your name be joyful and exult in You." Psalm 5:11 amp
