Ministering with music helps harvest youth spirits

By Mary Kaye Ritz
Advertiser Religion & Ethics Writer

•	Harvest at the Shell 7:30 p.m. Saturday Waikiki Shell Free www.harvest.org, or www.harvestcrusades.org Note: Crystal Lewis, Switchfoot, and 7 Simple Pieces will perform. The Harvest Maui Crusade will be July 20 at the Lahaina Civic Center Amphitheater.

A vibrant youth ministry is part of what has propelled his own church, Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, Calif., to one of the largest in the nation — eighth largest, by one account.

Laurie is returning to Hawai'i for what could be called a mini-crusade, a single-night event at the Shell, before heading off to Anaheim (Calif.), Australia and New Zealand for mega-sized, stadium crusades with skateboarding demos, rock music, even live Webcasts.

What's the key to reaching youth?

"You need to be yourself. Be honest. Be truthful. You need to care —Êno, make that first. I'm not a teenager. I'm 50 years old, for Pete's sake. But I've a heart for youth since I had a troubled youth myself."

Troubled how?

"My mother was married seven times. And she was an alcoholic."

Your topic for the crusade is "Peace in a Chaotic World." Discuss.

"Today's kids face heavy-duty temptation — drugs, gangs, sex. ... It's a crazy, mixed-up time."

You spent a couple years living in Hawai'i when you were about 10 years old.

"I lived there in the early '60s. ... Once you've lived in Hawai'i, it always feels like home when you return. It's a very unique culture. To be effective in ministering in the Islands, you have to understand the distinctions. ... We bring what we have to offer them in a way they find appealing. We bring Mainland artists, but include local talent, as well. We involve them in planning, too."

Do you change your message?

"Not dramatically. It's the same message in Hawai'i, Australia, California or in a foreign country. We deal with certain recurrent themes."

Such as?

"God loves you. And there's this manual for living called the Bible. Then we have cool music. That doesn't hurt. Maybe they like the music and just put up with me. Who knows?"