On the eve of the 9/11 tenth anniversary, 50,000 people filled Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles Saturday night to pray for America and evangelize "the lost" of the nation. In his message to those gathered and watching the broadcast, Pastor Greg Laurie responded to the question, Why does God allow pain and suffering?
For background, read Clergy & Prayer Banned From 9/11 Tenth Anniversary Memorial and also read Obama D.C. 9/11 'Prayer:' Exclude Evangelicals
UPDATE 9/11/11: USA Today asks, Where were the Evangelicals (this weekend)? -- yet, still no mention of Dodger Stadium!
-- From "HARVEST: Reverend speaks of tragedy on eve of 9/11 anniversary" by David Olson, Staff Writer, The Press-Enterprise 9/10/11
Speaking of 9/11, Laurie said, "God did not do that. Wicked people did that."
"How does God allow bad things to happen to good people?" he asked. "You know what my answer is? I don't know."
Laurie said the Bible teachers that believers will find out the answers to this and other questions when they're in heaven.
But Laurie said to go to heaven, people must accept Jesus as their Savior, confess their sins and ask for forgiveness.
Thousands of people then streamed out onto the field to make a profession of faith in Christ, filling the outfield behind the extensive stage that stretched over first, second and third bases.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Greg Laurie: Largest 9/11 Prayer Gathering at Harvest LA Saturday" by Alex Murashko, Christian Post Reporter 9/9/11
Laurie, the pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, Calif., and known for leading large-scale evangelistic events worldwide for the last 21 years, made it clear in a statement sent to The Christian Post that prayer continues to be part of the nation’s fabric, even 10 years after the tragedy.
“The LA Harvest will likely be the single largest gathering in the country where Christians will commemorate this solemn event with prayer,” Laurie stated. “There has been a lot controversy over the fact that there are no clergymen or prayer(s) planned for the official remembrance ceremony at Ground Zero on 9/11. I believe that is wrong, since faith has played such a key role in America in the aftermath of this horrific tragedy.”
“We remember prayer vigils on street corners and the members of Congress breaking into ‘God Bless America’ on the Capitol steps. Churches were filled to overflowing after 9/11 as people looked for answers from God and the Bible,” Laurie said.
In addition to Laurie’s message, the outreach [featured] music from well-known Christian musicians . . . Chris Tomlin, Kirk Franklin, Jeremy Camp and The Katinas.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Greg Laurie's Harvest Crusade LA: 50,000 Led in 9/11 Prayer" by Alex Murashko, Christian Post Reporter 9/11/11
Founding Calvary Chapel pastor Chuck Smith . . . [spoke at the event, saying] "We pray that we as a nation become more aware for our need for God."
"We know that the pain of death does last so long. May they feel your comfort and your presence tonight, Lord,” he continued. “We pray for our nation. We thank you, Lord, for the wake-up call and at that time so many people turned to you. The churches were full the next Sunday. Lord, people began to realize how much we need you.
"Lord, how soon we forget and how many times this year as we are needing you again. Somehow, Lord, we sort of declared our independence from you. Lord, we want you to know that we feel very dependent upon you. Lord, we ask that tonight your blessing would be upon America.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Archive video responding to the challenge of why a "good god" allows evil:
