Oct. 10, 2012
For Immediate Release
 |
| The Rev. Neal Hatfield, director of the Uplands Reach Conference Center, speaks at campus revival during which 20 professions of faith were made. (Campbellsville University Photo by Ashley Wilson) |
By Tanner Royalty and Lucas Pennington, student news writers
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – Twenty students made professions of faith at Campbellsville University during a chapel service and three-day campus revival with evangelist the Rev. Neal Hatfield, director of the Uplands Reach Conference Center. Many more made decisions to rededicate their lives to Christ, Ed Pavy, director of campus ministries, said.
“Jesus Christ, who exactly is he?” Hatfield asked at the Campbellsville University weekly chapel service Oct. 3. “He is factual,” he said.
Hatfield spoke on the factuality of Jesus, and the message that he brought. He quoted Paul’s writing in 2 Timothy 1:12: “That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.”
Paul knew, believed, and was convinced of everything Jesus said and did.
“The work of Jesus is a fact,” Hatfield said. There were many witnesses, and His work continues today. He said, “Look at my life, and the radical way I was changed. That is something that can’t be denied. You can’t meet the Son of God and walk away the same. He changes lives.”
Hatfield also said the cross and the tomb are factual. “Thousands of people died on the Roman cross, so we know of its existence. There is also an empty tomb that exists today where Jesus was once laid,” Hatfield said. “Dig deep, search and try to uncover the factual evidence of Jesus Christ and you will.”
Hatfield said Jesus’ love is a fact. He used John 3:16-17 to reveal this: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
He said we cannot earn our salvation, and even if we could that we wouldn’t. Hatfield said, “Christ loves me in spite of what I’ve done…embrace the facts.”
Hatfield also spoke throughout the week in a campus revival, focused on bringing CU students closer to God.
On Thursday evening, Hatfield asked students if they knew for sure they were a man or woman of God’s word. He focused on how a person may think he or she is going to go to heaven after death, but how some of them people haven’t completely accepted God into their heart.
Hatfield said, “The saddest thing is knowing someone who thinks they are on their way to heaven but in reality they are on their way to hell.”
He said in order to be accepted into God’s kingdom you have to not only believe in Jesus Christ but you have to repent to Him. You have to accept God into your heart and let Him know your problems and ask Him for help.
Hatfield gave a real life example of one of his own family members who hadn’t truly given herself to Jesus Christ. His daughter-in-law, Becky, always thought she was going to heaven but never really thought any further than that until his son witnessed to her and she accepted Christ into her heart.
Hatfield said he “believes pride will send a multitude of people to hell” because people with pride are not fully giving themselves to Jesus Christ; their pride is so strong they don’t repent or ask forgiveness for what they have done that is of sinful nature.
Hatfield said, “Know with great confidence that you have eternal life.”
Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,600 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master’s degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.