Feb. 21, 2012
For Immediate Release
Jay Lowder, founder of Jay Lowder Harvest Ministries, spoke in Campbellsville University's chapel. Around 100 professions of faith were made during the chapel service and student rally later that night. (Campbellsville University Photo by Sarah Ames)
By Tori Banks and Matthew Schmuck, student news writers
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - “At 21 years of age I was on the verge of suicide,” Jay Lowder, founder of Jay Lowder Harvest Ministries of Wichita Falls, Texas, said. “I truly believe if my roommate hadn't come home early from work that day, I would be lost in an eternity in hell.”
Lowder spoke at CU's weekly chapel service, and in a special non-denominational student rally attended by several hundred area youth. Around 100 professions of faith were made in both the chapel service and student rally.
“Matthew 7:23 is quite possibly the saddest verse in the bible,” Lowder said. “Here Jesus explains he will one day say to many, ‘depart from me, for I never knew you'.”
studLowder said it was not until he attended a professional basketball game that this verse was truly put into perspective for him.
“Several years ago I promised to take my son to see his favorite player, Vince Carter, play in a game,” Lowder said. “More than anything, I wanted to get an autograph from Carter to ensure that my son would have the perfect day.”
Lowder said he and his family tried everything they could to get a signature; however, despite their best efforts, they left the game disappointed and empty-handed.
“God reminded me of the scripture in Matthew,” Lowder said. “I feel like that scenario is very similar to what it may be like one day for people who don't know Christ.”
“The fact is we knew everything about Vince Carter. We knew how much he weighed, we knew his stats and we knew his name, but we didn't personally know him.”
“I can't help believe that there are people here today that know Jesus Christ like we knew Vince Carter,” Lowder said. “Can you imagine looking into the face of absolute perfection, who knew no sin, and hearing the words ‘I never knew you, depart from me'?”
Lowder said not so long ago he was on his way to meeting this exact fate.
“I could give you the plan of salvation as good as any preacher or teacher but I didn't know Jesus Christ as my personal savior,” Lowder said. “At 21 years of age, I was on the verge of suicide. I was lost, on my way to an eternity separated from God.”
“I wonder this morning if you are like I was or if you really know Jesus Christ,” Lowder said. “Ninety percent of people say they believe in Jesus, but the person who will be qualified to go to heaven is the one who follows the will of the Father.”
“If you were in front of God right now would he say ‘I never knew you'?” Lowder asked.
Lowder said anyone can ask Jesus to enter their life and can have assurance that they never hear the words found in Matthew. He encouraged all to turn from sin and to follow the Lord.
He explained it doesn't matter what anyone else says, it only matters what Jesus Christ says and that a relationship with Him ensures an eternity spent in heaven.
Later that night in the non-denominational student rally, Lowder spoke on key Christian issues such as a commitment to the case of Jesus Christ, and what it costs a person to be a Christian. He read from Luke 14:26, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.”
Lowder said the call of Jesus Christ is not coming to a church; it involves church but is much more — to be a part of every part in one's life.
“Jesus was saying, ‘I don't want to be some Taco Bell drive-thru window that when you need something, you just show up and you try to get something from me',” said Lowder. “Sometimes we treat Jesus like a vending machine, we just put money in and say ‘God serve me'.”
Lowder said that he understands that being more than a “Sunday Christian” is not the most popular of roles for a teenager in today's society. However, that is what it costs a person to be a Christian; to sacrifice relationships with people who aren't committed to the gospel.
The Jay Lowder Harvest Ministries organization crosses generational divides to share the message of Christ. Lowder uses his personal story of transformation and a straight-forward style to reach a diverse group of students and adults. He has traveled the globe to football stadiums, schools, churches and even under shade trees in Africa to provide a message of hope to the hurting.
Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,500 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