Harvest Crusade Hopes to Reap Fervor of Youths

With a message for young people and music by Christian rock bands, the eighth annual Southern California Harvest Crusade will return to Anaheim Stadium on Thursday through Sunday.

“As we return to Anaheim . . . we’re focusing on creating a sharp, savvy, youth-oriented program that will meet kids where they are,� said evangelist Greg Laurie in a prepared statement.

Using traditional Christian themes and the words of Generation-X-style celebrities such as the late rocker Kurt Cobain and rapper Ice-T, Laurie delivers a message of “how God changes your life and fills up the empty spaces . . . that hole [of loneliness] in your heart,� said Beth Bragg, a spokeswoman for the crusade.

Although the emphasis may be on young people, past Harvest Crusades have drawn wide audiences, from families with small children to senior citizens. This year’s Southern California crusade follows one in Philadelphia, the first in that city, which drew more than 38,000 in its four-day run, according to crusade estimates.

Opening night in Anaheim will feature a performance by musician Richie Furay, formerly with the 1960s rock group Buffalo Springfield and later with the band Poco.

The most heavily attended event is expected to be Saturday night’s “Harvest Jam,� featuring “upbeat, high-volume� music. Christian rock bands Audio Adrenaline, Big Tent Revival and The Kry are among the groups scheduled to perform.

Laurie, 44, is pastor of the 12,000-member Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, the main organizer of the event along with more than 700 other Southern California churches.

Nightly programs will begin at 7:30, followed by Laurie’s message about 8:30. All events are free and open to the public. Gates open at 6 p.m. Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese translations will be provided, as well as signing for the hearing-impaired. For more information call 1-800-CRUSADE.

PERFORMANCE

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The Church on the Way continues its summer Sunday evening programs with a performance and testimony by actor and church member Dean Jones on Sunday at 5 p.m. in the King’s Place Sanctuary on the west campus of the Van Nuys church, 14300 Sherman Way. Jones starred in the 1969 movie “The Love Bug,� featuring Herbie, a Volkswagen with attitude. Excerpts from the movie will be shown and a special appearance by Herbie is planned. (818) 779-8000.

MUSIC

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Emmanuel Presbyterian Church of Thousand Oaks, at Lynn Road and Camino Manzanas, will present a picnic on the green and a concert today. A program of light classics will feature musicians associated with the church, including Joanna Bushnell, soprano soloist with the Chancel Choir, who has also performed professionally at the Kennedy Center in Washington and with the Los Robles Master Chorale. The free concert will begin at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary, after a picnic on the lawn at 5:30 p.m. (805) 498-4502.

* Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science will hold its third annual benefit gospel concert, “Spirit Jam ‘97,� today at 6 p.m. at Trinity Baptist Church, 2040 W. Jefferson Blvd., Los Angeles. Supported by the American Bible Society/Hope-Makers in Partnership, the concert will pay tribute to the Rev. Daryl Coley, a gospel artist. Performers will include comedian and emcee Broderick Rice and the musical groups Matthew Lawrence and Friends; Victor Bell and Halel; Select Few; and Praise. Signing for the hearing-impaired will be available. Tickets are $20, and proceeds will benefit the university’s student scholarship fund. (213) 563-5989.

HOLIDAY

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Jewish congregations throughout the Southland will observe Tisha B’Av, which commemorates the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem in 586 BC and AD 70, respectively, and the subsequent exile of thousands of Jews, with special programs Monday and Tuesday. Among those planned:

* Temple Menorah, 1101 Camino Real, Redondo Beach, will hold a candlelight service with poetry and literary readings Monday at 8:15 p.m. (310) 316-8444.

* Rabbi Steven Tucker and Cantor Ralph Goren will lead special services, including a reading of the biblical book of Lamentations, at Temple Ramat Zion, 17655 Devonshire St., Northridge, on Monday at 8 p.m. and Tuesday at 7 a.m. (818) 360-1881.

* B’nai Tikvah Congregation, 5820 W. Manchester Ave., Westchester, will hold a service Monday at 7:15 p.m. led by Richard Flom, rabbi-in-training, and Steve Shrier, hazzan (cantor). (310) 645-6262.

* Rabbi Leo Abrami will conduct the Erev Tisha B’Av service at Temple Beth Zion-Sinai, 6440 Del Amo Blvd., Lakewood, on Monday at 7:30 p.m. The second service will be Tuesday at 9 a.m. (562) 429-0715.

FINALLY

Daniel C. Matt, professor of Jewish spirituality at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley and author of “God and the Big Bang,� will speak Sunday on the “Mysteries of the Kabbalah: The Nature of God� at the Philosophical Research Society, 3910 Los Feliz Blvd., Los Angeles.

The introductory lecture, “The Nature of God: Ein Sof and Sefirot,� will begin at 11 a.m.; suggested donation is $5. An afternoon workshop will continue the morning lecture topic in two sections, “Mystical Nothingness-Ayin� and “The 10 Sefirot,� from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. There is a $15 fee for the afternoon workshop. (213) 663-2167.

ISSUES

The Muslim Public Affairs Council and the Islamic Center of Southern California’s outreach department will host a forum on “Religious Persecution and Human Rights: At Home and Abroad� on Wednesday.

Morning panelists will include the Rev. Leonard Jackson from First AME Church in Los Angeles, David Wasco from the American Jewish Congress, the Rev. Lou Sheldon from the Traditional Values Coalition and Maher Hathout from the Muslim Public Affairs Council. They will be discussing “Implications for American Society.�

Reps. Howard L. Berman (D-Mission Hills) and Stephen Horn (R-Long Beach) will discuss the role of government and give the congressional view during an afternoon session.

The forum will be at the Islamic Center of Southern California, 434 S. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (213) 383-3443.

Contributors: For the first three weeks in August (while John Dart is on vacation), please send notices for consideration to Nona Yates, Metro/L.A. Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053, fax news releases to her attention at (213) 237-4712 or e-mail her at [email protected] Items should include pertinent details about the people and organizations with address, phone number, date and time.