No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.
(John 6:44)
When Loretta and I were first married, I was like most other young men my age. I liked the Beatles music and I felt that Jimmy Hendrix was the best dressed man in America. Even though I was a Christian and had been raised in a traditional denominational church, I wanted more and it looked like the world had what I wanted.
Then one day Loretta invited me to a place on 18th Street in Kansas City called Evangelistic Center. Evangelistic Center met in a renovated movie theater with greatly slanted floors and a tall ceiling. It was in a part of Kansas City that was considered dangerous to be in after dark. The neighborhood had a reputation for drugs, alcohol, and crime. But when I walked into Evangelistic Center and heard the worship, I desired more of God. The services lasted for hours, but they were never long enough. For the first time in my life I raised my hands and although I didn’t understand everything that was happening, I knew this. God was in the house and He loved me.
The building was old and the musicians used whatever instruments they had. The worship services were so long that sometimes you would close your eyes while singing a song and later open them only to find that some of the musicians had changed during the song. There were no television cameras. There were no stage lights. There were no fancy stage props and there were no security guards. It was just an old theater being filled with the manifestation of the glory of God and people being moved by the Holy Spirit.
Four decades later my heart is still yearning for the glory of God. But I have discovered this. All the high tech equipment the world has to offer cannot take the place of the Holy Spirit.
When I was a child, I would hear my elders talk about the good old days and I promised myself I would never do that. But in recent years I find myself breaking my promise. But here is the good news. The good old days are still available. All that is required is that we have the same heart and seek the same things we were seeking then.
We live in a technological world and to a degree much of the modern church has begun to worship this technology. I understand that technology is a tool that helps us take the Word to the world. Each week technology helps my ministry take the message of hope to potentially billions of people. However, we must remember that the technology and equipment is the tool and not the message itself.
Years ago I was at a ministers’ conference in Texas. About 300 ministers were there. Kenneth Copeland was the speaker and as he began to speak, a storm took out all of the electricity in the building. It was late at night and the room was dark, but someone handed him a flashlight and he taught the Word without a microphone, without a stage, and without cameras. It was one of the most powerful messages I have ever heard him deliver.
Some ministers would have sent everyone home, but not Brother Copeland! He had the Word burning in his heart and nothing was going to stop him from delivering it.
For 1900 years the gospel of Jesus Christ has been preached on this earth before the advent of electricity. Jesus didn’t have the Internet, but He impacted the lives of twelve men and they turned the world upside down with the message.
So my point is this. The hurting people in the world will not be changed by technology. Technology is the tool that can carry the Word and the Word will change people. The latest gimmicks may draw people to the church building, but no man comes to the Father unless the Holy Spirit draws him.
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Dr. Larry Ollison is founder and Senior Pastor of Walk on the Water Faith Church and founder of Larry Ollison Ministries. With over forty years in the ministry, he is a very popular speaker nationally and internationally and ministers the Word of Faith through radio, television, Internet, and daily e-mail devotionals. As the author of eight books (including The Power of Grace, The Practical Handbook for Christian Living, Breaking the Cycle of Offense, Life is in the Blood, and recently released The Paradise of God), he is in frequent demand for radio/TV interviews, book signings, and magazine publications.
Dr. Ollison was raised a Southern Baptist. While majoring in theology at Southwest Baptist University, he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. For many years he traveled extensively speaking at Full Gospel Business Men's meetings and conventions. He later earned an M.A. in Theology and a Ph.D. and Th.D. from Life Christian University.
Currently President of International Convention of Faith Ministries (ICFM), Dr. Ollison is also Vice-President of Spirit FM Christian Radio Network, Missouri State Director of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), and a Trustee on the boards of several international ministries. He is also the host of The Cutting Edge Radio Broadcast and authors The Cutting Edge Daily Devotional.
As the owner of a marine dealership, his extensive business background brings a unique flavor to his teaching. He founded and served as chairman of the Missouri State Marine Board, President of the Marine Dealers’ Association, Vice-President of a bank holding company, along with holding several directorships in various corporations.
Dr. Ollison's strongest areas of teaching are the blood of Jesus, faith, relationships, the Hebrew language, the Holy Spirit, the end times, and heaven. During ministry, he operates freely in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. His use of humor and his ability to make a theological concept simple makes it enjoyable and easy for everyone to understand. Countless testimonies have been received from people who say their lives have been changed after experiencing Dr. Ollison's unique ministry.
Dr. Ollison is a pastor, pilot, teacher, and author. His number one goal is to meet the needs of the people through the teaching of faith in God's Word. He and his wife, Loretta, have two children and six grandchildren.