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Youth RevolutionThe ninetyandnine.com interview with evangelist Rich
Strawcutter
By Cara Baker “I prepared by exploring my audience. I visited
services with the Methodists, Presbyterians and Baptists before I prepared my
message.” A few months ago, Christopher Oakes, the youth pastor of
the Pentecostals of Shelbyville, held a youth revival—but not your average
Apostolic youth revival. Oakes not only invited six non-Apostolic churches, he
even involved them in the service. This Apostolic-sponsored community event featured a
husband-and-wife worship team from the Church of God, a worship band from the
First Assembly of God church, a drummer from the Methodist church from a
neighboring town, and a member of the First Baptist Church youth group in a
skit. The service was nothing less than “incredible,” Oakes said. Youth from all different denominations gathered as one
body, worshipping side by side in their own style of modern music and worship.
The example set by this Apostolic church and religious community of Shelbyville
could very well be the future of revival among youth world-wide. The evangelist for that weekend, Rich Strawcutter, of
Orlando, Florida, spoke with ninetyandnine.com
about the services he preached that weekend, and the larger issues this revival
brought to the surface for him.
90&9: How do you perceive the Pentecostal mindset to be concerning revival among denominal churches? Does it need to change? Strawcutter:
The best way for our mindset to change toward denominal churches is the way it
is happening now. My friend Chris Oakes is the youth pastor for the Shelbyville
Pentecostal Church. There are not many who can keep up with Chris intellectually
when it comes to Scripture, the doctrine, the Gospel or tenets of our faith;
however, he is able to relate to those outside of Pentecost in a social and
amiable way. This is what needs to occur around the entire Pentecostal youth
culture. The denominal world is not scared of our message—many of them do not
even know it—so the true task is, how do we communicate it to them? I can't help but think of Christ, sitting at the well in Samaria. Here was a woman who was completely different than he was and yet he reached out and touched her life and changed her world. We need to get past the idea that those who are in the denominal world are of the devil and going to hell. Hitler is in Hell, Jim Jones is in Hell, Nero is in Hell, but Billy Graham is not going to be there with them. We need to re-evaluate who our mission field is and get busy on reaching those who have not been introduced to Christ, rather than fighting those who have. 90&9: Are
there differences or similarities you perceive between Baptist, Assembly of Strawcutter:
Young people are just that—people who are young. We have the right to explore
friendships, relationships, commonalities, ideologies and philosophies with our
peers and I feel this should be viewed as a fundamental right for all young
people. Whether or not you are Baptist, Lutheran, Catholic, Methodist,
Presbyterian, or Pentecostal, you should have enough respect for the other
person as a human being to sit down over a cup of coffee. This does not mean you
do not have differences—it means you have a similarity. We are all human
beings, breathing the same air, living on the same small planet. How else will
you teach someone about your personal experience if you are never allowed to
spend time with them? Many are concerned that the opposing ideas will cause our Pentecostal young people to question what they believe—good! How else can one defend what they believe if they don't know who they are or have not tested their faith? Didn't Paul teach us to study so we might show ourselves worthy of what we know? You are not proving anything if you constantly speak to people who see the world the same as you do. Pentecostal young people have great personalities, awesome testimonies and a faith that is grounded in the Gospel of Christ. I think it is time to cut them loose. A person not allowed to explore life through people is a person who is not alive at all. "Who can enjoy alone?" (Milton) 90&9: What made this revival different from the others you preach? Strawcutter: Revival
should be the same no matter where you are. In my opinion, revival is bringing
someone to a better understanding of the individual purpose which awaits them in
a deeper relationship with God through Christ. What made this gathering
different from others I have been involved in? Courage. Pastors of varying
Christian communities found the courage to promote a meeting which would bring
all of us together, with the hope of seeing Christ in a greater dimension in our
lives. Courage to search out the meaning of "...not I, but Christ within
me..." This specific occasion was different because that is exactly what
was intended; something different, new, unchartered, unexplored—Apostolics,
Baptists, Methodists, and Pentecostals from the Assembly of God and Church of
God, all coming together to experience His presence together. That takes courage¾that
takes true Christianity. 90&9: How
was your sermon topic or style different or the same? Strawcutter: My style of preaching is always changing so I wouldn't say I made a huge detour from what I'm used to doing. Normally, I'll feel out an audience and try to decipher how best to communicate the feelings and ideas I have for that moment; however, how does one decide that when you have Pentecostals, Baptists and Methodists all together? Three different styles of worship, crowd participation and preaching were represented in one building, so I was left with one choice—be myself. I told stories which would relate biblical concepts and spiritual principles into the thinking of normal, everyday people. I did not shy away from our Pentecostal heritage or message but used different methods of relating our experience to those who are unfamiliar with it. 90&9: How did you prepare for the revival? Strawcutter: This is again something I do differently every time. Some ministers have a routine and they stick with it. There are men I personally know who will study, pray and prepare in the same way that it becomes a well-formulated system¾this is what allows them to be such powerful speakers. I'm still young and inexperienced toward traditional forms of preparation and was not sure of who my "listening audience" would be. I prepared by exploring my audience. I visited services with the Methodists, Presbyterians and Baptists before I prepared my message. All three have services early in the morning (which I wish we would offer), which allowed me the opportunity to gather with them and not miss a single minute in the Pentecostal church I attend. Not only did it open my eyes to how they worship and perceive the Gospel, but it allowed me a new opportunity to appreciate being Pentecostal. I felt I had the "right" to speak to the group in Shelbyville because I had done what we had gathered there to do. Preparing for your audience is just as important as preparing for your message. 90&9:
How should we as Pentecostals respond (and initiate)? We must respond to this entire society through the one thing we all have in common, and that is life. We share Christ, His Spirit and His Word through life and the victories and defeats which are always present. This is how I feel we should respond: that yes, we are real, honest people showing a better way through Christ while living here on Earth. Let’s not forget that Moses, Joseph, Daniel, the three Hebrew children, David and even the apostle Paul knew their way around the Palace. We need Pentecostal young people to be secure and to get out into the world, so we might bring about a dream waiting to become a reality—a Pentecostal revolution. ninetyandnine.com © 2001 Cara Baker ------ Cara Baker is the associate editor of ninetyandnine.com.
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