Successful crusade finishes week of soul-winning in Hope for West Kentucky

PADUCAH, Ky. (KT) - Evangelist Ken Freeman shared his story of a dysfunctional life that included years of abuse and told a large crowd at the Paducah Convention Center how his life was radically changed -- and the same could happen to them.

Dozens responded to his prolonged invitation to come to Jesus as counselors gathered with those who came forward to put a finish on the Hope for West Kentucky Crusade.

It completed a week of souls being saved through the Hope for West Kentucky initiative of the Kentucky Baptist Convention ahead of two more days when Kentucky Baptists will gather for the Pastors' Conference on Monday and the 187^th Annual Meeting on Tuesday.

Throughout the week, Freeman spoke in 16 school assemblies - although said he could not mention Jesus or do any kind of evangelistic invitation. He did speak at a student rally where 145 professed faith in Jesus on Wednesday at the convention center.

"I couldn't tell them about Jesus," he said of the school assemblies. "If I'd given an invitation all those schools would have had a revival."

Two more students made professions during college campus witnessing and others throughout the week became believers through the Hope for West Kentucky events. A total of 187 people had made professions of faith before Freeman's message when another 128 responded in faith making it 315 for the week.

The crusade was months in the planning with individuals and churches praying for revival in West Kentucky since March in a well-orchestrated initiative.

Before Freeman's message, the Jason Lovins Band performed lively Christian music, and a 250-member choir made up of Kentucky Baptists also led worship. Lara Hill from Lone Oak First Baptist Church sang a powerful rendition of "This Blood" that was stunning and perfect setup for what followed from Freeman.

His heart-wrenching story of living in fear of his mother and father struck a chord with many. Freeman and his sister, who was two years younger, lived a tragic childhood that was hard to fathom. He had nine stepfathers in his life and attended 24 different schools. Freeman said he was bullied at school and then bullied again at home.

"My dad was a gutless man and my mom an alcoholic," he said. "Churches were all around us but nobody is telling us the Good News."

Freeman's theme was that "God and the devil have a plan, he has a purpose and a blueprint for my life." He led the crowd to repeat that phrase several times as he unpeeled his story in tragic detail.

He said there were times when he wanted to take his own life because of the pain. Then he heard the gospel for the first time.

A friend who was a football player named Jeff kept asking him over and over to come to church with him. Freeman refused because church did not mean anything to him. He said eventually came for two reasons - girls and food. "I was into chicks and chicken," he said. Instead, Freeman received eternal life.

The crowd was large at the Second Baptist Church and Freddie Gage, a fiery preacher, was speaking. Because of the big crowd, seats were hard to find. The only seats available were in the youth choir. "My first time going to church and I joined the youth choir!" he said.

Freeman said he listened to Gage while not really understanding everything. He went forward and Gage put a finger in his face and said, "Son, do you know you're a sinner?"

"I said, 'I don't know what I am?'" Gage took him through the Roman's Road plan of salvation. "I thought I had to change to come to God," Freeman said. "But He wants us how we are. That night I gave my life to Christ."

It was the beginning of God's plan for Freeman's life which still had some bumps before he was able to fully grasp what it meant. He has told his story multiple times and written three books about it all as a testament to how he was able to follow God's plan and purpose for his life.

He was able to reconcile and forgive his parents and saw his father accept Jesus less than two weeks before he died in 2004.

Freeman urged those in the audience who may have a similar story to consider what Jesus can give them.

"This night is not about the Baptist church but the Kingdom of God," he said. "He wants you just like you are."