“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” – James 4:8

The first day the movie Jesus Revolution was available in theatres we attended a showing. My wife Eleni and I were excited to relive the period that led to the most momentous event in our lives. If you have any interest in getting insight into My and Eleni’s Spiritual Journey, go see the movie Jesus Revolution.

In 1979 I had just graduated college the year before with a business degree and landed a job that took me from Connecticut to Los Angeles. Eleni was out there also looking for work. She made friends with a gal named Connie who invited us to a Christian concert. A rock concert at a church? What’s that? Eleni had a certain spiritual hunger and jumped at the chance. I just rolled my eyes and said “Okay”.

It was a Friday night, May 11^th, 1979. We pulled into the parking lot of this church called Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, California (The Church highlighted in the movie). We got out of the car and I was immediately stunned. The air was electric. The place was packed with young people carrying Bibles, smiling, skateboarding, and having fun. Young people with a lot of long hair and facial hair but clean and dressed nicely – very Southern California cool.

I was in a daze taking it all in. Connie led us inside to a sanctuary with stadium seating. This is a church? We found our seats and the bands came out to play. I really liked the music but strangely the lyrics were all about Jesus. What is going on?

The music ended and this young, bold guy came out and spoke with authority about the good news of Jesus Christ. I remember thinking, Who is this kid and why should I believe him? The kid was Gregg Laurie (the main character in the movie) but he was saying things that I knew were absolutely true. When he challenged those in the audience to come forward to accept the gift of eternal life and commit to following Jesus, a battle in my spirit ensued. Fortunately, Eleni responded like being hit by lightning, grabbing my hand, and dragging me forward. (My testimony is that my wife dragged me into the Kingdom! Thank God!)

When I went forward I was saying to myself, I know what were spoken rings true. But, everyone here is treating Jesus as if he is alive and real – a real person. But, I don’t know this person. How can I make a lifetime commitment to someone I don’t know?

It was at this point that I decided I was willing to make this commitment but I would fully expect that God would show up and demonstrate He is real. If not, then I simply would not have to keep my end of the bargain. It seems almost heretically a quid-pro-quo arrangement but the dynamic is one found throughout scripture – We step forward in faith and God responds as highlighted in James 4:8 – “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”

So, after coming forward, we were taken into a back room where someone explained further what had just happened, gave us a new testament, and prayed with us. While we were there I noticed a commotion going on at the other side of the room. I looked over and someone was laying hands on people with people crying and dramatic things happening. It was kind of scary and I was happy to pack up and leave. I realized later that it was Lonnie Frisbee (the hippie preacher in the movie) ministering on the other side of the room.

Our friend Connie then took us out to dinner for our first experience with authentic Mexican food – tortilla chips, salsa, nachos, and this heavenly green dip called guacamole! (Wow! Right then we knew we had died and gone to heaven!)

After that night, God kept showing up to demonstrate His reality in our lives. Ever since then, that has been the proven spiritual dynamic. When we step out in faith to draw near to God, He responds.

The next week we attended Calvary Chapel with my brother Steve and when the invitation was given, he shot forward like a rocket. For weeks later we attended Sunday services with Chuck Smith (The preacher highlighted in the movie) preaching and God’s word came alive.

Then Eleni went to a Wednesday evening prayer meeting and afterward, they held what they called an Afterglow. A man was calling out things that needed healing and one was that a woman had a skin condition on her face that God would heal. Eleni had these small wart-like bumps on her face and she was certain he was speaking to her. Within days they were gone. It was Lonnie Frisbee. Amazingly, I recently read in Lonnie’s 2^nd of 3 autobiographical books Not By Might Nor By Power: The Great Commission that he had claimed to have a “wart-healing ministry” at the time. Crazy stuff!

To top it off, a few weeks after we made our commitment we went to Pirates Cove in Newport Beach (the beach shown in the movie) and there we were baptized in the Pacific Ocean. It was glorious!

1979 was considered to be at the tail end of this particularly powerful move of God but we were blessed to get the full experience from the place and the people God used to so powerfully impact (and continues to impact) millions across the world.

What Are Our Connections to the Jesus Revolution?

So, the Lineage of our salvation is that we were invited to Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, where Lonnie Frisbee led Gregg Laurie to the Lord, who then led us to the Lord. We were fed the Word of God by Chuck Smith and continued to be fed through a Calvary Chapel tape ministry when we moved back East. We were Baptized at Pirates Cove and for good measure, Eleni was healed through Lonnie Frisbee’s ministry. Pretty much the Whole Enchilada.

Now, how important is it that our salvation is linked back to the ministry of Lonnie Frisbee? I affectionately embrace that fact. But, obviously what’s of the only real value is that I am now a child of the most High God, descended from the spiritual line of Jesus. (Perhaps of some value is that for anyone who questions the authenticity of the ministry of Lonnie Frisbee then I guess they would have to question the reality of my salvation and millions of other faithful servants of Christ.)

Months after our salvation we moved back East and eventually plugged into Black Rock Church in Fairfield, Ct. a solid Bible-teaching church. It has been a wonderful loving community that has been an awesome blessing to me and my family for over 40 years. We have grown, the church has grown and the world around us both near and far has been impacted powerfully for Christ.

Now, I sense we’ve moved into a season where growing numbers desire to explore and participate in a supernatural move of the Holy Spirit. As much as we individual Christ-Followers and as a Community desire to draw near to God and keep in step with His Spirit, God will respond to continue to see lives healed, restored, and saved by the loving grace of Jesus Christ.

I recommend you go see the movie Jesus Revolution and encourage others to see it. If not for getting a taste of our personal spiritual heritage but for the beautiful Gospel message that continues to draw hearts back to a very real God.

For those of you who see the movie and feel like you missed the boat, you have not. Jesus Revolution-like displays of God’s powerful Spirit of Goodness, Righteousness, and Truth are breaking out all over.

Pray for it, look for it & live it!

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:8) and “without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

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The Lonnie Frisbee Dilemma

Much like when I investigated the controversy surrounding the ministry of Smith Wigglesworth, there is much controversy surrounding the ministry of Lonnie Frisbee. What the movie could not address is the full scope and power of his ministry. In addition, it does not address the controversy that almost had him erased from the recorded history of this amazing revival.

The next Post will address my conclusions about Lonnie Frisbee – the diminutive, damaged saint, and sinner, but relentless pursuer of God and the things of His Spirit.