Hundreds attend Todd Becker Foundation Event at Southern Valley
OXFORD – Over 500 people attended a Todd Becker Crusade event held at Southern Valley High School on Wednesday, January 26, 2020.
The Kearney-based foundation is named for a young man who was killed in an alcohol-related car accident in 2005. His brother, Keith, who became a born-again Christian after his sibling’s tragic death, has dedicated his life to reaching young people with the gospel message. To date, Becker and his team have held events in over 500 high schools in 15 states.
Sponsored by Alma Berean Church, the event was 15 months in the making. Tom Walker, who serves as Senior Pastor at Alma Berean, says that it was a community endeavor with seven other area churches serving as cosponsors: Evangelical Free and Crossgate in Franklin, Naponee Wesleyan, Free Methodist in Alma, New Wine Fellowship in Orleans, and the First Baptist and Evangelical Free in Oxford.
According to Walker, over 100 people answered an altar call to commit their lives to Christ. He stated that although most were middle and high school aged kids, there were a few upper elementary children and a few adults.
Tina Hutchens from Oxford, who served on the prayer team for the event, says she is encouraging others to pray for the young people who attended what she characterizes as a “beautiful and powerful evening.”
“It was truly amazing to see so many young people come to this event not knowing what to expect and, in the end, many of them left filled with truth, hope and peace, touched by the Holy Spirit,” Hutchens expressed.
The mother of three adult alums of Southern Valley School, who works as a para educator at the school, says that young people need to be encouraged to keep seeking God.
Jamie Hartnett of Beaver City, who was one of eight pastors who counseled those who answered the altar call, says that he was impressed with Becker’s message.
“For the past forty years, we hear a lot about love, but not the complete truth from the pulpits in America. Keith didn’t sugar coat sin. He was respectful and spoke in love, but he didn’t mince words,” he said.
Hartnett was excited that he prayed with a fifth-grade boy who committed his life to Christ following Becker’s message, that addressed how choices young people make can ultimately alter the entire course of their lives.
Brian Jenkins, who pastors First Baptist Church in Oxford, says that youth are searching for something to hold on to. “The world looks attractive, but they are open to the idea of Christ, for sure.”
Jenkins has a long history with Becker as the two men attended Kearney First Baptist Church and shared the same mentor, Stan Murdoch. “I am continually struck with how powerful Keith’s message is. I was so pleased to see the bleachers practically full, and how the Holy Spirit worked that night.”
Walker expressed that Becker relies on the Holy Spirit, not emotions to get his message across. “Keith did an exceptional job. I have worked with him on three other events. He presents a clear, honest message that challenges kids about their need for Christ.”
The ministry’s Facebook page states that the primary objective of the Todd Becker Foundation is “warning high school youth of the destructive choices (sin) that will lead them down the “highway of destruction,” and urging them to turn to Jesus Christ and follow Him on the “Narrow Road.”
The event was free admission and featured the Christian touring band, “All the Noise” and young people shared real-life testimonies about how Jesus Christ changed their lives in addition to Becker’s message.
Emily DeMoss, the Event Coordinator for the Todd Becker Foundation expressed appreciation with how the volunteers and pastors in the Republican Valley community worked together to ensure the event was successful.
“After almost two years of planning with churches and businesses from four different counties, we were so grateful to see a packed house at Southern Valley High School and witness so many people respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” she said.
