Cola-Clash Week #1 – Omaha, AR

Jonathan BarberCola Clash Updates

The Cola-Clash in Omaha, Arkansas was absolutely lights out…literally. For the first time ever, we conducted a Cola-Clash rally in the dark from start to finish. God moved the thunderstorm that was predicted to hit us at 6:00, but He did not choose to move the power-outage. On the whole, the lack of electricity did not hinder us at all. During the message, everyone listened intently. I couldn’t make out their faces, and they couldn’t see mine, but that was alright because God touched their hearts. At the invitation, about 10 teenagers responded to receive Christ as their Savior.

One young man from the football team did not respond at the invitation.  I found him standing by himself out in the parking lot.  I made some small talk, and then asked him a few questions.  He was clearly under conviction.  When I asked if he wanted to get the matter of his salvation settled, he did not answer for some time.  There was an evident battle going on.  After a while he said, “Yes,” and we headed inside. The team captain that recruited him was able to lead him to Christ that night.  Praise the Lord!

Although Satan fought here and there, on the whole there was great liberty. One of the greatest victories came on Friday. A man who is staying in the parsonage temporarily wanted to speak with me. He has cancer, and doesn’t have long to live. Although he had told everyone that he was saved, it became evident that he had never put his trust in Jesus alone to save him. We had a wonderful time that afternoon as I was able to answer his questions and share with him the Gospel. Praise the Lord that God saved his soul! He now has peace as he faces this trial of cancer.  God is so good!

When the week concluded, the Pepsi team had pulled out the victory, and 55 teenagers had come over the three nights with a high night of 44.  We thank God for 11 professions of faith.  This church is excited about following up on these contacts.  We are as well.  As it turns out, our open week in June is right when the church here was planning their VBS. They’ve asked us to come back and help them with VBS that week as well as hold a Revival Meeting in the evening for the adults. We are praising the Lord for this answer to prayer and another opportunity to help this church move forward.  Thank you for your prayers for us!

About the Author

Jonathan Barber

Jonathan Barber (@JonMBarber) is pastor of Ann Arbor Baptist Church in Michigan. Formerly, he served as Staff Evangelist of Baptist College of Ministry and the leader of the Cola Clash from 2008-2013. He, his wife Rebecca, and their growing family live in Ann Arbor, MI.