Youth Evangelist Effort Coming

By CHARLENE WARNKEN
Post Religion Writer

"Three Weeks In August," a massive evangelistic effort involving hundreds of Houston area youth, will begin here Monday under the direction of the Agape Force.

Agape Force is an Interdenominational Christian group with headquarters in Sebastopol, Calif. The Rev. Buddy Hicks, who has conducted youth outreach work at Evangelistic Temple, has joined Agape Force's Communication Foundation.

"We have 30 teams that work in different cities around the country," explained Larry Powell, director. "We are bringing in all the teams for the three weeks here."

About 300 persons will come to Houston to organize the "Three Weeks in August." Nightly rallies will begin Thursday at Waltrip high school.
Agape Force has opened three coffee-houses in Texas, including the "Light-House" in Pasadena. The other two are in Victoria and Lufkin.
A discipleship training school also has been opened here in Houston. Located at 715 East Rogers, the school has an attendance of about 30 young persons and offers a short term course of 12 weeks.

The highlight of the three weeks' effort here will be a musical drama presented Aug. 22-24.

"We will give four performances of 'Agapeland,' which has a cast of 40 persons and is Christian family entertainment. There will be no admission charge," said Powell.

"Agapeland" also is the title of one of the five albums produced by Agape Force. A children's album, nearly 30,000 copies were sold during the first six months after its release, Powell said.

The performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. Aug.22, a matinee at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Aug.23 and another matinee at 3 p.m. Aug.24, all at the Cullen Auditorium at the University of Houston. Complimentary tickets will be available by calling 444-6395.

Agape Force has established 10 teams in Texas, including one in Houston, Pasadena and Texas City. The full time staff of 200 persons in California will move to the group's new headquarters in Tyler sometime next fall.

"We have purchased a couple of hundred acres in Garden Valley, 18 miles from Tyler," Powell disclosed. "Texas is going to be one of our biggest endeavors."

Agape Force was founded five years ago by the Rev. Tony Salerno to work with troubled youth and to train young persons in Christian discipleship. Agape Force differs from Dave Wilkerson's Teen Challenge in that it does not limit its work to drug addicts.

"Our goal is to reach non-church young people with the Gospel," Powell explained. "We also have a discipleship training school in California with an enrollment of 60 at the present time."

Some 20 percent of the graduates of the discipleship schools go on to a year of advanced training before they join the Agape Force teams or some other ministries.

Agape Force also has its own music company, Candle Company Music, and is establishing "Maryhouses" for girls with problems in different parts of the country.

Agape Force in Houston has worked closely with Evangelistic Temple for several years, but will be working with many different denominations for the "Three Weeks in August."