Campus Evangelism +40

Jim Bevis about Wes Reagan

I asked Jim Bevis to send me a comment about our friend, Wes Reagan. Jim's words follow:

"Wes Reagan was a godly man and had a significant role in the launching of Campus Evangelism. His message at the ACU Lectureship was the spark that lit the flame for Campus Evangelism. He, along with others among us, was ahead of his time as far as Churches of Christ are concerned.

He spoke at numerous Campus Evangelism Seminars and he always "hit the ball out of the park." In moving CE to Pasadena, TX in 1969, Wes became an even closer friend and confidant. He is on my top 5 list of the best preachers I have ever had.

Even though we had almost no contact in recent years, he has always had a warm place in my heart and will continue to do so. Wes was a vital part of an entire generation of young preachers who were lost to the Churches of Christ because they were unwilling to change.

My every remembrance of Wes is good."

Wes Reagan, Catalyst of Campus Evangelism and Personal Friend, Dies

I received word in mid-February that Wes Reagan was in his last days dying of liver and kidney failure. Dialysis had been tried but was not effective in prolonging his life. His prognosis of life was just a matter of weeks but on February 21 he died. Wes was a great friend from about 45 years ago. He preached the sermon at the Abilene Christian College annual lectureship that further ignited Jim Bevis' and my commitment to begin what became known as the Campus Evangelism movement in 1966. That sermon dynamically brought to every hearer's attention the "lost frontiers" that Churches of Christ had yet to address.

Jim and I were in the congregation that day and as Wes spoke about the impact that could be made on the campus, both domestically and internationally, we were electrified. Jim had already been weighing how Churches of Christ might mount an evangelistic effort and Wes' speech convicted both of us to accept his challenge. So, in a real sense Wes provided the spark that cast fire on the campuses of the US, and even internationally!

Beyond that, Wes was always responsive to be a keynote speaker at CE seminars. He was a trusted confidant and wise counselor. Many student participants in our seminars benefited from personal conversations with Wes.

I remember his mild unassuming manner punctuated by his charismatic eyes and understated messages that touched your soul where it was needed. From him we learned more of God's grace and forgiveness -- and the blessing of sharing it.

I can hear his persuasive voice as he called out the best in his listeners and spoke of God's grace and in-dwelling power. My wife, Elizabeth Ann, and I heard those messages at the seminars, but they echoed through the years as we replayed the recordings again and again. When he spoke of "Jesus, the Good News," we learned and were reminded that God loves us -- not just when we're good, but always. And, "Jesus in Me" taught us to rely on the Lord to bring us to the fulfillment of His Will and the futility of attempting to achieve that unattainable goal on our own.

Before I sat down to write this, I looked through the photos in the archive to include one here of Wes. But, to my surprise we don't seem to have a single photo of Wes. I'm sorry. Although, I can still see the intensity in his face as he leaned slightly over the podium and spoke earnestly and urgently to the first generation that Churches of Christ had attempted to inspire and mobilize to carry the good news of Christ to their campuses.

That friendship forged more than 40 years ago was strong. And neither the decades over which our paths diverged and we didn't see or talk with each other, nor the events of our lives sullied or tarnished the great appreciation and admiration I had for Wes Reagan.

Joe Barnett, a fellow preacher and Wes' long-time friend who conducted Wes' memorial service told me of a mutual friend who spoke to Wes for the last time within a week of his passing and closed the conversation with, "I'll see you on the other side," to which Wes replied, "I'll be there."

I'm glad because I look forward to seeing him again myself.

Thank You, Mike Vantine for a Memory from 1967

I was at the CE Conference at the LAX Hilton in early September, 1967.  I remember that the Holy Spirit changed the order of events and talks, so that John Allen Chalk gave what was for me the first gospel message I'd ever heard.  I didn't want to go to the conference in the first place, but was invited by Jennings Davis and wasn't fast enough on my feet with an excuse. By the end of John Allen's message I was deeply under conviction and had to do something. I asked Jennings what I should do. "Go forward or get baptized," he wisely said, "I don't know." I said that I wanted to make Jesus LORD of my life and see if He'd actually come in and fix me and run me for a change. I was one of those baptized in the Pacific that night and had a really "psychedelic" conversion experience.

After the conference, at the first evening service at the Vermont Ave. Church of Christ next to the Pepperdine campus, someone suggested that those who had been at the CE seminar may want to stay afterwards to "talk about what we could do to keep what we had gained at the seminar."  We gathered at the front of the building and somehow it turned into a spontaneous time of prayer. A spirit of conviction came so that people were confessing sins and turning to God -- a genuine atmosphere from heaven that was unique to us all. People started getting up, leaving the meeting, and running to the campus to get their friends. Within an hour or so the whole front of the building was filled and the meeting lasted for hours.  This began a series of spontaneous meetings at this building and around campus that went on for about three weeks.  Many more people came to the LORD and were baptized. And, for me it was a time of nearly constant ministry around campus. We were discovering what this new life was about and learning to walk in the Spirit.

The revival ended when someone introduced the honest question about women speaking in the assembly.  This brought in a spirit of strife that we were not able to deal with, which grieved the Holy Spirit. Still, there remained a core of people whose lives were changed, who knew Jesus was alive and well, and that He was now the LORD of their lives.

The following fall, the LORD began to lead us toward the Holy Spirit though a number of people and gatherings, so that by the end of the year in 1968 a bunch of us were traveling down to the Anaheim Christian Center where we received a wonderful incubation in the Holy Spirit with teaching from some of the best in the world: David Wilkerson, Derek Prince, Don Basham, Bob Mumford, Kathryn Kuhlman, Ern Baxter, Sr. Clara Grace, and many more.

Life has been a wonderful adventure and cycle of growth that continues to thrill me with the height, depth, breadth, richness, and sweetness of the inheritance we have been given. It all began with that CE conference where the Spirit of the LORD showed up and you leaders were willing to go with His direction. I can't thank you enough!!  You were part of the revival team that brought new life to the youth of the Church of Christ.