The Rev. J. Todd Nichols says it is time to reach those who need spiritual guidance or who are weighed down by poverty, unemployment and depression.

And he said that time is now.

Nichols, pastor of Greater Faith Church, 2814 Mt. Tabor Road in New Albany, will gather some of his friends to help reach the thousands he plans on reaching starting Thursday through July 27. The group, called Soul Winners Boot Camp, stages large events throughout the country. And with the help of Nichols, his congregation and other volunteers, Louisville and Southern Indiana will have its own spiritual boot camp.

“I got to know the president of Boot Camp America and we had heard of some of the things they were doing around the country,” Nichols said. “Once a month, they do one of these boot camps.

“We had been wanting to do something large scale since the crime rate seems to be climbing. We want to make church and the Gospels more accessible.”

The four-day event is full of nonstop activities. Many of the activities will be held on the Great Lawn in Louisville, while Greater Faith will host events as well. Nichols will kick off the boot camp with a keynote address titled “You Gotta Go for the Dogs” Thursday at Greater Faith.

Events both Friday and Saturday begin at 8 a.m. and will continue through midnight.

“This is really going to be a big event,” Nichols said. “We want to reach out to the needs and visit people in distress. Jesus did his most effective ministry out in the community. We want to give hope to those who don’t have hope.”

Nichols and his church will be giving away 100 boxes of food, which will feed a family for a week. They also will be giving away bikes, skateboards and other gifts. He estimates his church will spend around $35,000 for the boot camp.

Soul Winner’s Boot Camp is a double-edged ministry which is rapidly becoming known as one of the premier national evangelism efforts, according to the Greater Faith Web site. The boot camps began in St. Petersburg in 2005.

“Other boot camps across the country have had huge success,” Nichols said. “We have put out 100,000 invitations and we have been spreading the word around the metro area.”

Since May 1, at least one member of the Greater Faith congregation has been praying for the boot camp’s success around the clock in the church.



BOOT CAMP SCHEDULE

Thursday

• 7:30 p.m.: Keynote address: J. Todd Nichols, “You’ve Gotta Go for the Dogs,” Greater Faith Church sanctuary

Friday

• 8:30-9:40 a.m.: Matt Maddix, home bible studies, Greater Faith Church sanctuary

• 9:50-10:20 a.m.: Tim Sistrunk, “From 0-125 on my Bus Ministry,” Greater Faith Church sanctuary

• 10:30-11:15 a.m.: Matt Maddix, “Don’t Fumble the Follow Up,” Greater Faith Church sanctuary

• 11:25 a.m.-noon: Matt Maddix, “Attitudes of a Soulwinner,” Greater Faith Church sanctuary

• Noon-1 p.m.: “Soulwinning that Works,” Greater Faith Church sanctuary

• 3-6 p.m.: Outreach Blitz, metro area

• 6:30-9 p.m.: block party, Baxter Square, 11th and West Jefferson streets, Louisville

• 9:30 p.m.-11 p.m.: Extreme Gospel Madness; skate and bike competition (prizes awarded), Fear Factor competition

• Midnight rally: Greater Faith Church sanctuary

Saturday

• 10 a.m.-11 a.m: Interview with Matt Maddix; Greater Faith Church sanctuary

• 11 a.m.-Noon, Matt Maddix, Red Carpet service; Greater Faith Church sanctuary

• 2-4 p.m.: Louisville Kidz Super Celebration, Great South Lawn, Waterfront Park, Louisville, music, games, competitions

• 4- 6 p.m.: Power in the Park — youth concert, Waterfront Park, Louisville

• 6:30 p.m.: 8:30 p.m.: Indiana Kidz Super Celebration — up to age 11; Greater Faith Church

• 6 p.m.- 8 p.m.: Unite! Family worship on the Lawn featuring the Abundant Life Singers from Fort Wayne, Greater Faith Church Choir, Pastor Matt Maddix and Evangelist David Smith, Great South Lawn — Louisville

• 10 p.m.: Soul Winners Commission, Greater Faith Church Sanctuary

July 27

• 10 a.m.: Holy Ghost Crusade, Greater Faith Church Sanctuary

• 10 a.m.: Kidz Konnection, Greater Faith Church

• 6:30 p.m.: Holy Ghost Crusade, Greater Faith Church Sanctuary

• 6:30 p.m.: Kidz Konnection, Greater Faith Church