On April 11, 1912, John Harper boarded the Titanic. He was an evangelist from Scotland and on his way to speak at the Moody Church in Chicago. At 11.40 p.m. on April 12, the Titanic struck an iceberg and the unsinkable ship began to sink. Harper kissed his daughter goodbye and she was put on lifeboat nº 11. Soon she would become an orphan at the age of six years. He then gave his life jacket to a fellow passenger, leaving himself with no chance of survival. Amidst the sounds of terror, Harper was seen on the upper deck on his knees, surrounded by terrified passengers, praying for their salvation.
At 2.40 a.m., the Titanic disappeared beneath the sea, leaving over 1500 people fighting for their lives. Finding a piece of floating wreckage to hold onto, he quickly swam to people in the water, urging them to put their faith in Christ. One person later said, "I am a survivor of the Titanic. I was one of only six people to be pulled from the icy waters on that dreadful night. The wail of the perishing was ringing in my ears when there floated by me another man who called to me, 'Is your sould saved?' Then I heard him call out to others as he and everyone around me sank beneath the waters. There, alone in the night with two miles of water under me, I cried to Christ to save me. I am John harper's last convert."
John Harper lived and died for the eternal kingdom of God. He knew the value of a soul and that each one would live forever, either in heaven or in hell. That is why he faithfully proclaimed the good news of salvation to everyone he could, until his dying breath. It is for the same reason that evangelists with Open Air Campaigners have preached the gospel to millions of unreached people around the world for over 100 years. They believe the words of Christ, who said, 'Go into all the world and preach the good news' for 'No one comes to the Father except through me.'
Compelled by His love, David Wilson, president until May, 2004