World Harvest Tent Evangelism

Presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ · The Greatest Book on Earth

“Open your eyes & take a good look at what’s right in front of you.

These fields are ripe. It’s harvest time!” (John 4:35)

For over 30 years I have been studying and teaching the Bible, preaching and leading souls to Jesus Christ. Barbara and I love to introduce people to Christ and teach them about their authority in Him.

This is why we have developed the JHM Tuition-Free Online Bible Training Centre, which is presently reaching and teaching Ministers and Bible Students in nearly 170 nations of the world.

This is also why we desire the tents, trucks and equipment to drive across North America like a giant spiritual combine reaping a soul harvest for Jesus.

There’s nothing more important to us than plundering Hell and populating Heaven with souls - millions and millions of souls.

Jesus Christ's Coming is on the horizon. But first, a great spiritual awakening and a great harvest of souls!

"Be patient, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. The husbandman (God) waits for the precious fruit of the Earth (soul harvest), and has long patience for it, until He receives the early and latter rain." (James 5:7)

The above photograph is a line up of custom wheat harvesting equipment. If you live in the Midwestern United States, this is a familiar scene to you. It is to me. Although from the Boston, Massachusetts area, while attending Bible School in Oklahoma in the mid-eighties, I drove similar big rigs for the biggest independent wheat harvester in that state. These custom harvesters travel from harvest field to harvest field, moving quickly, bringing in the ripened harvest for local farmers.

Jesus often used harvesting analogies when teaching about the harvest of souls to be reaped in the Earth. Natural harvesters travel from ripened field to ripened field, reaping on behalf of local farmers. We will travel with our giant tents, trucks and committed harvesting crew from ripened spiritual harvest field to ripened spiritual harvest field, reaping on behalf of local Pastors throughout North America. Wherever we reap, we will leave the spiritual harvest of precious souls with the local Pastors who will nurture, teach and care for them. We will then move quickly to the next ripened harvest field where other local Pastors are waiting.

The vision for Tent Evangelism has been in my heart since I was Born-Again over thirty years ago.

When I was a child, a fascination with circus tents was birthed within me that only grows stronger as I get older. Since that time I have also had a passion for big trucks. My grandfather owned a Massachusetts-based trucking company and I learned to drive semi-trucks as a teenager. As a young man I went on to tour America, driving big rigs for entertainers such as Marvin Gaye, Chicago, Andy Gibb, Tony Orlando and Wayne Newton.

During that time while working for these entertainers, I had a supernatural encounter with Almighty God. From then on I became determined to obey Him and to use my experiences to introduce the multitudes to Him.

Giant tents and giant trucks were not created to simply entertain the masses. They are a part of God’s plan to win the masses to Christ. This brief probationary period on Planet Earth is all about extending Almighty God's family and this is a very crucial time in human history. We absolutely must make the most of the days that remain. Every minute of every day is crucial. Every prayer that you pray concerning the lost is crucial. Every seed that you plant towards saving the lost is crucial. So crucial, in fact, we believe God will bring you substantial increase for every financial or material seed you plant towards the harvesting of human souls through the use of giant tents and giant trucks.

You are looking at photographs of three “cupola” style circus tents belonging to Circus Pinder in France. We are showing them to you because they are the style of tent, although not the color or design, that God has placed in our hearts. We will use a solid blue background with yellow stars as illustrated on our logo at the top of this vision report.

Why a solid blue background? In Jesus' day, Rabbis, including Jesus, would wear tassels on the hem of their garments. Each tassel was comprised of 500 white threads with a single blue thread in the center of the tassel. The white threads represented God's Holiness. The single blue thread represented the sky which was a constant reminder to look upwards towards Heaven. Our solid blue tent will serve as a constant reminder of our mission - plundering Hell to populate Heaven.

The yellow stars symbolize those who partner with us in the soulwinning mission of reminding lost humanity that there is a Hell to shun and a Heaven to gain. The Prophet Daniel spoke concerning the soulwinner's mission and reward when he said, "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the Earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt ... and they that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars forever." (Daniel 12:2-3)

This style of tent is called a cupola tent because it has a large cupola on the very top similar to what you see on top of old American barns and some Colonial homes. In the left and center photographs above the cupola is red. The cupola allows air to be drawn up from the tent floor and out through the top for ventilation. With the exception of the side curtains, all of the tent fabric is actually connected directly to the cupola. You will see and understand why as you read further.

Barbara and I have literally searched worldwide via the Internet studying the tents used by the circuses of the world. I have communicated with circus tent-masters, managers, employees, Italian and Mexican tent manufacturers, sales representatives, tent specialists, owners and aficionados. We have learned much about what it takes to travel and work with tents the style and size of these.

This cupola style of tent is quite different from those used in circuses and Evangelistic Crusades of the past. Those older style canvas tents were called “Pole Tents” or “Bale Ring Tents.” In those days, steel spikes at the tops of the wooden poles would be pushed through the steel bale rings in the canvas. Elephants, trucks or a brigade of men and women would then drag the bottom of the slanting pole. This would force the pole to stand upright, pushing the canvas upwards and supporting the Big Top.

You can perfectly see this older system in the photos below of Evangelist A.A. Allen’s 1950's pole tent.

You can see quite easily in these photographs the number of poles needed to hold up this older style canvas tent system. In the aerial photograph, you can see how the center pole steel spikes protrude through the bale rings in the center canvas top. These tents were both fascinating and effective.

However, tent technology has greatly improved. Most larger, modern tents no longer use wooden poles and bale rings, nor are they constructed of canvas. Larger tents today use aluminum framed “masts” in place of wooden center poles and the “fabric” is made of hi-tech vinyl as opposed to canvas. Modern tents are now often referred to as “tensile structures.”

These are photographs of one of Circus Pinder’s many cupola tents loaded on a customized drop frame trailer for easy transport. The red steel racks at the very top of the trailer are the main tent masts. Below them is the curved-top yellow cupola. In the right photograph, underneath the cupola you can actually see the Big Top fabric rolled and folded. The stakes and rigging that hold the masts and the tent up are all stored in the boxes that are built into the sides of the special drop frame trailer. It’s quite a modern, unique system and is now used by circuses worldwide for transporting some of the biggest tents in the world.

We are changing circuses and countries in these next photographs. This cupola tent belongs to Circus Finlandia in Finland. This photograph and those that follow give a very good visual of the tent “build up.”

The hydraulic arm mounted to the tractor that pulls the trailer is unloading the masts. In place of this hydraulic arm, we will use a “Tag Along” portable forklift (pictured later) capable of lifting the large aluminum framed masts. The Tag Along will also be used to easily pull the tent stakes out of the ground when it’s time for the “tear down” or "blow off" as circus people refer to it.

During the build up the masts are laid out on the ground, bolted together, anchored to the ground on steel plates with pivots and cabled upright by hand jacks or portable electric motors.

Looking closely you can see the massive amount of tent fabric folded under the blue cupola in this photograph. The tent masts are now upright and anchored all around the customized drop frame trailer. Notice how the red cupola “arms” are extended outward. They are attached to cables that are beginning to pull the cupola to the top of the four masts. These cables can also be pulled upward by electric motors mounted within the masts or by manually operated hand jacks.

Here the cupola continues its climb to the top of the giant masts. Notice again how much Big Top fabric is actually stored under the cupola while on the drop frame transport trailer. Once the fabric is fully extended and the tent is fully built up, the drop frame trailer is removed to make room for the center ring of the circus. In our case, we will leave our customized trailer inside the tent, placing an attractive skirting all around it, with stairs. The trailer then becomes the platform for the Preacher, pulpit, worship team, etc.

This photograph shows the cupola and fabric fully extended and suspended from the masts. Once the seating is set up inside the tent, the side curtains are hung and the tent is pretty much operational. Large generators carried on another truck are used to produce electricity for lighting, sound system, technical equipment, etc.

This cupola tent is smaller than that which we will have need of in our evangelistic outreach. However, these sequential photographs perfectly illustrate the uniqueness of a modern-day cupola tent build up.

This is a photograph of the inside of Circus Finlandia’s cupola tent. Three of the four masts are visible, as well as some of the “quarter poles.” You can see how the masts can be used to mount the sound system, lighting and cameras for live-streaming and recording services for television production. Notice the light technician sitting up on one of the masts.

The inside and the outside of our Gospel tent(s) will be much different than that of a circus tent, but these photographs give a very good idea of what the Lord has placed in our hearts for the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ - The Greatest Book on Earth.

The preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the most important job on Earth. It must be done with excellence!

The preaching of the Gospel is the most important message on Earth. It must be packaged with excellence!

Therefore, we have asked the Lord for at least two new Volvo 780 tractors with two customized trailers for transporting our first Gospel tent. We have also asked Him for a smaller equipment truck, as well as a motor home or a coach. We are unleashing faith for beautiful, reliable equipment such as the Volvo 780 and Prevost coach pictured below.

A matching pair of Volvo 780 tractors with customized trailers, a Tag Along, a motor coach and a utility truck all color coordinated to match the giant cupola tent will surely draw attention when they are positioned on the properties of the local Churches and Pastors who bring us in to help reap the local harvest of souls.

This is a photograph of the type of “conventional 18-inch drop frame trailer” needed for transporting the cupola tent fabric, masts, rigging and the Tag Along forklift. The upper deck will be customized to extend out over the lower deck all the way to the rear. This creates a level platform on top for transporting the cupola tent and for standing on to preach inside the tent. This also creates a storage space between the upper deck and lower deck for storing additional rigging, tent stakes, other tools and equipment.

Removable upright racks will be customized to carry the tent masts above the cupola while in transit. You can see how Circus Pinder customized their trailer in exactly this way in photos above. I have counseled with a steel fabricator and engineer who has customized these trailers in similar ways. He is confident that our type of customization is "a breeze.”

The custom trailers in these photographs are called “Drop Frame Vans." You can see the way the trailer floor drops directly behind the tractor tires. This is why it is called a “drop frame.” Drop frame trailers result in a tremendous amount of headroom. The headroom creates a place to hang lighting racks and other large lightweight items, leaving the floor space open and available.

The floor space in our drop frame van will carry the sound system, seating for thousands, road cases for both technical equipment and musical instruments, as well as a multitude of other things necessary for conducting itinerate tent crusades. This type of trailer is also large enough to carry a small automobile directly over the rear tires. Soul harvesters have to run errands, too, you know!

The Pontiac Racing Team and Hot Wheels exteriors illustrated above are examples of the type of computerized graphics available today. Simple, striking exterior graphics draw lots of attention. It is reported that specialized tractor-trailer graphics turn the heads of over ten million individuals annually.

God's Word. The Greatest Book on Earth

Imagine "World Harvest Tent Evangelism · Preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ · The Greatest Book on Earth" being boldly displayed with beautiful, hi-tech graphics on the sides of these massive Gospel billboards as they roll down the highway.

Now that is a modern-day, hi-tech, head-turning Gospel witness!

As we said, our cupola tent and all of our trucks and road equipment will be graphic and color coordinated, creating a powerful visual package, all calling attention to a powerful Savior. As stated earlier, the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the most important message on Earth and it must be packaged with excellence!

The photograph to the left shows the Tag Along forklift mounted to the rear of a truck similar to the way we will carry ours. Special slots will be cut and welded into the back of the customized cupola tent trailer. The Tag Along operator simply pulls it up slowly behind the trailer, directing the Tag Along forks into the trailer slots. Using the control to tell the forks to “drop” will actually lift the Tag Along off the ground. Special ratchet strapping keeps the Tag Along in place as the truck moves down the road. The Tag Along will also be color coordinated to match all the other World Harvest Tent Evangelism road equipment.

Now that you know what a Tag Along is, you will start seeing them everywhere. Let them be a reminder of how you can partner with John Hamel Ministries and World Harvest Tent Evangelism in plundering Hell and populating Heaven. Tag Alongs, with all of the other wonderful equipment you have seen here today, were created for such a time as this – Soul Harvest Time!

"For by Him were all things created, that are in Heaven and that are in Earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by Him, and for Him: And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist." (Colossians 1:16-17)

Every Soul Won Credited to Your Heavenly Account

If the idea of using this giant equipment to preach the Gospel is as exciting to you as it is to us, that’s the Holy Spirit talking to you. We trust you’ll respond to His leading and pray about becoming a partner with us. As you do, please keep the following narrative from the Bible in mind. It’s addressing you. It’s a Scriptural principle that applies to all the men and women, boys and girls, who are “called to send” those of us who are “called to go” with the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the masses.

One day King David returned to his camp and found that a band of Amalekite giants had plundered it. The Amalekites carried away with them all the women, children and material possessions. King David assigned warriors to come with him to pursue the Amalekite giants and to rescue his people. David assigned others to stay behind and guard the camp and their gear from further plundering. David's mighty men successfully rescued the women and children along with their possessions, taking all the Amalekite’s possessions as well.

Upon their return to the camp, some of the warriors who accompanied David did not want to share the spoil with the warriors David had assigned to stay behind as the National Guard. King David became indignant over their pride and selfishness. The following is what he said in response.

“Who would ever listen to this kind of talk? The share of the one who stays with the gear is the share of the one who fights - equal shares. Share and share alike! From that day on, David made that the rule in Israel - and it still is.” (1 Samuel 30:24-25, Message Bible)

Still today, those who are called to stay and send will receive the same reward as those of us who are called to go and preach. As a World Harvest Tent Evangelism partner and sender, you will receive the exact same reward as we will at the Bema Judgment Seat of Christ.

"For we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." (2 Corinthians 5:10)

Every soul saved under the World Harvest Tent Evangelism Big Top will be credited to your Heavenly account.

"Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account." (Philippians 4:17)

Jesus Is Coming

Jesus is coming and He’s coming soon. This confused and frightened world is more ready to be evangelized and to hear about the forgiveness, love, protection and provision of our good God than it ever has been at any other time in all of human history.

We live in an extremely dangerous world and people both need and want to hear that God is always their solution and never their problem.

Possibly you have a burning desire to do something unique and powerful for Christ and this vision report has stirred you in your spirit. You may have experience driving large trucks or buses. You may have experience as a tent-master, engineer, mechanic, circus roustabout, etc. You may have no experience in any of these areas, but are interested in becoming part of our itinerate tent crew in reaching North America for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Maybe you would like to provide part of, or an entire tent for us. Perhaps you’d like to provide one or more of the trucks and trailers through leasing or purchase. Maybe you would like to make a monthly contribution towards operating expenses. Or is it possible that the Holy Spirit is telling you to underwrite the entire World Harvest Tent Evangelism operation?

However the Lord is leading you, simply go to our Contact Page through the link at the very bottom of this page and let us hear from you. All involvement is necessary and significant, large or small.

One way or another, we pray you will join with us as we go after the lost souls of our sin-suffering nation and the world – all of them! WHTE

“Multitudes, multitudes in the Valley of Decision:

For the day of the Lord is near in the Valley of Decision.”

(Joel 3:14)

“They that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars forever.”

(Daniel 12:3)

“…he that winneth souls is wise.”

(Proverbs 11:30)

"And Jesus said unto them, Go ye into all the world,

and preach the Gospel to every creature."

(Mark 16:15)