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Crowd clamors for insight of visitor
By GAIL HOLLENBECK INVERNESS -- Having Zola Levitt speak in Citrus County is pretty big news, say those who invited him. The internationally known speaker on Bible prophecy was in Inverness last weekend and will be in Dunnellon on Sunday. Levitt is the "biggest name" the church has ever brought to its pulpit, according to Larry Powers, senior pastor of the Inverness Church of God. The church was filled to capacity Sunday to hear the minister-evangelist speak at the morning and evening services on current events and how they relate to the Bible. Levitt, whose ministry is based in Dallas, calls himself a Jewish Christian. He was educated through synagogues and says that through Campus Crusade for Christ he "was brought to the Messiah" in 1971. He is the host of Zola Levitt Presents, a national weekly TV broadcast, and Zola Levitt Live, a syndicated radio program. He has more than 50 books to his credit and has written about 200 spiritual songs. His two musicals, Beloved Thief and Mine Eyes Have Seen, have been televised nationally. Levitt leads several tours to Israel each year as well as to Jordan, Greece, Europe, the Mediterranean and Turkey. Levitt recently spoke from his hotel room in Orlando about his visit to Florida. "It's really Orlando that brings me here," Levitt said. "It has this Holy Land Experience (theme park), which is so credible in representing Israel that people come and get the same impression and spiritual feeling that they get when they're in the real Jerusalem or the real Galilee. "It's not just accurate. It is that, but it's got the same feel to it somehow," he said. "They've captured it. People walking the streets blowing shofars and saying "Shalom' and wearing first century costumes. The excellent copy of the garden tomb and of the first century temple. In fact, in some ways it's superior because the real Israel doesn't have the first century." Levitt was in Orlando to lead a tour group through the site for the weekend, as he had the weekend before. Another weekend is planned for Dec. 28-30, and he said there is still room for people to join that group. "It's really something," Levitt said. "It's really a nice weekend of Christian fellowship and Bible learning." Levitt said he had taken more than 70 tours to the real Israel in the past 30 years. "The interest in the country has always been overwhelming to me since I was saved in 1971," he said. "By the way, all of the trips were quiet. I don't know what they (the media) are talking about. There's some excitement there, yes, just as there is here, but nothing to make the front page every day. The death rate in Orlando is probably 10 times what it is in Israel. My hope is to keep up interest in Israel." Judging by the questions asked of Levitt at the Inverness church Sunday night, the interest in Israel is strong. "I'm pretty sought after these days among believers because our ministry has been saying this was going to happen," Levitt said about the recent terrorism in this country. "Not that I can foretell the future, but I've quoted accurately from biblical prophets and expected a situation to come. I've been almost every weekend since Sept. 11 at some different church or meeting of some sort answering questions." According to the church's associate pastor, Harvey Dunn, the interest in the morning service was also strong. "He talked about the terrorism and the reasoning behind it. He spoke off the cuff and presented it very well. I saw a lot of interest and a lot of enthusiasm," Dunn said. First Baptist Church of Dunnellon is inviting people of all faiths to hear Levitt speak there Sunday. "The attack on America has jolted many of us to examine what is important in our lives. Our family, our jobs, our God," a press release says. "The truth is, all of us will die one day, and to most of us, it will come as a surprise. Come and hear what the prophecy of the holy Bible tells us and if we are close to Judgment Day." Talk and tour:Dunnellon visit: Zola Levitt will speak at 8:30 and 11 a.m. Sunday at First Baptist Church of Dunnellon, 20831 Powell Road (corner of Powell and County Road 40/Cedar Street). Call 489-2730 for information. Orlando tour: To join Levitt on Dec. 28-30 through the Holy Land Experience in Orlando, call toll-free 1-800-966-3377 (1-800-WONDERS) or Tony Derrick at (214) 696-9760. The cost is $299 for the first person and $99 for each additional family member. It includes a two-night hotel stay, all meals, local transportation and admission. Also call those numbers for the spring 2002 tour of Israel, Greece, Petra and Jordan. For more information on Levitt's ministry, visit www.levitt.com
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