Billy Graham In the City That Never Sleeps
As Evangelist Billy Graham closed his three-day Greater New York Crusade, held June 24-26 at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens, he encountered unavoidable media speculation that these meetings might be his last large-scale, domestic evangelistic campaign.
"I was asked in an interview if this is our last crusade, and it probably is-in New York," Mr. Graham told the crowd of 90,000 gathered for the final meeting on a hot and humid Sunday afternoon. "But I also said, 'Never say never.'
"This is not the end," Mr. Graham added, noting he has a strong invitation to visit the United Kingdom which he will discuss this week with a delegation that came to New York to support these meetings. "I will be praying for New York every day when I leave here, that God will continue what He has begun. With all my heart I love New York and thank God for it."
According to New York City police and park officials, overflowing crowds totaled 230,000 of which an average of nearly 2,800 individuals responded at each meeting to Mr. Graham's invitation to come forward and make a commitment to Christ.
More than 1,400 churches representing 82 denominations participated in the yearlong preparations mobilizing nearly 20,000 volunteers from their congregations. Dr. A.R. Bernard, pastor of the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn, provided local leadership for the Crusade Executive Committee.
"As a result of this crusade New York City will never be the same again," Dr. Bernard said at the closing meeting. "We are entering a new season in ministry and in the presence of God in New York City and across our country. We are redefining what it means for God to be alive and well in our urban cities. We have a responsibility not to let this transformation stop at Flushing Meadows Park-it must continue long after the Crusade is over."
Area prison inmates were also included in the crusade effort with Mr. Graham's longtime associate evangelist Ralph Bell bringing the Gospel to those behind bars at Riker's Island and the Northern State New Jersey Prison system. Nine outreaches were conducted in eight different local facilities with those behind bars also being given an opportunity to hear the message of God's love and forgiveness and respond to the invitation to make a commitment to Christ.
Rev. Billy Graham is Honorary Co-Chair of the Mission America Coalition.
Historic Madrid Festival Brings Gospel to Western Europe
Evangelist Luis Palau concluded his Festival Madrid outreach this past weekend as over 85,000 people gathered to hear “great music and Good News.”
In what Spain’s church community is calling the largest evangelistic gathering in the nation’s history, Festival Madrid drew national attention as hundreds of churches and thousands of volunteers – called “Amigos del Festival” - united for the unprecedented event.
“Spain may be the spiritual doorway to bringing the message of God’s love back to Western Europe,” said Palau. “Old barriers to faith have been broken down this week, and thousands of Spaniards now have a new or renewed relationship with Jesus Christ.”
In a predominately secular nation with a small percentage of evangelicals, Palau’s message was well received by the large crowds and, notably, by the local and national media. “This part of the world needs so much to hear a message of hope, not of religion,” Palau told a press conference prior to the festival. “Jesus did not come to make us religious, but to bring us God’s love.”
The festival also had a service component, including a blood drive and a fundraiser (through bottled water sales) to benefit Tsunami humanitarian projects.
Palau will return to the U.S. for two upcoming festivals – one in his home state of Oregon (www.centraloregonfestival.org) and the other on the National Mall in Washington D.C.(www.dcfestival.org).
Dr. Luis Palau is a member of the Mission America Coalition Honorary Advisory Committee.
