Rose Bowl Meetings Draw More Than 300,000 Over Four Days

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 22, 2004 - Evangelist Billy Graham's ministry came full circle as his Greater Los Angeles Crusade, held November 18-21 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, ended 55 years to the weekend from his historic "Canvas Cathedral" tent revival in downtown L.A. that launched his ministry into worldwide prominence.

"So many of us have been praying that God will move mightily in this town and be the beginning of a spiritual awakening," Mr. Graham said.  "But I think we've had a number of factors that lead to that including the whole period of President Reagan's death.  There was a spiritual tone in the whole country.  I feel that people are looking for something, searching for purpose and meaning in their lives, and they can find it in Christ." 

That search was evident throughout the crusade as crowds averaging over 73,600 attended each meeting, including 90,000 teenagers for "The Concert for Our Generation" - the largest audience for a non-sporting event at "America's Stadium."  Of these, an average of more than 3,150 individuals each night came forward at Mr. Graham's invitation to make a commitment to Christ, including a total of 1,560 from the various language groups.

More than 1,400 churches representing 100 denominations participated in the yearlong preparations, mobilizing over 20,000 volunteers from their congregations.  Leadership for this crusade was provided by three area pastors, including Dr. Lloyd Ogilvie, former U.S. Senate chaplain and pastor emeritus of First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, who served as honorary chair.  Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer, pastor of Faithful Central Bible Church, and Dr. Jack Hayford, founding pastor of Church on the Way, served as co-chairs.

"There is no greater city in the world than Los Angeles, and yet there is not a city in the world with greater needs than Los Angeles." Dr. Ogilvie said.  "Every one of us is filled with an expectation.  Relationships are going to be reconciled, families healed and the community is going to be blessed."

Bishop Ulmer affirmed the crusade's inclusiveness. "Part of the greatness of this city is its diversity," he said. "No other city in the world brings together people from such diverse and varied backgrounds, ethnicities, languages, to make up one great city.  This crusade is intentionally and deliberately structured to reach out to this varied community."  

According to Dr. Hayford, this crusade was held in God's timing.  "I see the door cracking open from the dismal darkness of cynicism that's been so prevalent in our nation in recent years toward anything spiritual," he said. "God is leveraging something this moment that we have no concept what it is going to open up, but I do believe the crusade is a big part of it."

Before the meetings began, Mr. Graham was presented with the Prince of Peace Award in recognition of his role as a peacemaker for more than six decades. Mr. Graham is only the fourth recipient of this award, which has also been given to Mother Teresa, former Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, and King Hussein of Jordan.

In presenting the award Bert Boeckmann, chairman of the Prince of Peace Committee said, "We honor Dr. Graham for staying true to God's high calling on his life, for bringing the knowledge of the peace of God to millions around the world, and for living his life in such a way that people who hear him want what he has."

As he did during crusade meetings in Kansas City last month, Mr. Graham seemed to get stronger in the pulpit each night as he preached about God's love and the need for each individual to turn to Him in repentance and faith.

"The Passion of Christ that Mel Gibson has depicted on the screen is so moving and so genuine," Mr. Graham said.  "He gave His life - all the scourging and all the nails that went into His hands and His feet - were for you.  He shed His blood for you and me.

"A few years ago there was a movement in this country called the Jesus movement, among young people," Mr. Graham added.  "It would be great if we could move in that direction now.  So much of our culture comes from this part of the country.  We could start another culture with Jesus at the center, and obeying His commandments."

Referring to the river of cultures coming together on the field at the altar call one night, Mr. Graham said, "Wouldn't it be wonderful here if this could be a model of racial understanding, right in Southern California.  I see a couple of two different ethnic backgrounds hugging each other - that may be the first time they've done that.  Let's be a generation of huggers."

The Crusade went to great lengths to be inclusive of the vast array of language groups in the Los Angeles community.  Simultaneous interpretation was provided to 14 language groups per night and a total of 26 - more than any other crusade Mr. Graham has ever held.  Approximately 40 percent of the seats at the Rose Bowl were allocated for people in the language groups listening via low-power AM radio headsets.  Individuals responding to the invitation went forward to a sign marking their language and were met by a trained counselor who prayed for them in their native tongue.

The Crusade's Love-in-Action Committee provided a three-fold emphasis to meet the basic food and hygiene needs of the approximately 1.5 million hungry and needy throughout greater Los Angeles - more than any other major U.S. urban area.  Throughout the month of November, more than 20,000 needy individuals were fed at 30 "Feasts of Faith" across Greater Los Angeles.

In addition, more than 40,000 boxes of food were collected in advance and at the crusade meetings.  On Saturday, 6,250 hungry and homeless people attended a VIP tailgate party in the parking lot of the Rose Bowl, and were then escorted to special seating for the crusade meeting.

Saturday was also devoted to reaching the young people of the community, with guests including Bibleman and the musical group Jump5, who presented the Gospel message to children at "Kidz Net" that morning.  Teenagers enjoyed the evening "Concert for Our Generation," with music provided by Kutless, TAIT, and Third Day, before hearing from Mr. Graham, who spoke to them as a grandfather, telling them of God's love and forgiveness as the means of satisfying their search for purpose and meaning in life.

Guest speakers at the crusade included Janice Hahn, Los Angeles city councilwoman, sister of the current mayor James Hahn, and daughter of longtime Los Angeles County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn.  She spoke of her upbringing in a Christian home and how that has sustained her through life's trials and given her strength to make a positive difference in people's lives through her position of public service.  Michael Reagan, son of the late President Ronald Reagan, spoke Sunday afternoon of how God's love enabled him to overcome childhood trauma and teenage rebellion to finally show his love for his dad.

The Crusade also impacted those behind bars in area prisons.  More than 8,000 inmates in nearly 35 area facilities heard a presentation of the Gospel message by associate evangelists of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. On Saturday, women from one local facility were so impacted they collected a donation for the crusade, many giving from a very meager salary of less than twenty-five cents an hour.

The Greater Los Angeles Crusade was Mr. Graham's second this year, following his Heart of America Crusade, held at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City Oct. 7-10.  More than 155,000 attended those meetings, of which over 8,600 made faith commitments.  Mr. Graham has been invited to hold a crusade in the New York area in June 2005.