Bible in the bleachers
Metroplex Mission joins Billy Graham and Friends on Oct. 17 – 20 for Graham’s second-largest evangelistic outreach of 2002.
Amy Hunter, a sophomore involved with SMU campus ministries such as Baptist Student Ministry and Higher Ground, said she’s excited about Graham coming to DFW.
“He has a powerful ministry that is long-standing and that has affected many people,” she said.
Accompanying Graham will be various Christian artists. Thursday night will feature Cece Winans and the group Caedmon’s Call. Friday night, Dove Awards winner Jaci Velasquez and country singer Randy Travis will perform.
According to Metroplex Mission, Saturday will be devoted to young people. Kidz Gig runs from 10:30 a.m. to noon featuring Psalty the Singing Songbook and a special appearance by Veggie Tales’ Larry the Cucumber and Bob the Tomato. Saturday night, from 6 – 9 p.m., “A Concert for the Next Generation” will feature artists Kirk Franklin, Jars of Clay and DC Talk with Toby Mac and Tait.
The event will end on Oct. 20 with Dove Awards winner Michael W. Smith and the Gaither Vocal Band.
Billy Graham will speak at all services except the Kidz Gig. Interpreters will be available for Chinese, Arabic, Gujarati, Hindi, Russian and Vietnamese speakers.
“Billy Graham is a man of great personal integrity, he has a powerful ministry, and he has helped change many people’s lives,” said Dr. Scott J. Jones of the Center for the Advancing Study and Practice of Evangelism and a professor of Theology at the Perkins School. “His method of crusades and mass meetings are a venue to help people make decisions for Christ.”
The October mission will be the second and final outreach of this magnitude for this year by Graham. The first took place in June at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. Graham’s last mission to DFW was in 1971 and was the christening event of Texas Stadium.
According to rumor, this year’s event will be Graham’s last. Melany Ethridge of Metroplex Mission Media Relations said this isn’t true.
“People say it’s his last [crusade] because he hasn’t officially announced when his next event will be yet, ” said Ethridge. “Also, he’s been doing two of these major events for years, and he’s contemplating on just doing one per year. But this one definitely isn’t his last.”
Thursday, Friday and Sunday services will also have gospel singers George Beverly Shea and Cliff Barrows directing a 5,000 voice choir.
Local churches have been handing out invitations and raising awareness for the event, emphasizing that all seats are free and tickets are not required. However, there will be a free-will offering. All funds from the offering are to cover local expenses for the event and do not go to Graham for speaking.
