Thursday, August 30, 2001
Graham crusade likely in June
By Ben L. Kaufman
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Rev. Graham
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Health permitting, the Rev. Billy Graham likely will preach a crusade in Paul Brown Stadium June 27-30, a spokesman and the stadium manager confirmed Wednesday.
It would be the Rev. Mr. Graham's first crusade in the Tristate since 1977.
The Rev. Mr. Graham looks favorably on the Tristate's ecumenical invitation, spokesman A. Larry Ross said. Moreover, he “has a special burden for the needs of the city and has expressed a desire to preach the Gospel, as he did in Cincinnati in 1977,” Mr. Ross said.
The Rev. Mr. Graham — 82 and slowed by health problems — wants to help the city heal from the racial unrest in April.
The official invitation from local religious groups will ask him to preach “and encourage racial healing and harmony,” said the Rev. Larry Davis, pastor of First Baptist Church of Cold Spring.
That also was the hope when black and white religious leaders invited the Rev. Mr. Graham to preach a crusade in Louisville.
His next crusade is in Fresno, Calif., Oct. 11-14.
Pastor Davis said his church contacted the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association last fall about a Tristate crusade. Now, more than 200 churches and religious groups are involved and a nonprofit corporation has been formed to raise and spend the millions required to stage a Graham crusade.
Pastor Davis said he has a firm commitment for the crusade from Sterling Huston, director of Graham ministries for North America.
However, Mr. Ross cautioned that an official announcement won't come until Sept. 26, when Graham representatives meet with Tristate clergy.
Hamilton County Commissioner John Dowlin said June 27-30 had been reserved for a crusade at Paul Brown Stadium.
Hamilton County, whose encouragement of last year's National Day of Prayer was challenged as a violation of church-state separation, is not sponsoring the crusade, Mr. Dowlin said.
He expects the county to share rental income with the Bengals, but, “This is a business deal,” Mr. Dowlin said.
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