Posted: 2/06/04
Graham plans Kansas City 'Heart of America' crusade
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (BP)–Evangelist Billy Graham will conduct a crusade in Kansas City, Mo., June 17-20 at Arrowhead Stadium, officials with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association announced Jan. 8.
Billed as “The Heart of America Billy Graham Crusade,” it will mark the third time Graham has conducted such an event in Kansas City, the last being in 1978.
Graham and the BGEA team are coming “in fear and trembling and in weakness, but with great joy and dependence upon the Holy Spirit,” said Cliff Barrows, Graham's longtime associate and song leader who spoke at the news conference attended by several hundred media, area pastors and lay leaders.
Barrows said Graham's broken left hip, which required surgery and a partial replacement Jan. 6 at a hospital in Jacksonville, Fla., would not deter him from his 415th crusade.
“Mr. Graham is doing wonderfully well,” Barrows said. “The hospital expects a complete recovery. He'll plan to be here as scheduled, and we're praising God for that.”
Graham suffered the broken hip when he fell in a hotel room on the grounds of the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, where he was reporting for a semiannual checkup.
Larry Turner, vice president of crusades for the BGEA, read an acceptance letter from Graham that expressed how deeply the renowned evangelist wants to return to Kansas City.
“I never expected to still be preaching at the age of 85, and yet my call to proclaim the gospel is as strong as ever,” Graham wrote. “For the past two years, the Lord has given me a burden for Kansas City, and the heart of America. … Therefore, health permitting, I will be glad to come to Kansas City. My associates and I are honored to join hands with you in proclaiming the Good News, praying that many will accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.”
The acceptance letter by Graham read at the Jan. 8 new conference made it clear Graham would follow up his 1967 and 1978 crusades with yet another in 2004.
We seek to connect God’s story and God’s people around the world. To learn more about God’s story, click here.
Send comments and feedback to Eric Black, our editor. For comments to be published, please specify “letter to the editor.” Maximum length for publication is 300 words.