Baptist Crusade

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30857, 16 September 1965, Page 16

Baptist Crusade

Sir,—Your correspondent. 'Tolerance,” is perfectly free to express his views about the present nation-wide crusade. However, there seems to be certain facts about which he is not aware. The American ministers are conducting this crusade at the invitation of the Baptist Union of New Zealand, and many of the visiting preachers have forgone their annual vacations to come down here to speak at these meetings. The expense from America to the New Zealand church, and return, has been met by the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention of America, and other than money spent on local advertising, there is no cost to the New Zealand Baptist churches.

This is definitely not an attempt at mass hysteria, and if your correspondent does not agree with my statement, I invite him to attend some of the crusade meetings at his nearest Baptist church, and prove the truth of it for himself.—Yours, etc., (Rev.) GAVIN A. SMITH, Convener, Canterbury and Westland Baptist Association Public Questions Committee. September 15, 1965.

Sir, “Tolerance” raises several questions which deserve answers—however, 150 words restricts me to only one—“something that does not last.” I was not “converted” at the Billy Graham crusade itself but went forward at Lancaster Park, as did many others, to inquire further and then I attended Oxford Terrace Baptist Church where 1 came to accept Christ as my Lord and Saviour. Since then I have worked both in the church and community. While I share the concern on the Negro question, in our own community there are needs not being met by the public and will only be met when people become aware that they are their brother’s keeper. I would welcome ‘Tolerance” to attend the crusade, or perhaps to contact me privately should he wish to determine my sincerity.—Yours, etc., R. S. LEACH. September 15, 1965.