Christ’s crusader finds his flesh is weakening

Press, 12 July 1984, Page 16

Christ’s crusader finds his flesh is weakening

Reuters Birmingham, England

For the first time in tireless and back-breaking decades of preaching the Christian gospel to millions round the world, Billy Graham is having to consider slowing down. The American evangelist, aged 65, acknowledged as the greatest popular crusader for Christ in modern times, is beginning to feel his age. After two months of a gruelling three-month mission to Britain, Dr Graham admitted that he had pondered whether he was “physically capable” of undertaking the task.

As world-wide commitments stretched ahead, he said he longed for more, time for leisure, exercise — and sleep, Dr Graham’s appearance seems to belie his words. The old spell-binder is youthfully lean and deeply tanned. His blue eyes blaze with conviction and his voice has lost none of its resonance.

Grey sideburns are the only mark of age on his head of blond and wavy hair. But something close to exhaustion can be detected under the surface of the man who is arousing spiri-

tual fervour in regions of Britain once called “the graveyard of evangelism.” Saying that'he is amazed and gratified by the enthusiastic public response to his first crusade in Britain for 17 years, Dr Graham nevertheless concedes he takes on too much. “If I hadn’t become an evangelist I would have joined the cult of sun worship,” he said in a lake-side interview outside his country hotel near Birmingham where tens of ■ thousands flock nightly to his rallies. The crusade in England got off to an unfortunate start. Before addressing his first rally in Bristol on May 12, Dr Graham had to undergo a sinus operation. He was also desperately anxious about the health of his wife, Ruth — “we’ve been married 40 years and we are more in love now than we were on our wedding day.” Mrs Graham has joined her husband in London after major surgery during which Dr Graham sent her three red roses each day. “I dread to see the phone bill to the hospital,” he said. In spite of his misgivings about being able to keep up the killing pace of converting waverers to Christianity, the world’s most famous Baptist preacher remains an unrivalled crowd-puller. “Billy’s back in town,”

proclaimed a Birmingham newspaper in a special supplement

On a July evening of cloudless skies, a near-capa-city crowd of 33,553 people was counted through the turnstiles at Villa Park, home of the Aston Villa soccer club.

A stadium usually loud with the jeers and cheers of football fans was transformed into a revivalist meeting, with a 1000-voice choir leading an excited audience through rousing hymns, all massively amplified.

Thousands unable to get in, saw everything on giant video screens. The rally was carried by cable to all 16 Birmingham hospitals and to house-bound people who could pick up the phone and “dial a sermon.”

The crowd packing the stadium appeared to be an even mix of young and old, with many children at a high pitch of excitement over staying up late with their parents. There was a great sigh as Dr Graham came to the platform and began speaking under a huge sign advertising “Ansells Bitter,” a local beer. In 45 minutes of stunning oratory, skilful repetition and endearing touches of humour, he had the crowd in the palm of his hand.

At the end, about 10 per cent of the audience streamed on to the green turf in response to Graham’s call for “a holy moment” — their personal dedication to Jesus Christ.

Counsellors specially trained by 600 churches supporting the crusade shepherded them forward into the arc lights, telling each individual that by their decision they had changed their lives for the better.

Dr Graham, towering over the ceremony, prayed fervently for their salvation.

“That is the most drain--ing time for me,” he said later. “I sense that people throughout the world are trying to get through — that they are sending messages

of hope, wanting us to succeed in England and go on from there.”

Dr Graham, who said that his successful sinus operation gave him new strength at the start of his present campaign, perceives a “spiritual awakening” in Britain.

“Something amazing is going on in this country,” he said. “Over the years there are more black people coming forward. I see them as they gather before me—- — and thousands dedicating themselves to Christ”

Birmingham, England’s second city, has a large and vociferous population of West Indians and Asians. Many were in evidence at the Villa Park rallies, arriving in coachloads and struggling to get home afterwards.

“Man, I found God tonight but I’ve lost my transport,” said one West Indian shopkeeper, searching for his car in streets thronged by police and security officers.

Critics often accuse American evangelists of praising God and banking the proceeds, but Dr Graham’s income of about 586,000 a year is fixed by his foundation.

Dr Graham appeared somewhat weary as he looked ahead to an energysapping programme that will involve more worldwide travels when his English crusade ends late this month.

He is due to go on to South Korea, where he expects up to three million people to gather in a single audience. But first, in line with his new resolve to conserve his powers, he plans to stop off in Hawaii for a few days’ rest Argentina next year and France in 1986 are on the schedule. Almost as an afterthought, he said that he had been invited to visit four Soviet cities in September before going on to Canada in October.

“I have accepted in principle,” he said. “But let’s wait and see how I feel.”