Pastor begins park rallies

Press, 26 February 1987, Page 1

Pastor begins park rallies

;..By

DEBORAH McPHERSON

A crowd of about 45W gave a quiet welcome to the , Canadian evangelist, Dr Leighton Ford, at Queen Etiiabeth II Park brother-in-law of the evangelist, Dr Billy Graham, is in Christchßrch for a fiveday series of rallies and meetings at the park. “Mission Christchurch* is one of several crusades he will hold in New Zealand this month and in March. Organisers hoped for up to 6099 people at each of the first three evening rallies, and have predicted a crowd of 11,0 M on Saturday and Sunday evenings. A pokeka (chant) by the members of the Christchurch Maori Club’s Te Kotahltanga (reconciliation) choir received an enthusiastic reaction from Dr Ford. A prayer of thanksgiving was said by the Anglican Maori Missioner, the Rev. Jim Tahere. During the service an interpreter for the deaf, Mrs Megan Mansfield, explained in sign language Dr Ford’s message to a small group seated in the middle of the park’s grandstand. An interpreter wili be available at this evening’s rally and on Saturday. Last evening’s theme covered “Hope in an age of anxiety.” A big inter-denomina-tional choir and orchestra, pooled from' more than 180 churches which are supporting the mission; led the singing. Bins in the foyer of the .... park for people to place - gifts of canned and dried ■“ food remained mainly distributed to needy X.’ Christchurch people by the Salvation Army and X the City Mission. : Thecrowd seemed de- -■* lighted when it was told Z no collection would be necessary as most of the £ rallies’ budget of more . than $139,986 had already Z been met by churches, - businesses, and indlvl- Z duals. ; ,j.An offering would be \ held on Sunday evening, however, .to offset Dr Ford and s his team'* costs, said the chairman “ of the mission’s finance committee,; Mr Grant Adam.; !,'< .- r.V After the meeting responded" to an altar