This week in Christian history: SBC elects first black president, Billy Graham’s last crusade

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, June 19, 2022

Billy Graham begins final crusade event – June 24, 2005

Evangelist Billy Graham speaks during the final day of his Crusade at Flushing Meadows Park in New York on June 26, 2005. Graham, 86, has preached the Gospel to more people in a live audience format than anyone in history - over 210 million people in more than 185 countries. His followers believe that the New York Crusade which runs from June 24 to 26 will be his last live appearance. | Reuters/Keith Bedford

This week marks the anniversary of when the Rev. Billy Graham, a notable evangelist who held revival events all over the world, began his final crusade event in New York.

From June 24-26, the gathering was held at the 93-acre Flushing Meadows Corona Park and boasted around 242,000 attendees, with around 9,400 people coming forward to make decisions for Christ.

Longtime Graham associates Cliff Barrows and George Beverly Shea were honored on the stage, and then New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg also gave an official greeting.

“It is truly an honor for our city to host this historic gathering, and it’s also a tremendous privilege to welcome Billy Graham to New York City,” said Bloomberg.

Although he would be done with his traveling crusades, Graham continued to write advice columns and would engage in digital evangelism for years afterward.