Greater Los Angeles Billy Graham Crusade Draws 45,000 on Opening Night
Over 45,000 gathered Thursday night at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena for the opening night of Billy Graham’s seventh evangelistic crusade in Los Angeles and his 416th worldwide
Over 45,000 gathered Thursday night at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena for the opening night of a historic four-day evangelistic crusade led by one of the world's most recognized religious leaders. The Greater Los Angeles Crusade, Rev. Billy Graham’s seventh in Los Angeles and his 416th worldwide, marked his return to the area that hosted the historic 1949 crusade that brought him and his ministry to national attention.
As Graham opened what could be his last crusade on the U.S. West Coast, the 86-year-old evangelist preached the same message of hope that he had devoted a lifetime to preaching.
People in the stadium-turned-church cheered as Graham was lifted to the stage by a hydraulic lift. He smiled despite his infirmities and gained strength as he spoke, calling on people to confess their sins and accept Jesus as their Lord and savior.
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"Do you feel your life has been a failure? Is your life turned upside down? Do you wonder which way to turn? The choice you make tonight will affect your whole life. It will also affect where you spend eternity," Graham said, as reported by the Associated Press. "Where will you be 100 years from now? You won't be here. ... The cross guarantees a future life."
Around 2,500 responded to the call, making their way to the stage to be connected with local churches, some smiling and many in tears.
Larry Ross, a spokesman for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, told AP that crowds were likely to grow as the crusade moves into the weekend.
Since 1949, Graham has held five more campaigns in the Greater Los Angeles area, and altogether, more than 75,000 individuals have made decisions for Christ.
