This Week in Christian History: Billy Graham, St. Augustine, and French Persecution

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, August 27, 2017

Billy Graham Concludes Major New York Crusade — Sept. 1, 1957

Evangelist Billy Graham preaches to thousands. | (Photo: A. Larry Ross Communications)

This week marks the anniversary of when the Rev. Billy Graham concluded a major crusade in New York City.

Considered his longest and largest series of revival meetings, the New York Crusade lasted 16 weeks and recorded approximately 2.3 million attendees.

"On what was planned to be the final night of the Crusade (July 20, 1957), 100,000 people jammed Yankee Stadium to hear Billy Graham preach. At that time, it was the largest crowd in the stadium's history," noted the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

"Because of popularity, the New York Crusade was extended to Sept. 1, 1957. Nearly 2.4 million people attended the meetings and more than 61,000 made decisions for Christ."

After the 1957 crusade, Graham made multiple returns to the Big Apple, including in 1960, 1969, 1970, and 1991.