rollemup
Nitro Member
I found this to be very moving.
In what might prove to be the crowning achievement of an illustrious
career in ministry, the 87-year-old evangelist, Billy Graham shocked
the 16,300 in attendance at the Celebration of Hope crusade in New
Orleans Arena on Sunday Night.
Touted in advance as possibly his last Evangelistic crusade, Graham
invited the packed house of evangelical Christians and the hundreds of
new converts to join him on the one mile walk from the arena to New
Orleans' infamous Bourbon Street.
"While we have seen God do tremendous things here the past couple of
evenings. Yes, it is true that a great healing and a great many
salvations have occurred within the confines of this auditorium
Still yet, there lies a great mountain in this city which needs to
be conquered."
Then taking from the Biblical Book of Joshua Chapter 14 he read, "I
am this day, eighty-five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as on
the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now
is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in Now
therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day,"
his voice suddenly sounding more forceful than during his 22 minute
sermon.
"I last preached in the City of New Orleans in 1954 and I felt then
that there was some unfinished business. Tonight, in what very well
might be my last evangelistic service, I aim to finish that business
and lead as many of you that would follow me to the multitude of
lost souls that fill Bourbon Street tonight. That is my mountain!
That is where we shall see the harvest!" said Graham as the stadium
erupted in cheers that lasted the next several minutes.
Utilizing a waiting mobility scooter, the elder Graham joined his
son Franklin across the Arena floor and
through the opened doors leading towards the French Quarter. In a
show of solidarity and determination reminiscent of civil rights marches
of the 1960's, nearly the entire capacity crowd joined in the
20 minute trek while singing, "When the Saints Go Marching In".
As the march crossed Canal Street and headed northward towards
Bourbon Street, many onlookers stood in stunned silence as the massive
crowd Of people began singing in unison the Christian hymn,
Amazing Grace.
Upon entering the west end of Bourbon Street, Billy Graham was soon
recognized by partiers.
Soon those joining in the march began to approach those partying on
Bourbon Street with the Gospel message that they had heard preached just
a half hour before. Graham himself joined with a group of local
street evangelist in ministering to a man who had survived Hurricane
Katrina in the lower 9th Ward.
Within 30 minutes the entirety of Bourbon Street was packed with
Christians and the once blaring music of nightclubs and strip joints had
been replaced by weeping and worship as people poured out their
drinks and sought prayer from the Christians who were now reaching
out to them.
"I have never seen anything like this in my life," said 20 years New
Orleans Police Department veteran, Tom Phillips. "This is unbelievable!
We thought a riot was going to break out, but this looks more like a
Revival than a riot!"
Two hours later, a glowing Graham sat back down on his scooter and
smiled. "Now I know how the Apostle Paul must have felt at the end of
his ministry. Do the work of an evangelist; make full proof of thy
ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my
departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my
course, I have kept the faith."
Hours later hundreds of Christians remained on the street
ministering to the many people eagerly waiting to receive prayer and
ministry.
New Orleans will never be the same. And the press remained mute on
this "news item?"
Did anyone see it on TV/hear it on radio/read it in the paper?
Why are we not surprised? Can't have THAT just prior to a major
election, now, can we? Well, just on a whim, spread the news, anyway.
It cost our elder brother, Billy Graham, more than any of us know to
make that effort.
The least we can do is publicize it.
JESUS IS LORD!!
"I would rather live my life as if there is a God, and die to find
out there isn't, than live my life as if there isn't, and find out there
is."
And to that I say "AMEN"!
In what might prove to be the crowning achievement of an illustrious
career in ministry, the 87-year-old evangelist, Billy Graham shocked
the 16,300 in attendance at the Celebration of Hope crusade in New
Orleans Arena on Sunday Night.
Touted in advance as possibly his last Evangelistic crusade, Graham
invited the packed house of evangelical Christians and the hundreds of
new converts to join him on the one mile walk from the arena to New
Orleans' infamous Bourbon Street.
"While we have seen God do tremendous things here the past couple of
evenings. Yes, it is true that a great healing and a great many
salvations have occurred within the confines of this auditorium
Still yet, there lies a great mountain in this city which needs to
be conquered."
Then taking from the Biblical Book of Joshua Chapter 14 he read, "I
am this day, eighty-five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as on
the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now
is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in Now
therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day,"
his voice suddenly sounding more forceful than during his 22 minute
sermon.
"I last preached in the City of New Orleans in 1954 and I felt then
that there was some unfinished business. Tonight, in what very well
might be my last evangelistic service, I aim to finish that business
and lead as many of you that would follow me to the multitude of
lost souls that fill Bourbon Street tonight. That is my mountain!
That is where we shall see the harvest!" said Graham as the stadium
erupted in cheers that lasted the next several minutes.
Utilizing a waiting mobility scooter, the elder Graham joined his
son Franklin across the Arena floor and
through the opened doors leading towards the French Quarter. In a
show of solidarity and determination reminiscent of civil rights marches
of the 1960's, nearly the entire capacity crowd joined in the
20 minute trek while singing, "When the Saints Go Marching In".
As the march crossed Canal Street and headed northward towards
Bourbon Street, many onlookers stood in stunned silence as the massive
crowd Of people began singing in unison the Christian hymn,
Amazing Grace.
Upon entering the west end of Bourbon Street, Billy Graham was soon
recognized by partiers.
Soon those joining in the march began to approach those partying on
Bourbon Street with the Gospel message that they had heard preached just
a half hour before. Graham himself joined with a group of local
street evangelist in ministering to a man who had survived Hurricane
Katrina in the lower 9th Ward.
Within 30 minutes the entirety of Bourbon Street was packed with
Christians and the once blaring music of nightclubs and strip joints had
been replaced by weeping and worship as people poured out their
drinks and sought prayer from the Christians who were now reaching
out to them.
"I have never seen anything like this in my life," said 20 years New
Orleans Police Department veteran, Tom Phillips. "This is unbelievable!
We thought a riot was going to break out, but this looks more like a
Revival than a riot!"
Two hours later, a glowing Graham sat back down on his scooter and
smiled. "Now I know how the Apostle Paul must have felt at the end of
his ministry. Do the work of an evangelist; make full proof of thy
ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my
departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my
course, I have kept the faith."
Hours later hundreds of Christians remained on the street
ministering to the many people eagerly waiting to receive prayer and
ministry.
New Orleans will never be the same. And the press remained mute on
this "news item?"
Did anyone see it on TV/hear it on radio/read it in the paper?
Why are we not surprised? Can't have THAT just prior to a major
election, now, can we? Well, just on a whim, spread the news, anyway.
It cost our elder brother, Billy Graham, more than any of us know to
make that effort.
The least we can do is publicize it.
JESUS IS LORD!!
"I would rather live my life as if there is a God, and die to find
out there isn't, than live my life as if there isn't, and find out there
is."
And to that I say "AMEN"!
