154,000 People Attend Billy Graham Crusade in Kansas City

Oct 15, 2004 08:21 PM EDT

On Oct. 7-10, Billy Graham shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ at the Heart of America Crusade in Kansas City.

Crusade attendance totaled nearly 155,000 over the four days, and an average of more than 1,900 made a commitment to Christ each night.

It was Mr. Graham’s third series of meetings in the Kansas City area, following similar Crusades in 1967 and 1978.

More than 51,000 filled the stadium on Sunday afternoon. While discussing the second coming of Christ and the parallels between that anticipated event and the story of Noah, Graham urged people to repent of sin.

“The Bible says that ‘Noah, being warned of God ... moved in fear and prepared the ark.’ When I look ahead, in our world, before Jesus comes, I’m afraid. I’m moved with fear to warn people to repent of sin,” Mr. Graham said.

”Jesus died for you on the Cross and rose again so that you could have everlasting life,” he added.

More than 1,200 churches representing 84 denominations came together during the crusade preparations. Richard Hastings, president and CEO of St. Luke’s Health System and crusade chair, expressed appreciation for their unity of purpose in bringing the Crusade about.


Prayer is the heartbeat of every BGEA Crusade, and it made a deep impact on Kansas City in the months leading up to the Heart of America Crusade.

Crusade officials said more than 8,000 came forward to make faith decisions.

Graham last preached at a crusade in Oklahoma City in June of last year. He has another crusade scheduled next month at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.