Despite his failing health, Reverend Billy Graham, 86, attended a news conference on June 22 to promote his upcoming crusade which is to commence on June 24 for three days in Queens. After almost a life-long ministry of 68 years, this summer crusade – titled “Greater New York Billy Graham Crusade” – has yet to be confirmed as his last crusade.
For twenty minutes, he sat with the reporters on the 64th floor of the Rockefeller Center and conversed with them in a friendly atmosphere, joking occasionally and yet keeping his stance as a faith sharer at the same time. With no doubts in Jesus’ second coming, Rev. Graham joked with the reporters, “I hope to meet all of you there. And bring your camera, because I may have one too.”
Although Rev. Graham’s organization initially wanted New York’s Central Park for the revival, the city disapproved of it. Nevertheless, the team is thankful that they’ve currently booked Flushing Meadows’ Corona Park for the crusade. It is a multi-cultural region of the city that’s thriving with diversities. 70,000 people are expected to attend.
During the Q&A session, reporters probed him about his opinions on political issues but Rev. Graham stuck by his promise to associate his speech with nothing but the Gospel. “If I get up and talk about some political issues, it divides the audience. What I want is a united audience to hear only the Gospel.”
Rather, Rev. Graham promised that the message he wants to deliver will be recognizable to anyone who has heard him because it has always been the same message. “The message that I preach here is going to be the same,” he said. “It hasn’t changed. Circumstances have changed. But deep inside, man has not changed and the Gospel hasn’t changed.”
