Billy Graham Declines London Crusade
LONDON -- Billy Graham will not be holding a crusade in London this fall but will be praying for Britons - especially those who fell victim to last week's terrorist attacks, a press release from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) revealed this week.
The 86-year-old American evangelist, Billy Graham, said in a letter notifying those who had invited him, "After much prayerful consideration I determined I should not be that far from home."
"This was a difficult decision because London has played such a significant part in the life of my ministry," he added.
The press release also pointed to the evangelist’s troubled physical health as well as the health of his 85-year-old wife Ruth Bell Graham as reasons for his decision.
During the latest three-day crusade last month in New York City, Billy Graham’s son and successor Franklin already hinted that his father could no longer adjust well to time zone changes and did not like to be away from his wife.
Despite physical sufferings from fluid on the brain, prostate cancer and Parkinson's disease, Billy Graham made the long trek from his home in Montreat, N.C. to hold his last high-profile domestic crusade in New York City last month, which attracted more than 242,000 people.
Graham made his decision early last week - before the devastating terrorist bombings on the London transport system. The press release said Graham has closely followed the recent major events happening in London including the city’s selection as the site to host the 2012 Olympic Games.
The press release also stated, "The evangelist further assured British church leaders of his continued prayers for the people of London - especially the victims and their families - in these uncertain days." Graham also requested prayers from all people of faith around the world.
Top UK evangelicals, including the Rev. Joel Edwards, General Director of the Evangelical Alliance; the Rev. Sandy Millar of Holy Trinity Brompton, home to the Alpha Course; Roy Crowne, National Director of British Youth for Christ and Viscount Brentford, a UK conservative politician, were the main organizers for the invitation to Billy Graham in April.
The Rev. David Coffey, General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain (BUGB), signed the invitation as moderator of the Free Churches group, with the support of the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Rowan Williams, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor and the Rev. Esme Beswick, president of the Joint Council for Anglo-Caribbean Churches.
The UK evangelicals were looking for an opportunity to revive the mission-heart in the country; something that has happened upon each of Graham’s visits. Billy Graham’s first crusade to the UK was held in London's Harringay arena in 1954. It was so successful that it lasted for 12 weeks in addition to many other special events held around London
Graham’s last crusade to the UK was held in 1989. Billy Graham preached in London to more than 800,000 people gathered at 247 "live-link" centers throughout the UK and the Republic of Ireland, and to 16,000 sites in 13 nations of Africa.
At the end of the press release, it was stated that Graham will continue his ministry of evangelism and resume work, writing several books and contributing to other special projects he has begun in recent years.
Another major event Graham has planned to attend will be the dedication of the Billy Graham Library at his ministry’s new headquarters in Charlotte, N.C., which will take place on 26th August.
In addition, the BGEA has planned an aggressive schedule of crusades with Franklin Graham, already extending into 2007 and beyond.
