Send Forth the Good News....

Jesus is soon coming. Revival is starting to break out. The news media
would never touch a story like this...so we must.

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 and
heir to the ministry, 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 coming soon...send forth the good news...Patti