Dr. Billy Graham Came, Preached and Went… What Now?

Dr. K. Runia. Trowel & Sword, April 1959

Preamble: After all the hopes, doubts and even scepticism expressed by various writers in T&S in the previous months leading up to the Billy Graham Crusade, Dr. Runia’s assessment and hopes make for interesting reading. No doubt many others had varying opinions of the success or otherwise of the crusades. But there can be no disputing that the crusade did have an impact. Dr. Runia’s hope was that it would be a lasting impact. After 65 years that impact has faded. Can it be rekindled? Below is a link to Dr Graham’s crusade event at the Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne. His powerful message still resonates through the ages but these days, few few seem to be listening, particularly in Australia and New Zealand.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWEf72F_d9A

Dr. Billy Graham Came, Preached and Went… What Now?

As I write this, the part of the Billy Graham crusade that was scheduled for Melbourne has been finished. In the other capitals of Australia it will go on for a while.

The attendances have been tremendous. It was reported that at the last meeting 180,000 people were present and hundreds of decisions for Christ were made.

In Melbourne in general we must say that the immediate influence of Dr. Graham’s preaching has been very, very great. As Dr. Irving Benson wrote in the Herald of March 14: “I have seen scientists, intellectuals, doctors of medicine and what are called hard-headed’ business executives, with stoical, cynical, sophisticated men and women coming penitently to Christ, all like a page out of the Gospel. That to me is the greatest feature of these three weeks. I rejoice to have seen miracles of grace. Broken homes have been reunited, parents and families have found a new quality of understanding and love”.

Well, who would not rejoice with Dr. Benson?

We all must be very grateful for the work Dr. Graham has done in Australia, and which, I am sure he will do in the other capitals too. We must be very grateful for the clear message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which he brought. I myself had the privilege to attend one of the meetings and the message we heard was heart strengthening indeed.

I also know that many of our Church members have been strengthened in their faith, attending one or several of these meetings. Many of them made a new, public or secret, decision for their Saviour.

Again: who would not rejoice here?

But what now? Billy Graham is going back to America, no doubt to plan new crusades in other parts of the world. We are staying here in Australia or New Zealand.

What now?

What will be the lasting fruit of this crusade in our lives, in our Churches?

I would like that all those who attended some of the meetings, asked themselves this question. What will be the lasting fruit in my life and through me in my church?

There are two possibilities. The first is a negative one the second is positive. I will mention them in this order, and in the form of what “I do not hope” and of what I do hope

I do not hope, that the main result of Dr. Billy Graham’s crusade has been, that we became so critical of our own Church life, that we do not find any good in it.

I do not hope that we make a wrong comparison, by comparing the highlight of a crusade meeting, where we are taken up in the enthusiasm of a great man, with our own ordinary Church life, where we know each other so well, where we are in the midst of the daily struggle of young migrant Churches.

You know, it is rather easy to be enthusiastic for one or a few nights, when there is nobody to irritate you by his well known faults and shortcomings!

I do not hope that our riches, received at the crusade meeting, will make us proud and induce us to look down upon others, who are so cold, so formal, so unspiritual (in our eyes)!

I do not hope that we forget, what Billy Graham himself said more than once that he could give only baby food, but that we in the Churches receive the more solid food , required for grown ups in the faith.

I do not hope…..

But I do hope that we all do what Billy Graham told us.

I do hope that we all attend the services of our own church the more faithfully.

I do hope, that we all realise the better, how rich we are in being privileged to hear the preaching of the full Gospel every Sunday.

I do hope that we all give our strength and all our support to the Church God has given us.

I do hope that we all have become very critical of ourselves and therefore filled the more with love and forbearance towards our fellow Church members.

I do hope that we all are the more prepared to be active in own Church life and that, as soon as we are called to prove our dedication to the Lord and Saviour, we are ready to come forward and join the band of workers.

I do hope that we all are burning to help to spread the Gospel flame among those around us.

In short: I do hope that we all bring into practice what Billy Graham told us to do:

Take my life and let it be, Dedicated, Lord, to Thee .

K. Runia.

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