Graham now leading ‘missions,’ not ‘crusades’

CINCINNATI — Evangelist Billy Graham preached to 200,000 people June 27–30 in Cincinnati in the first of his U.S. meetings to be termed a “mission” rather than “crusade.”

Graham spokesman Larry Ross said Graham made the change after Sept. 11 in response to concern that “crusade” might have negative, militaristic connotations. He made a similar change from “campaign” to “crusade” after World War II for the same reason. Graham has used the term “mission” in many of his overseas meetings in recent years.

A Sunday night crowd of 65,600 shattered a previous attendance record at Cincinnati’s Paul Brown Stadium. More than 10,000 people made public decisions for Christ, including 1,500 children who responded during a Saturday morning “Kidz Gig.”