To say that evangelist Billy Graham came to San Diego four days isn’t enough. To say that over 200,000 people packed themselves into Qualcomm Stadium to hear his message of salvation and hope doesn’t seem much better. Even the fact of 17,500 souls committed to Christ falls short of describing what took place May 8-11.
How do you explain the totality of change? Words fall short, as they did for several who were asked to share their feelings upon leaving the “Q.” Their struggle for words, however, spoke volumes. The looks on their faces, the glow of their countenance, the knowing nods of agreement from those around them — these are the legacy of an 84-year-old son of a North Carolina farmer, who was kind enough to pass our way one last time.
It will probably take years for San Diego to truly grasp what happened last month. Thousands will remember they were there, and the event will probably come to be known simply as “the Graham Mission,” or “that May in ’03.” The stories will regale eager listeners with how crowded the old stadium was, how everyone thought it was going to rain, or how concerned everyone was for the health of Mr. Graham.
“Thank you, Mr. Graham. We will never forget this season of miracles, or the gracious visitation of God’s Spirit that you ushered in by coming here.”
Jane Crane Co-Chair
National Day of Prayer-San Diego
Conversations will recall the testimonies of others who shared the huge concert-like stage in centerfield, with tall speaker stanchions, and a protective plastic ring around the baseball infield. The humility of Rolf Benirschke will be remembered, as he encouraged San Diegans to “consider the gift that Mr. Graham has given our city,” and tried to describe the “remarkable experience” of meeting and working with the man himself.
“Mission San Diego brought into focus that these are times for taking spiritual inventory and for recommitment. It’s a time for receiving fresh insights and inspiration for ministry. It’s reassuring to witness how God is still powerfully drawing men, women and children to Christ.”
Bishop George McKinney
Saint Stephen’s Church of God in Christ
Even the stadium itself has been changed. No, the swallows don’t seem to notice the difference, but it is there nevertheless. It’s been called San Diego Stadium, The Murph and the Qualiseum. And it has been host to two Super Bowl games, twice times the World Series, motorcyle races, truck pulls and even the Rolling Stones. Now, however, whenever anyone looks up the record for largest crowd to attend an event at Qualcomm Stadium, it will read:
BILLY GRAHAM MISSION
Saturday, May 10, 2003
The Velocity crowd of 74,000 rocked the old place to the depths of its rebar, and bridged the years between spring and winter with a resounding “Who’s the man!?” answered by a thunderous — JESUS! — that bounced back from the concrete facades forever. It was a church service like few others, as the bands and the beat made standing still an impossibility. Teens and twenty-somethings moved together from the field to the upper deck and into the parking lot, where the overflow crowd joined into something between a party and a worship atmosphere. You almost expected to see scripture verses on the side of the Nerf balls that filled the air.
“I was anxious to come and wanted to invite my friends, to see what God would do. I believe God pulled on a lot of people’s hearts tonight (at Velocity). I believe unbelievers were shocked at how cool Christian music is, and about Billy Graham, how someone who grew up so long ago could relate to us so well.”
Hannah Kram, 14 years old
The ultimate memories of those four days in May will be the message that Mr. Graham has brought to over 400 meetings in his stirring career, and will continue to preach as he travels to Oklahoma City this month. “All of us are going to die,” he said on the first evening, as 54,000 listened intently. “In the next sixty to seventy years, almost everyone in this stadium will be gone.” The hope and love we have in Jesus Christ, however, transcends death.
On Mother’s Day, Mr. Graham told the story of a $65 diamond that was worth half that amount because it was filled with flaws. “And we are the same, filled with sin that we want to keep hidden,” he added. Yet we can write beneath each one of these transgressions the same thing, “the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin.”
There was no pounding, no shouting, no drama — just the truth, spoken simply and honestly by a humble man who has changed the world, and who leaves San Diego a different place than he found it.
“I’ll probably never preach another sermon in San Diego,” Mr. Graham offered in his final words to the crowd, “but I’ll see you in Heaven.”
It’s a date, Billy.
o
Quotations courtesy Caz Taylor, publicity volunteer.
