Evangelism

Old-fashioned "evangelistic crusades," which used to be known as revivals, have been staging an impressive comeback. Last week, in three big Eastern cities, three big revivals were going full blast:

In Washington, the Federation of Churches bought full-page newspaper ads to trumpet: "Ii's GOD'S HOUR FOR GREATER WASHINGTON."The federation imported a "preaching team" of 30 Protestant ministers and laymen, to evangelize Washingtonians at a six-day session of some 300 breakfasts, luncheons, dinners, lectures and services. At the mission's opening ceremony in 10,000-capacity Uline Arena, 250 black-robed local ministers joined with the visiting preachers in a "Festival of Faith" which packed the hall and spilled an overflow crowd of 2,000 into a nearby church. Total attendance: an estimated 75,000.

In Boston, the Rev. Bryan Green, canon of Birmingham Cathedral in England, was conducting a nine-day crusade that filled the 10,000-capacity Mechanics Hall and overflowed into two churches. Anglican Green (TIME, Dec. 13, 1948) was especially effective with young listeners: many of his 600-odd converts on a typical night were young people in tears.

In Atlanta, Evangelist Billy Graham (TIME, Nov. 14, 1949 et seq.) was well under way with a soul-saving campaign in the Ponce de Leon ballpark fitted out to accommodate more than 20,000 people. With flashing eyes and flailing arms, the well-dressed young (32) successor to Billy Sunday was wringing fervent amens and penitence from his audience night after night. Mankind now stands on the brink of destruction, he warned his listeners. "Unless God sends a great awakening to the world, my two little girls will never see high school."

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