Graham parallels today's world to Noah's time in final sermon
By DONNA CASEY -- Ottawa Sun
Billy Graham preaches last night to 18,500 people inside the Corel Centre and 8,500 outside as his mission in Ottawa ended.
Billy Graham's first Ottawa mission is history, but area church leaders say the spiritual rebirth of the region has only just begun.
With the close of Graham's four-day crusade, 106,000 people attended the mission's five events, with 18,500 mission-goers jamming the Corel Centre last night, including 8,500 in the outdoor overflow area.
It was the second straight attendance record for an event at the Corel Centre.
Graham made parallels between today's world and the times of Noah, which the Bible said was fraught with corruption, immorality, violence and godlessness.
Scientific advances have made the possibility of a nuclear holocaust a frightening reality, said Graham, and the newly-emerged nuclear arms race between India and Pakistan only brings the spectre of the end of the world that much closer.
"The technology that was supposed to save us is now ready to destroy us," said Graham, adding that germ and chemical warfare threaten the fragile balance of peace in the world.
"In face of these terrors, we have a hope. Jesus is already getting ready to go back to the Father," Graham told his audience.
"The end of the world for you is coming when you die ... What have you done to prepare to meet your God? What have you done to prepare when your heart stops beating or when the waves of your brain stop showing up?"
Graham expressed his dismay at having to wrap up Ottawa's mission so quickly, saying he remembered the glory of crusades past when he preached for weeks.
He thanked the legions of volunteers who brought the mission to life and commended the media's generous coverage of the mission, including "the columnists, even the one or two who've been critical, I thank them."
The chair of the mission's executive committee, Rev. Allen Churchill, thanked Graham for bringing his gospel message to the capital and extended his appreciation to the crusade's musical guests and armies of volunteers.
"God has had his hand in the National Capital Region Billy Graham Mission," said Churchill.
Before last night's final free will offering, the mission had raised 88% of its $2.2-million budget.
The success of this weekend's mission can't be measured by numbers alone, said Rev. Doug Ward, chair of the mission's counselling and follow-up.
"With the one-on-one counselling that's been happening, the real-life experiences that are being shared on this arena floor ... when all is said and done, people are leaving knowing that God loves them," said Ward.
For the 470 churches from 42 denominations which threw their support behind the crusade over a year ago, Ward said the promise of a spiritual rebirth in their pews and pulpits is here and now.
"I always believed there was a vibrancy in the Ottawa community that was ready to surface and explode," said Ward.
Graham's team will remain in town for two months to help area churches to set up Bible studies for more than 9,000 inquirers who answered the evangelist's invitation to accept Jesus.
The mission's final night featured the crusade's musical headliner five-time Grammy Award winner pop singer Amy Grant. Backed by the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, Grant had the crowd's undivided attention, delivering a three-song set, including Hope Set High.
Canadian soprano Tracy Dahl gave a strong two-song set of Rejoice Greatly from Handel's Messiah and Mozart's Alleluiah.
Veteran musical director Cliff Barrows led the audience in a mighty rendering of Amazing Grace, followed by a powerful solo by 89-year-old George Beverly Shea of How Great Thou Art.
