By Marie Mulvenna

A huge banner proclaiming Christ’s words “I am the way, the truth and the life” dominated the field of Atlanta Stadium as noted evangelist Dr. Billy Graham presented his recent week-long crusade, which reached an estimated attendance of over 350,000.

Addressing the crowds that nightly thronged the stadium, Graham spoke from a specially erected bright blue platform on second base as he presented his well-known form of evangelism and his “calling to Christ.” Official estimates of those “called” ranged somewhere over 10,000 of those attending the sessions.

Graham’s message covered innumerable topics including the evils of gluttony, lust, money worship and the scandal of Watergate. He spoke of the last judgment, proposed 10 commandments for keeping marriages together, denounced the current deifying of sex, called on those attending to witness to members of their own families by bringing them to know Christ, and issued a strong plea for youth to “change the world by marching shoulder to shoulder with Jesus Christ.”

At Thursday’s “Youth Night” for the local crusade, Graham termed today’s young people “the most religious in American history,” adding he had immense sympathy for the problems of young people. He defined their lives as those filled with emptiness, loneliness, lack of purpose, little parental authority, no set of moral values and a constant search for purpose, change, hope, security, satisfying and meaningful experiences without drugs and sex. Graham told the scores of young people in his audience that youth all over the world are turning to Christ, finding they can have the experience of conversion to Christ and through Him find satisfaction and hope.

“He can meet your deepest needs,” he said, urging youth to change the world, not by rioting in the streets, but by “linking yourselves with Jesus Christ.” The 54-year-old evangelist told his listeners there is reward in following Christ – “but there is much, much more in the other life.” He added that for “many of you there is suffering with living your faith,” urging young people to begin now in their own community to be of use to God and to contribute something to the solution of society’s problems. “With all of our best efforts neither my generation nor their generation is going to bring utopia to earth. Only Christ will do that,” Graham said, adding, “utopia will only come when human nature has been transformed.”

During the week-long crusade, crowds ranged from 35,500 to 44,000, jamming the stadium parking lots with cars and buses. A 6,000 voice choir, representing many of Atlanta’s churches, took part in the nightly program as did over 200 volunteers who worked with the crowd of inquirers who stepped forth each night answering Graham’s call to “come forward to Christ.” The work of the volunteer crew is part of Graham’s crusade program which makes immediate contact with those coming forward, then referring the "decision makers” to local ministers. Crusade personnel and Graham himself referred to the “handing of the torch” to the local churches, which are to follow up the initial coming forward portion of the nightly programs.

The North Carolina preacher told Atlantans not to be optimistic that the crusade would “solve all problems.” The most the crusade could hope for, Graham contended, was that people might be touched by Christ. He termed Atlanta “a great and dynamic city,” adding “I know of no other city with as great a future as Atlanta.” Graham told his listeners he considered Atlanta one of his hometowns, saying he would not say goodbye but “au revoir,” until we meet again. His last Atlanta crusade was held 23 years ago.

Graham said the real goal of his crusade was the hope that many would find Christ as the all-consuming “purpose and meaning” in their lives. He termed the present state of the nation as one passing through its greatest crisis since the Civil War, adding “it is a spiritual and moral crisis and can only be solved in a spiritual dimension.” He termed the present society one of a “runaway world,” running away from God and thus running away from adventure. “Christianity is not dull, only half-hearted Christianity is dull,” he exhorted his audiences, strongly denouncing the avenues of escape which he identified as TV, drugs and sex.

Throughout the week-long sessions, Graham repeatedly denounced the “we don’t need God” philosophy, which he termed, was idolizing humanism. Urging the use of the Ten Commandments in every classroom in the nation, Graham said young people needed them to know there is some moral law in life.

Every night TV cameras recorded the local scene that is reported to be planned for use on TV screens throughout the nation later in the summer months.

Reiterating his plea to find joy in Christ, Graham asked young and old to “enjoy prayer.”