Suzy Lange walked through the corridor of the North Charleston Coliseum with her pre-teen daughter. Lange had driven from Beaufort to take part in the festivities of the Lowcountry Franklin Graham Festival.
Franklin Graham chats with student body president Claudia Cartledge from North Augusta during his visit to Charleston Southern University.“It’s been a great experience for me and my daughter to worship together and hear the word of God. We’ve had a blast,” she said. Lange was part of an overflow crowd in attendance at the Sunday service, and part of the more than 34,000 who came from all over the Southeast to attend the weekend festival. Graham, the son of famed evangelist Billy Graham, conducted the high energy festival Sept. 19-21 at the North Charleston Coliseum.
The Lowcountry Franklin Graham Festival was the fifth festival Graham has conducted this year. His next festival is scheduled for Taipei, Taiwan, Oct. 30-Nov. 2. Graham kicked off his Lowcountry visit with a stop at Charleston Southern University for convocation on Sept. 17. Graham spoke to an overflow crowd at the university which was heavily involved with Graham’s visit to Charleston.
“Charleston Southern has been a partner with this effort from its conception a couple of years ago, helping to bring him (Graham) here,” said Rick Brewer, vice president for planning and student affairs. Brewer pointed out that Franklin Graham’s appearance was a third generational one for the family. “Billy Graham visited the campus in 1970; Franklin’s son, Will Graham, visited five years ago; and now Franklin. Certainly his appearance resonates with our vision to integrate faith in learning, leading and serving,” he said.
Graham’s message to the Charleston Southern students was taken from Romans 1:16. “The apostle Paul was not ashamed of the gospel. It is the power of God unto salvation. There is no other way you can be saved. Living in the South, we get lost with the word ‘gospel.’ It’s the good news that there is a God in heaven. He made and created you and knows everything about you. This God in heaven loves you and has provided a way for you to be with him,” he said.
Graham encouraged the students to commit themselves to ministry and service at home and abroad. “God has a plan for your life,” he told them, “You’ve got your life in front of you – how are you going to spend it?” he challenged.
For anyone who has ever attended a Billy Graham crusade in the past, the appearance by long-serving associates George Beverly Shea and Cliff Barrows on Sunday was truly a highlight. Barrows led the overflow crowd in the singing of three favorite hymns; How Great Thou Art, Blessed Assurance and Amazing Grace. Shea thrilled the audience with two selections.
While the crowd enthusiastically welcomed the appearance of Shea and Barrows, it’s the younger generation that Franklin Graham is clearly out to reach. As the CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Franklin Graham has noticeably placed his own signature on his evangelistic approach. The audience rocked each night to the tunes of Toby Mac, Israel and New Breed, Newsboys, Group 1 Crew, Kirk Franklin and Casting Crowns. Graham’s strong yet simple gospel messages were delivered with an invitation to accept Christ.
Skip Owens, director of denominational relations at Charleston Southern, and member of the executive committee of the Franklin Graham Lowcountry Festival, said it was refreshing to work with so many pastors and lay people from different denominations in preparation of the festival and to see the results of thousands attending, especially Sunday afternoon where almost 14,000 packed the coliseum overflow room. “The prayers of believers, commitment of volunteers serving and the support staff of the Franklin Graham organization was used of the Lord. To God be the glory,” Owens said.
Festival officials said more than 330 churches representing 41 denominations participated in the organization of the festival. Festival officials reported that more than 1,200 people responded to invitations to commit their lives to Christ.
Dickerson is director of university relations for Charleston Southern University.