24,800 Attend Ralph Bell Event

Billy Graham Evangelistic Assn
Monday, 1 October 2001

East Metro Celebration Ends On High Note at International Horse Park

CONYERS, Ga., October 1, 2001 –- After more than two years of planning and praying, the long-awaited Celebration with Ralph Bell became a reality this past weekend at the International Horse Park in Conyers. Officials of the Horse Park set attendance figures at more than 28,825 for the four-day event, which ran from Thursday night through Sunday afternoon. Just under 200 churches from many different denominations and ethnic backgrounds worked together for more than a year to bring the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association team to the East Metro area for this evangelistic outreach event.

Even as the opening night crowd was gathering on Thursday, it was evident that the mood of the country was different than it had been only two weeks earlier. The Celebration had taken on a decidedly different feel than organizers had originally planned after the tragic events of three weeks ago. Nevertheless, the Billy Graham crusade staff, along with the local Celebration Executive Committee, felt that the people of the area needed a special time for prayer and healing -- individually and collectively. Organizers were firm in their commitment to go forward with the Celebration event.

Long-time Billy Graham associate evangelist, Ralph Bell, was the featured speaker each night. He and his team of musicians, staff and technical crew formed the nucleus of the program each evening along with an impressive group of specially invited guest artists. Musical guests for the week included the three sister hip-hop group, Out of Eden, the Dove Award winning foursome, 4 Him, the Latin music inspired, Salvador and the Atlanta-based Christian rock group, Third Day, in addition to comedian Jeff Allen.

Saturday was a highlight for children and youth alike. The day began with KidsFest at 9:00 a.m., featuring ventriloquist, Lesha Campbell and illusionist, Mark John & Company, along with members of the musical group, Ekklesia. Some 2,500 children from kindergarten through fifth grade attended. The Austin-based band, Salvador, got the youth up and on their feet during the opening segment for Youth Night on Saturday. Then the multiple Dove Award-winning Christian band, Third Day, led the young crowd of 10,300 in some of its most popular hits.

Led by Platform Director, Mark Christian, the Celebration choir, made up of hundreds of voices from a five-county area, was also featured several times during the four-day event. Soloist, Walter Arties, pianist, Huntley Brown and the band Ekklesia, also provided special music for the event.

A series of special services were held through the week in area prisons and other institutions. Real-life Nevada cowboy, Brent Smith, shared a testimony of what God did with him after he turned his life over to Jesus Christ. In Smith's words, "If God can save me, He can save anybody! No one is too far gone for God to reach." Former rock musician, Jimmy Mamou, of Alameda, California also shared his testimony at each facility. More than two hundred first-time commitments were recorded in the prisons.

Youth communicator, Steve Russo, of Southern California, spoke in numerous Jr. and Sr. High school assemblies throughout the area prior to the Celebration. Lesha Campbell and Mark John & Company also visited in scores of elementary schools during the week to present assemblies for the younger set.

The total attendance for the four nights was over 24,800 with 456 inquirers at all of the events. These numbers are in addition to the Christian Life and Witness Class and Pre-Celebration Youth Rally decisions.

Ralph Bell's final Celebration of the year is in the Quad Cities of Iowa and Illinois, October 18-21.

For further information, go to www.celebrations2001.org.

For more information, or to contact Billy Graham Evangelistic Assn, see their website at: www.billygraham.org