Over 42,000 Attend Second Night of the Central Valley Billy Graham Crusade

Billy Graham Evangelistic Assn
Saturday, 13 October 2001

FRESNO, Calif., October 13, 2001 -- Security remained tight on the second night of the Central Valley Billy Graham Crusade. Many gates to Bulldog Stadium on the campus of California State University, Fresno, remained closed, and security continued checking all purses and bags.

The crowds of people stretched across practice fields, wound through the line of cars in the parking lot, and went along streets adjacent to the stadium. Despite the delays, the people of Fresno remained patient, peaceful, and good-natured about the added security measures.

The stadium quickly filled to capacity (41,500) and an additional 500 people were sent to the prearranged overflow area in nearby Pete Beiden Stadium.

Fernando Ortega performed several songs in English and Spanish, followed by The Charlie Daniels Band. Then Billy Graham delivered the message "Starting Life Over Again," based on John 3:16.

Mr. Graham said, "The greatest need in the world is for the transformation of human nature. Humanly speaking, there is just no hope." He went on to say that we need to be born again.

He concluded, "I'm going to ask all of you tonight, hundreds of you, to come and stand in front of this platform and say, by coming, 'I open my heart to Jesus in a new way.'"

At his invitation, hundreds of people streamed down onto the field from all of the aisles in the stadium. More than 3,250 commitments were recorded.

The Crusade continues Saturday morning with a "Kid's Gig" featuring "Break the Barriers," a local gymnastics and martial arts program, followed by Psalty the Singing Songbook. Saturday night will be the "Concert for the Next Generation" featuring Gamaliel Ruiz, Kirk Franklin, and dc Talk.

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