Graham Promises More Crusades; Gets Political

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Nov. 6, (RNS)--Bringing the last of his year's crusades to a close Sunday, ailing evangelist Billy Graham made it clear he wasn't ready to end his more than 50-year history of evangelism gatherings around the country. He also all but endorsed George W. Bush for president.

"I want to tell you this: as long as God gives me breath, I'm going to continue to preach," he said, drawing cheers and applause from 65,000 people in the Alltel Stadium for the last session of the four-day crusade.

Graham, who spent much of the summer in the hospital, said he would be meeting in the coming weeks with staff and committee members to determine "where we go next, what cities we accept."

He asked for prayers for the decision-making process as well as for those close to him, including his wife, Ruth, who is in painful recovery from numerous hip surgeries.

"We're all looking forward pretty soon to being together up there," he said, referring to heaven. "And we'll have new bodies.... So, to all of you we say au revoir, which is a French word, which means 'til we meet again, 'til we meet up there."

Earlier in the day, Graham, who turns 82 on Election Day, spoke of his beliefs about the more immediate future of American politics.

After a private meeting with Bush, the Republican presidential candidate, the evangelist spoke with reporters traveling with Bush on his campaign.

Graham's spokesman Larry Ross said that while Graham did not officially endorse candidates, "he has come as close to that now as any time in his life." Graham's remarks followed his mention on the crusade's opening night of his love for "the whole family" of Florida Republican Gov. Jeb Bush, who welcomed him to the state just days before his brother made a return campaign swing through Florida.

"He [Graham] said he believes in the integrity of [Texas] Gov. Bush, and that under a Bush administration the country would move forward," Ross said in a statement. "He added that when Gov. Bush is inaugurated, he will do all he can to make sure the new administration is successful."

But in his closing sermon, Graham stuck primarily to spiritual rather than political matters, comparing the materialism and pornography in the modern world to the idolatry and illicit sex of Sodom and Gomorrah of ancient biblical times. After speaking for 38 minutes, the evangelist urged people to make a Christian commitment.

"All you need to understand is that you're a sinner and you need a savior and Jesus is your savior and you're coming to him," Graham said.

For the second night in a row, so many people came forward Graham had to ask the crowd gathered on the floor to move a bit closer to the stage so others would have room after walking down from the upper decks of the football stadium. Once most had arrived, he led them in a prayer of commitment and urged them to read their Bibles, pray, witness to others about their Christian faith, and stay involved in a local church.

Over the course of the crusade, well-known Christian artists warmed up the crowds before Graham stepped to the podium. Many of the artists, such as Christian singer and songwriter Michael W. Smith, have performed numerous times with Graham, but on Sunday, Graham took a rare moment to share his musical talent with the crowd.

In an impromptu gathering around the mike, he sang "This Little Light of Mine" with longtime members of his crusade team, 91-year-old soloist George Beverly Shea and music director Cliff Barrows.

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