Declaring that it's “God's time” for his mission in Cincinnati, the Rev. Billy Graham rejected calls for him to cancel because of the boycott.

        The world's best-known evangelist issued a statement late Tuesday affirming he will preach this June at Paul Brown Stadium in what is expected to be the area's biggest religious event in decades.

        “Racism is a sin,” said the Rev. Mr. Graham in a statement, his first public comments about the boycott.

        “It is not only a social problem, it is also a moral and a spiritual issue, which I will be addressing in my preaching. Only the supernatural love of God can change our hearts in a lasting way and replace hatred and indifference with love and active compassion.”

        But boycotters, disappointed by the Rev. Mr. Graham's decision, said there's been enough preaching. It's time for action.

        “We don't want him to come to Cincinnati,” said Amanda Mayes, a spokeswoman for the Coalition for a Just Cincinnati. “We've had preaching, and we've already had prayer. ... What we want is justice, and what we're calling for is boycott.”

        The Rev. Damon Lynch III, president of the Black United Front, a leading boycott group, said he hoped the evangelist would honor the boycott but had no further comment.

        His father and co-chair of the mission, the Rev. Damon Lynch Jr., emphasized his commitment to the event.

        “Our committee is sensitive to the need for healing,” he said in a statement. “It is why we invited Billy Graham here in the first place, and it is why we are going forward with this mission.”

        The free event is expected to attract 200,000 people June 27-30. An estimated 15,000 to 20,000 volunteers will serve as ushers, sing in the choir, minister in prisons or counsel newly committed Christians.

        Already, more than 625 local churches representing 62 denominations have come together to prepare for the mission.

        More than 6,000 teens and young adults gathered Sunday at Xavier University's Cintas Center, and hundreds of men are expected to attend a prayer meeting Thursday at Lincoln Heights Baptist Church.

        “The mission was conceived in response to an urgent need to promote racial harmony, reconciliation and justice in our community,” said mission chair and former Bengals player and Hall of Fame member Anthony Munoz. “It is a good work already well-begun, and we are putting our trust in God to see it through.”

        Jeff Plummer, a street evangelist, said the mission will help Cincinnati deal with its racial tension.

        “Praise God,” the Clermont County man said in response to news the Rev. Mr. Graham would preach in Cincinnati. “There's not one single social, political or educational institution that can do what happens when communities embrace Jesus Christ.”

        The Rev. Mr. Graham's commitment to the mission is a blow to the boycott effort, which had been gaining momentum with cancellations by entertainers such as Bill Cosby and Wynton Marsalis.

        On Saturday, the Progressive National Baptist Church decided to pull its convention and 10,000-member session out of Cincinnati this summer because of the racial climate.

        Asking for the boycott of the Graham mission, however, has alienated some supporters.

        “A lot of us agreed with the boycott until it reached the religious part,” said Leon C. Taylor, 23, of Westwood. “Now it's like, "We want to hurt the city ... Let's see who can hurt the other the most.'”

        An African-American, Mr. Taylor said he understands the need for economic sanctions but said boycotters went too far.

        “You can't take something that has to do with religion and put it in a political field. They're two different playgrounds.”

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