While workers erected a stage in place of a football goalpost, the Rev. Billy Graham made his first public appearance in nine months Tuesday morning at Paul Brown Stadium.

        The Rev. Mr. Graham, who suffers from Parkinson's disease and other health problems, was a bit shaky when he took the microphone and stood up from a golf cart. But his voice was strong as he faced reporters and photographers to talk about the mission that begins Thursday night.

        “My main message is found in John 3:16,” said the Rev. Mr. Graham, 83. “I'll talk about some of the issues that face this area, but my main message will be Jesus Christ and what he can do in people's lives.”

        Under a beating sun, the Rev. Mr. Graham did not accept questions from reporters, but asked for prayers for himself and for the mission.

        Nearly two years in the making, the Greater Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky Billy Graham Mission is expected to attract 200,000 people over four days to hear the world's best-known evangelist preach a message of salvation. The free events feature top Christian musicians.

        The Rev. Damon Lynch Jr., a co-chair of the mission, said he doesn't expect the event to solve Cincinnati's racial problems, but that the Gospel message is a powerful salve.

        The Rev. Mr. Lynch Jr. said he hopes those who asked the Rev. Mr. Graham to boycott Cincinnati come to the stadium.

        “There will be loudspeakers,” said the Rev. Mr. Lynch Jr. “Maybe the message might penetrate some of the protesters, as you call them.”

        He also said he feels no conflict over the boycott — even though his son, the Rev. Damon Lynch III, is one of the boycott movement's architects.

        In fact, the elder Rev. Mr. Lynch told the Enquirer, he was trying to arrange a meeting between his son and the Rev. Mr. Graham. He doesn't expect the two will discuss the boycott. Instead, he said they'll likely talk about their faith.

        “They both love the Lord,” the Rev. Mr. Lynch Jr. said.

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