The crowd links hands while the worship band third Day performs Sunday. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

        As the Rev. Billy Graham preached his final sermon in Cincinnati Sunday, organizers say a critical next-step now begins: Putting into action the evangelist's message of love and unity.

        “It is the mission's goal to leave a deep and lasting impact on this community,” Cliff Barrows, the mission's music director, said Sunday night. “Be a part of what God wants to do here.”

        More than 201,000 people attended the four-day event at Paul Brown Stadium, and nearly 10,000 came forward to commit their lives to the teachings of Jesus Christ.

        But volunteers and organizers said the real measure of success will be whether the mission has a continued impact on Cincinnati after the evangelist and his team leave.

        “That impact becomes our responsibility, not Graham's responsibility,” said the Rev. Larry Davis, a co-chair of the mission. “If we let the cooperation die, that will be our call to make. And if we let that die, it'll be our fault, not Graham's.”

        The Rev. Mr. Davis already has a September meeting planned for Northern Kentucky churches involved in the mission to discuss how they can continue to work together.

Paul Brown Stadium was filled Sunday. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

        The Rev. Mr. Davis, pastor of First Baptist Church of Cold Spring, said he'll suggest inviting the evangelist's daughter, Anne Graham Lotz, to visit the Tristate next year.

        “It would force us to keep working together and building intentional relationships,” he said.

        The mission was heralded as a chance for Cincinnati to heal its racial divisions. In his four sermons, the Rev. Mr. Graham spoke briefly each night about the sin of racism and encouraged people to treat one another with love and respect.

        Another co-chair of the mission, the Rev. Damon Lynch Jr., said preparations for the event created “a bond here that can't be broken.”

Mostly white crowds

        Yet some were disappointed that more African-Americans didn't attend. Although Saturday's Concert for the Next Generation attracted a diverse crowd, the audiences on the other three nights were mostly white.

        It's not only white people who need to hear the message of racial reconciliation, the Rev. Mr. Davis said.

Julie Stitt of Middletown offers praise. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

        “African-American attendance has not been what I hoped and prayed it would be,” he said. “It disappoints me that apparently they didn't think they needed to hear the message.”

        Still, Jeanne Regan, of Loveland, said she thought the event brought healing to the city for all races.

        “What happens next is up to the people of Cincinnati,” she said.

        Among individuals, the impact will be more immediate.

        Like many other area churches, Grace Evangelical Free Church in Greenhills is organizing small group Bible studies for newly committed Christians. It's scheduling more baptism services. And members spruced up the place, adding a new sign and repaving the parking lot in anticipation of visitors, said member Rick Segal, also a spokesman for the mission.

        After each night's events, a volunteer team worked into the early morning hours sorting out cards filled out by “inquirers” — people who answered the altar call.

        Those names were given to pastors at churches located near the inquirer's home.

        As part of the follow-up of the mission, pastors and churches are asked to contact these people and nurture them in the infancy of their new commitment.

        Local Graham organizers also will meet in July to determine the shape of the “deep impact” love-in-action project. The aim is to carry the Gospel message into streets, homes and schools in practical ways, which could include mentoring, job training or counseling.

        Rick Marshall, director of Graham missions, expects the project to focus on coordinating volunteers for existing ministries.

        When the Rev. Mr. Graham held a mission in Indianapolis in 1999, there was an afterglow, said Ken Owens, who was then a TV anchor.

        “It brings a focus to the whole issue of faith and makes religion a headline story for two or three days,” said Mr. Owens, now director of media relations at DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind.

        “It has an impact on a city — as much as anything can have lasting value.”

        “Graham gave us exactly what we asked for: a reason to get united,” the Rev. Mr. Davis said.

        “Now the question is: Are we willing to stay united? That's up to us. That's our decision.”

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