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CARACAS, Venezuela—“It is evident to me that evangelical Christianity has turned a corner in South America. We are on a new stretch of road. It is a miracle of God that we have had such great meetings here in Caracas.”
Perhaps the veteran missionary’s statement was too sanguine with hope. Perhaps it was premature, for he was speaking of a Crusade that had barely begun. But coming at the close of a week of precedent-smashing rallies in this oil-conscious Venezuelan capital, it expressed something of the irrepressible hope of the small evangelical community.
There was something about the spirit of those evangelicos that reflected the early church in its great days of outreach. God, they had said, was about to do a new thing. So they prayed and believed; and so they planted and watered. And now came the increase.
Over eight thousand persons gathered in the stands of the Nuevo Circo bull ring in the heart of Caracas on Saturday, January 20, to hear a clear, simple Gospel message based on the love of God. The text was John 3:16. At its close, an invitation to receive Jesus Christ was given by Mr. Graham. Some 347 persons left their seats and walked to the center of the ring.
On Sunday evening, the day following, 10,000 persons gathered in the bull ring. Following a sermon on the cross and the second advent of our Lord, 367 responded to Mr. Graham’s invitation to commit their lives to Christ.
At the close of the two-day Caracas Crusade, the Crusade committee was filled with thanksgiving. Nationals and missionaries alike were enthusiastic, expressing high anticipation regarding the meetings in other South American cities.
FILLED WITH THANKSGIVING
Many present expressed surprise at the size of the crowds. Even Charles Riggs of the Team, and Charles Ward, the veteran missionary who was responsible for much of the advance planning, admitted that the week in Caracas had been beyond their estimates.
It all began on Sunday evening, January 14, when Associate Evangelist Joe Blinco opened his preliminary meetings in the bull ring. Serving as his Spanish interpreter was Mr. Ramon Gonzales. A crowd of 4,500 persons was present; 96 responded to that first invitation.
Next day came a parade of some sixty banner-covered cars through the heart of this stunning city of half a million persons. Such a parade was something new. In one of the cars of the Crusade caravan sat the two Norte Americanos, Messrs. Blinco and Riggs, with Mr. Ward.
On Tuesday the interpreting duties were taken over by the Rev. Jose Fajardo of Cali, Colombia, who also served as Mr. Graham’s interpreter. During the six meetings the committee reported that attendance totaled 14,500, and inquirers were listed at 346.
PACKED-OUT MINISTERS’ MEETING
Mr. Riggs, who supervised the counselor training and follow-up, discovered that an unusually high percentage of those who went forward were making first-time decisions for Jesus Christ. He found that on Monday evening out of 72 inquirers, 58 indicated that this was their first public acceptance of Christ. Among them was a scientist with an oil company.
One evening Mr. Blinco had been preaching for about ten minutes when a listener arose and walked toward the exit. An usher sought to persuade the young man to remain.
“No,” he said. “My folks at home have been praying for me for years, and just while I was sitting here tonight I received Christ into my heart. I want to go home now and tell them about it!”
On Friday evening, January 19, Mr. Graham and the Team party arrived at Caracas airport. Although the plane was three hours late and some persons had left for home, there were 300 to 400 still waiting to welcome the arriving guests.
The following morning Mr. Graham spoke through Dr. Fajardo to a packed-out ministers’ meeting in the Presbyterian church. Many, unable to get in, stood outside looking through the windows.
Singing in place of George Beverly Shea is Roy Robles of Los Angeles, who accompanied the Team on the Caribbean Crusade in 1958. Mr. Robles is a gifted baritone and recording artist, and is equally at home singing in Spanish or in English. He is being accompanied by Tedd Smith. Cliff Barrows is also on the tour, and three other associate evangelists, Grady Wilson, Leighton Ford and Roy Gustafson, are conducting advance meetings in other South American cities. The tour will conclude in Santiago, Chile, on February 14 and 15.
ADDRESSES STATE LEGISLATURE
President Betancourt of Venezuela expressed a friendly interest in the Crusade this week, and a possible informal audience was in view, but a sudden illness on the part of the President prevented it. The Team reported excellent coverage in the Caracas newspapers.
The press conference which Mr. Graham held in Caracas was, according to Tom McMahan of the Associated Press, like a “little evangelistic meeting.” Serious questions opened the way for a direct witness on the subjects of faith, repentance and the Bible. On Monday the Team flew to Maracaibo, where Mr. Graham addressed the state legislature in the afternoon and preached the following two evenings. A full report of these meetings will be carried in next month’s DECISION.
In bringing greetings, Mr. Graham pointed out that an ambassador of Jesus Christ is always an ambassador of good will. He described the prayer support that the South America Crusade was receiving around the world. And so the hopes and efforts of years of planning were climaxed, and in the freedom which Simon Bolivar fought to bring to Latin America, the Gospel was preached in Venezuela.
Gracias á Dios! Thanks be to God!