BGCT outlines cooperation with Graham
___DALLAS--Texas Baptists are helping bring the gospel to the Dallas-Fort Worth area through evangelist Billy Graham's Metroplex Mission this fall.
___The Baptist General Convention of Texas will provide witnessing training, tract distribution, prayer coordination and financial support, said Wayne Shuffield, a consultant with the BGCT Center for Strategic Evangelism.
___Numerous BGCT churches and individuals are providing leadership for the mission effort Oct. 17-20 at Texas Stadium in Irving. Gary Hearon, director of missions for Dallas Baptist Association, initiated the invitation process that involved a broad spectrum of churches, Shuffield said. Boone Powell, retired chief administrator of Baylor Health Care System, is co-chair of the mission.
___Graham now uses the name "mission" instead of "crusade" because of negative feelings some people have toward the old term, said Scott Lenning, mission director. Since some associate crusades with the medieval conflict between Christians and Muslims, the evangelist "wants nothing to be a stumbling block to someone hearing the gospel," Lenning added.
___Graham last led a Dallas crusade in 1971. It was the first event held at Texas Stadium. His last meetings in Texas were at San Antonio in 1997.
___Metroplex Mission will include four evening events, each beginning at 7 p.m., plus a Saturday morning "Kidz Gig." The first two nights and the final one will be the traditional service. Saturday night will be a "Concert for the Next Generation" followed by Graham preaching. Graham will be at the night events but not the children's session.
___The BGCT is "heavily involved" in the "the plowing and the planting and the cultivation process leading up to the harvest," Shuffield said.
___For more information, call (817) 695-1880 or visit the website www.metroplexmission.org.
___
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