CELEBRATIONS 2000 IMPACTS 9,000

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The music has faded; the folding chairs returned to storage, but Celebration 2000 left a lasting impact on the nearly 10,000 people who attended the four-day event.

Some 9,331 people attended the crusade; 450 people sought information about churches and salvation. Nearly 1,000 people volunteered as ushers and parking lot attendants, with more than 50 area churches represented.

Celebration 2000 featured sermons from Billy Graham associated, the Rev. Ralph Bell.

"What a tremendous experience it was to see the opening night crowd of some 2,000 people from different denominations and churches singing praises and worshipping God, under one roof," said Dan Jennings, who served as executive chairman of the crusade. "You could feel the power of the Holy Spirit."

Counselors talked to the more than 400 people who came forward at the crusade.

During the crusade's first night, Beverly Barnes knew "God had placed me here for a special reason." Barnes had worked in the crusade's office before the event, but that first night, her husband accepted Jesus Christ.

Seeing that, she knew God "totally orchestrated it."

More than 850 children gathered Saturday morning for a n event, and 1,700 youths attended Saturday night's session.

Crusade volunteers tried to reach those who couldn't attend the services, and teams of evangelists visited area prisons to share testimonies.

Celebration 2000 wasmore than "motivational speakers in our schools," said Lloyd Smith, finance chairman for the Celebration committee. "It was also many committees and churches all over Southeast Missouri, tearing down denominational and racial barriers, with love in the name of Jesus Christ."

Dave Fost, Celebration 2000 director, has seen a difference in the community.

"I could see a difference even between many of the churches," said Fost, who has worked from the local office since October. "You could tell it when we were collaborating."

He related a story of two volunteers working together during a crusade who would never have worked together on a project because their churches didn't routinely cooperate.

"I hope that building the unity will continue," he said, adding that unity means churches working for the same purpose.

Fost said volunteers will to do follow-up procedures with those who asked for information. Participating churches will be asked to contact those people.

"If they belong to a church we don't take them away from a congregation," Fost said.