Crusade's attendance falls for second night

REVELATION IN AN HOUR

By Laura Johnston ~ Southeast Missourian

The prophecy of the world's last days wasn't intended to scare people but to point them to Jesus, said a well-known author and expert on the subject Tuesday.

Dr. Ed Hindson spoke to a crowd of 1,068 people during the second night of the Hope for America Crusade. Hindson, who has written 40 books and several study Bibles on prophecy, is a professor and assistant chancellor at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., a school founded by the Rev. Jerry Falwell.

Although about 150 fewer people came to hear Hindson than attended Monday to hear Falwell, event organizers expect their largest crowds tonight when Tim LaHaye speaks. He is the co-author of a best-selling "Left Behind" series that gives a fictional account of the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Tonight's service begins at 7. Doors open at 6 p.m., but could be open earlier to accommodate the anticipated crowds.

Lower than expected

Only 1,200 people attended the first night's meeting, which was lower than organizers had expected. The Show Me Center was set up to accommodate 4,000 people. By Tuesday night, seats in some sections were draped in black fabric and closed off. The crusades continues through Friday.

David Griesemer, who helped organize the event, said he hoped to see more faces in the audience Monday, but said he was happy with the turnout.

Griesemer has organized evangelism crusades for the Billy Graham Association and Luis Palau, and attendance is typically lower on opening nights of such events.

Usually attendance builds throughout the week as people begin to invite friends or learn more about the event, he said.

Churches cancel services

Several churches are canceling their regular Wednesday evening services and encouraging members to attend the crusade tonight. That will boost the size of the crowd considerably, Griesemer said. Bethany and Red Star Baptist churches, Cape Bible Chapel, First Assembly of God and First Baptist Church in Millersville, Mo., are all forgoing their regular services in favor of attending the Hope for America Crusade.

On Tuesday during the collection, organizers asked the audience to fill out and submit small cards with their names and addresses and whether they would like information about other crusades organized by the Horizon Foundation, operated by local businessman Jerry Lipps.

The audience sang hymns like "There Is Strength in the Name of the Lord" and "His Name Is Wonderful" to begin the two-hour worship service Tuesday. People pulled Bibles from under their chairs and flipped pages when Hindson read verses from Revelation.

He tried to give the audience an overview of the Bible's last book and spoke for almost 50 minutes -- just a few more than his advertised 45-minute sermon on the 22 chapters of the book -- outlining how the book is centered on Christ.

So many times people get caught up in the details of Revelation that they lose the bigger picture, he said.

The book of Revelation details spiritual conflicts and battles with armies.

"It's not a pretty picture," he said. "Trust me, you don't want to be left behind."

In the book, those who believe in Christ are taken into heaven and those remaining on earth must suffer tribulation and torment. And while the escalating battles in the Middle East and the quest for peace are signs of the last days, no one can know the exact day of judgment, Hindson said.

For people who study prophecy, none of today's events are a surprise, he said.

Many people who came to the crusade wanted to gain a new understanding of Revelation and how to interpret current events in light of Scripture.

Sonya Worthington of Sikeston, Mo., said she came to "hear the truth." She was interested in interpretations of Revelation "and the coming of the Lord."

Jim Smiley of Chaffee, Mo., didn't know whether or not he'd attend Tuesday night's event until he heard that Hindson was going to talk about the entire book of Revelation in less than an hour.

"I thought I needed to get myself up here to hear that," he said. "That's a pretty intense book."

ljohnston@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126