Jerry Falwell to return to Cape for another crusade

Six months since its last crusade, the Horizon Foundation is again bringing some top-name evangelists to Cape Girardeau for a six-night revival Oct. 20 through 25 at the Show Me Center.

The Rev. Jerry Falwell is coming back to Cape Girardeau to open the event.

Other speakers are Dr. Gary Frazier, a Texas evangelist, who is expected to speak about the end times and biblical prophecy; Tim Lee, a Vietnam veteran who shared his testimony during the last crusade in Cape Girardeau; David Ring, an evangelist with cerebral palsy; and John Ed Mathison of Frazier Memorial United Methodist Church in Montgomery, Ala., who is known for his enthusiasm about teaching church members to become ministers in the community.

The final night of the crusade is devoted to youth, with speaker Ken Freeman and music by local band Samson.

The services begin at 7 p.m. each night. Admission and parking are free. Music will be provided by the Sons of the Father from West Frankfort, Ill., and the choir from Heartland Worship Center in Paducah, Ky. Members of area church choirs are invited to sing in a combined choir several nights during the event.

Stood by remarks

Falwell, known for being a controversial speaker, stirred tensions among the world's Muslims recently when he said that Muhammad, the founder of Islam, was a terrorist.

Thousands of Muslims in India's Jammu-Kashmir state protested and demonstrated in the streets Monday after hearing Falwell's comments. The protests came after a local newspaper reported the story.

Falwell made the remarks in a CBS interview that aired Sunday on "60 Minutes."

Falwell stood by his opinion in a phone interview with the Associated Press. However, he said he would never state his opinion in a sermon or book.

"I've said often and in many places that most Muslims are people of peace and want peace and tranquility for their families and abhor terrorism," Falwell said. "Islam, like most faiths, has a fringe of radicals who carry on bloodshed wherever they are. They do not represent Islam."

He is one among many conservative Protestant clergy who have made critical remarks about Islam in the past year. Others include the Rev. Jerry Vines, a former president of the Southern Baptist Convention; Franklin Graham, the son of Billy Graham and successor to his ministry; and TV evangelist Pat Robertson.

While in Cape Girardeau in April, the crusade focused on end-times prophecy and the second coming of Christ. That message brought about 2,000 people each night to the weeklong event.

Since beginning in Cape Girardeau in the spring, the Hope for America crusade has grown to include stops in DuQuoin, Ill., and Paducah, Ky.

"The response has been really good," said the Rev. Donny Ford, one of the staff who is organizing the crusade. "We're looking at going most places once a year."

The crusade is organized by the nonprofit Horizon Foundation, founded by Cape Girard-eau businessman Jerry Lipps.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.