Religious pulse is strong, steady in this area

When organizers of the Hope for America Crusade announced a second major event just a few months after a similar effort last spring, many pastors in the Cape Girardeau area were surprised. And attendance at last month's crusade at the Show Me Center showed the effects. The spring event drew about 2,000 people nightly and only 400 last month.

There are many ways to measure the success of such an event, which brings well-known evangelists from all over the country to a five-night event. By many measures, the most recent Hope for America Crusade could not be counted as a great success.

But the statistics -- attendance, conversions, offerings -- from the crusade tell another story worth repeating: Churches in this area are vigorous and growing. Most of them have a full schedule of special events, including revivals and evangelistic projects.

There was a time when revivals were held by some churches to do just what the name implies: revive a stagnant congregation. These days, revivals and other programs are used to maintain a high level of Spirit-filled work and celebration.

This is good news -- even for the organizers of the Hope for America Crusade.