CBN NEWS article

01-15-2024

On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, America honors the legacy and memory of the slain civil rights leader who was murdered while fighting for racial equality and justice in America. Most are aware of how Dr. King’s Christian faith fueled his life and compelled him to protest peacefully across the South to end segregation. But King also helped break down color barriers in another way, by joining forces with a major movement to share the good news of Jesus Christ – Rev. Billy Graham’s evangelistic crusades.

In 1953, despite segregation and racial tensions, Graham held an integrated crusade in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Hundreds of thousands of men, women and children of all races sat together and worshiped the Lord.

“But when God looks at you, He doesn’t look on the outward appearance; the Bible says He looks upon the heart,” Graham preached.

Graham wanted to do more to end segregation, so when his colleague, Rev. Howard Jones, recommended that Graham take his message to the streets of New York, that’s exactly what he did. He preached at Salem Methodist Church to thousands, and the next week he went to Brooklyn.

Gradually, the crusades in New York became increasingly integrated. 

Then in 1957, Rev. Graham invited his good friend, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to one of the events. During that crusade, Dr. King and Rev. Graham stood together on stage at Madison Square Garden. That’s when King prayed:

“And In these days of emotional tension when the problems of the world are dynamic in extent and chaotic in detail give us penetrating vision, broad understanding, the power of endurance and abiding faith and save us from the paralysis of crippling fear. Oh God, we ask you to help us to work with renewed vigor for a warless world and for the brotherhood that transcends race or color.”

King also prayed a blessing over Graham and his evangelistic work. (Check out this Facebook video)

Graham faced a flurry of criticism from both sides during that season. He even faced financial threats for integrating his outreaches, but that did not deter him. 

King reportedly suggested to Graham that he focus on the South and hold integrated meetings there, which he did, and those crusades flowed from Arkansas to Alabama.

“Early on, Dr. King and I spoke about his method of using non-violent demonstrations to bring an end to racial segregation,” Graham said. “He urged me to keep doing what I was doing – preaching the Gospel to integrated audiences and supporting his goals by example – and not join him in the streets.”

Graham further explained, “Martin Luther King suggested to me that I stay in the South and hold integrated meetings and that he was going to take to the streets and that he would probably get killed in the streets, but I don’t think you ought to because you are going to be able to do some things that I can’t and I’m going to be able to do some things you can’t, but we’re after the same objective.”

(check out the Twitter link)

While Graham toured the southern regions, he spoke to racially mixed crowds and spoke about God’s ability to heal. In the end, God used the friendship between King and Graham in powerful ways to break down many walls in America.

Dr. King is quoted as saying, “Had it not been for the ministry of my good friend Dr. Billy Graham, my work in the civil rights movement would not have been as successful as it has been.”  

Wisdom on marriage from Bishop JC Ryle

author, Bible, Christian, Christian writers, David Kitz, Elijah, faith, God, Interviews and Reviews, Jesus, Ottawa

FT (Faith Today): You’re a retired schoolteacher and ordained Foursquare minister who writes a daily blog on the Psalms (davidkitz.blog) and performs one-man Bible dramas. Why prioritize those things?

DK (David Kitz): These priorities come out of my objective and motto which is “Bringing God’s Word to life and lives to God’s Word.” If we want to see real change in people’s lives, we need to connect them with the living Word of God. Jesus is the living Word, and in knowing him I have discovered love, peace, and joy. Writing and drama are two vehicles I use to bring the living Word to others.

FT: Congrats on the Word Alive Press award you and your co-author Ed Hird got for your manuscript The Elisha Code and the Coming Revival. What’s the book about and when does it come out?

DK: The Elisha Code and the Coming Revival explores the relationship between the Old Testament prophetic dynamic duo of Elijah and Elisha, and their New Testament counterpart, the duo of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ. Jesus identified John as “the Elijah who was to come” (Matthew 11:14). An examination of Elisha’s miracles reveals that they run parallel to the miracles of Christ in a most remarkable way. Furthermore, this has implications for believers today as we live in anticipation of seeing even greater works (John14:12) in days of spiritual revival ahead. The Elisha Code and the Coming Revival is available now.

FT: You’re chair of the board at The Word Guild, a national association for Christians in writing and publishing. How does that group benefit the church community?

DK: Writers change the world, and they have been shaping the world we live in for thousands of years. Our goal at The Word Guild is to encourage, equip, and strengthen Canadian Christian writers so they can impact our society at every level. God uses Christian writers to inform and inspire the church community. We can all agree the written living Word needs to be present and active in Canada.

FT: Tell us a bit more about yourself anf your development as an author.

DK: I’m a farmboy born and raised in Saskatchewan but now living with my wife Karen in Ottawa, Canada’s capital. We have two adult sons and a daughterinlaw.

My first book, a novel, was published in 2003. God has blessed my efforts, and over the years I have won multiple awards across several literary genres. Prior to The Elisha Code and the Coming Revival, my most recent publication was a three book devotional series entitled Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer by Elk Lake Publishing.

In all this my goal contunues to be “Bringing God’s Word to life and lives to God’s Word.”

For a direct link to David’s website click here.