In the summer of 1952, amongst the growing civil rights movement, Billy Graham hosted his first Crusade event in Jackson, Mississippi. Refusing to accept the status quo of racial segregation at the Crusade, Billy Graham himself took down the ropes that were to divide the crowds into black and white.

Even years later, people who had attended the Crusade wrote to Billy Graham of the impact it had on their lives. Notably, a woman by the name of Lois Jackson wrote to Rev. Graham in 1994 with the following words:

“You’ll never know how much a difference your ministry made in my life as a young Black teacher in segregated MS when you would not preach in Jackson unless White and Black were together. You restored my faith in God’s word believing that He loved all of us.”

Over forty years later, Ms. Jackson felt the impact of what was accomplished at that Crusade. Billy Graham’s message was clear—Christ was for everyone, regardless of their background, culture, race, job, or history.

The newspapers across Mississippi wrote daily about what was happening at the nearly month-long Billy Graham Crusade in Jackson. Attendance at Tiger Stadium presented some of the biggest crowds Billy Graham had seen at that point in his ministry. He even wrote to his parents in June 1952 telling them, “We are having wonderful meetings here in Jackson. The first week is the largest week that we have ever had.”

Another attendee of the 1952 Crusade in Jackson, Mrs. R.L. Brent, didn’t wait to reach out to Billy Graham’s wife, Ruth Bell Graham, about the impact she felt from the Crusade. She wrote in a card on July 14, 1952:

“Had to write you just a little note to tell you of the wonderful revival that we have had in our city and just how much Billy Graham has meant to all of the thousands that heard him preach. He has really been an inspiration that we cannot express. We think a man like him and his team are only once in a life time.”

Even the highest-ranking official in the state of Mississippi wrote to Billy Graham about the impact he recognized had occurred in his home state. On July 15, 1952, Governor Hugh White wrote:

“Your great work in Mississippi will live long after you have passed on, and I want to tell you that Mississippi is much finer because you came.”

Years passed, but Billy Graham did not forget about the need to continue to share the Gospel in Mississippi. In May 1975, he returned to the Magnolia State. It was clear much thought and prayer were going into the preparations. In a Crusade newsletter prior to the Crusade, Billy Graham made an appeal to his readers about particular prayers for the event in Jackson:

“We must have the greatest concentration of prayer this part of the country has ever known. Great things can be accomplished through the prayers of God’s people. If we were not certain that Christians would be praying for us, we would not dare attempt this Crusade. Right now… today… and each day ahead… we are depending on your personal prayer support.”

The Crusade met monumental numbers night after night, and the testimonies that followed the event proved how much God was working in the lives of those who came. One of the counselors who prayed with those who came forward shared this story:

“Thursday night I counseled with a 16-year-old boy who had been on drugs, in jail, and was in danger of being sent to a detention center. This young man said that Mr. Graham’s message really touched him, and he wanted to receive Jesus.”

Still another counselor wrote:

“One blessing to me was a small girl, who after hearing the scriptures and the plan of salvation looked into my eyes and said, ‘Jesus is in my heart now.’ How precious, she has a whole little life to live for the Lord.”

Even pastors’ families were impacted during the Crusade. Charlie Baker, a pastor at First Baptist Church in Jackson, wrote to Billy Graham to share his son’s testimony. He said,

“My son Nathan made a profession of faith in our church service on Sunday morning. Enclosed is a drawing he wanted me to present to you. He sketched this drawing out after the close of the last Sunday evening service.”

It is clear that God worked through his servant Billy Graham to touch the hearts of thousands across the state of Mississippi in 1952 and in 1975. Those efforts are probably best summed up in a letter to Rev. Graham from William P. Davis, a personal counselor in Jackson. In a letter dated May 16, 1975, he writes,

“Thank you for coming to Jackson. A long time many of us worked and prayed for your coming. During the dark days of the sixties we met and prayed that God would open the way for you to come. Especially in 1964 when more than 50 churches were burned in Mississippi …

Now Blacks and Whites are working together. Denominations are working together. You scattered some seed in your first Crusade … God raised you up for the hour. Now concerned people will go forward as never before. You gave us what we needed.”

This month, on March 21 and 22, Billy Graham’s grandson, Will Graham, returns to the state where his grandfather left such a legacy to once again share the Gospel. Find out more about Will Graham’s upcoming Celebration of Hope and pray that God will work in the hearts and lives of those who come.