Was this the largest Christian event in decades?
Bishop Harold attended Celebration of Hope, which was held at the Belfast Odyssey from Friday 4th to Sunday 6th April 2008. He came away asking himself the question: 'Has this been the largest Christian event in decades?'
This is his personal reflection on Celebration of Hope which he would like to share:
'What a joy and privilege it was to be at the Odyssey arena for the opening of Celebration of Hope with Franklin Graham on Friday night. It was, first of all, a real pleasure to meet Billy Graham's son - a humble and gracious man, who comes to life when he preaches the Good News. I was aware of the remarkable impact Billy Graham has had worldwide, and not least here in Northern Ireland, over generations. For example, in the decade after the Harringay crusade in London in the 1950's, the preaching of Billy Graham was possibly the largest single factor in people being called into the ordained ministry of the Church of England. And I still meet people here who were deeply impacted by his different crusades over the years.
The second thing I was aware of was the age profile of the audiences. On Friday, I was expecting lots of grey-haired people there for an evening of nostalgia, and to be honest, a rather old-fashioned approach. Neither was the case. There really are thousands of young people, young adults, children, and from every generation who want to be at an event like this. No doubt many, and perhaps most, were regular churchgoers, but surely the point of the Gospel is that churchgoers need to repent just as much (and sometimes more) than those who have not heard! The move from nominalism which takes place for many at an event like this can be truly life-transforming. I know personally!
I was also aware, indeed proud, of the engagement of so many people and parishes in the diocese. The banners outside churches gave a sense of life, and of working with others.....and that might be extended further in the future. And at least three of the key tasks were undertaken by people (and lay people at that) from Down and Dromore. Roy Walker from St Mary's Ballybeen headed up the prayer with his usual great gusto and energy. John Kee from Belvoir used all his skills from Summer Madness to produce such a good youth event that hundreds, if not thousands, had to be turned away: even the six cinemas were full. And the MC at that event was none other than our new star, Jasper Rutherford, the youth worker in Willowfield. I want to thank the three of them, personally, and all others from the diocese who worked as encouragers or in other practical ways.
My final thought is this. I never really know why people wish to denigrate what they call ‘mass evangelism'. I think it is because the carefully chosen word ‘mass' reminds us of ‘mass hysteria'! As has been said by the organizers, this is not mass evangelism, but personal evangelism on a mass scale. My own belief is that all the different styles of evangelism come together, and there really are times when people need a focal event such as this. What I am certain of, and have been certain of for years, is that the days of the big evangelistic event are far from dead...and we have seen that this weekend.
+Harold Down and Dromore'