A Look Back at Billy Graham in Birmingham

By   •   August 12, 2015

Billy Graham in Birmingham, 1964
After the 1963 bombing at Birmingham, Alabama's 16th Street Baptist Church that killed four African-American girls, Billy Graham offered to bring his team. The 1964 Crusade gathered the largest integrated audience in Birmingham history.
"If we can't meet at the cross of Christ as brothers, we can't make it in other areas." —Billy Graham
Billy Graham
Billy Graham returned to Birmingham, Alabama in 1972.
The choir at the 1964 Crusade in Birmingham, Alabama, was integrated. Though an unpopular decision, Billy Graham made it clear that segregation would not be part of the meetings. "We would not come otherwise," he said.
flyer
A flyer used to get the word out about the 1972 Alabama Crusade.
1972 Crowd
Some of the crowd at the 1972 Alabama Crusade, which took place May 14-21.
Billy Graham preaching
One night of the 1972 meetings, Billy Graham preached on the home. "The American home is in trouble," he said. "The greatest need is to come back to the Bible and see what the Bible and what God has to say about marriage."
Crusade crowd
The 1972 Crusade began on Mother's Day and lasted a week. More than 373,000 attended.
Billy Graham and friends
Billy Graham stands on stage with Joe Namath, Tom Landry, Paul “Bear” Bryant.
Billy Graham
Billy Graham preaching at the 1972 Alabama Crusade.
Legion Field
By the end of the week, nearly 10,000 people had responded to the invitation to accept Christ.