Saturday night, as people poured out the auditorium of the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove, many dabbing their eyes with tissues, it was clear something special had just taken place.
Hundreds showed for day three of “Christmas at the Cove with Cliff Barrows and Friends.” With lights, poinsettias, wreaths and Christmas trees all around, the spirit of the season was certainly in the air.
The Collingsworth Family, a singing group of Phil and Kim and their children, masterfully performed a concert of carols. David Bruce, president of Blue Ridge Broadcasting and Billy Graham’s executive assistant, then delivered a special message.
Every word sang and spoken pointed back to Christ in a unique way.
“You should be shouting when you understand the Lamb of God who has taken up our sin,” Bruce said. “That’s the power of the Gospel, and it’s the meaning of Christmas.
“There’s not one of us in here tonight that doesn’t have some grief, that doesn’t have some burden to bear, doesn’t have some sorrow to share,” he continued. “But through it all, He is our friend.”
By the end of the evening, one thing was clear:
“You’ve taken us to the cross tonight,” Mr. Barrows said.
And what better feeling for him to have on the day he would say goodbye to the event he’d participated in for 10 years.
With a slight whimper in his voice, Mr. Barrows ended the night thanking everyone who helped make Christmas at the Cove possible.
“We’ll never have another one like this,” Mr. Barrows said.
The annual celebration includes dinner, music, and other Christmas-related activities. The event will continue in years to come without Mr. Barrows.
And although he will carry on his 60-plus-year ministry with BGEA hosting the Hour of Decision Online radio program—at age 91—Mr. Barrows knows every moment of life he has left is precious.
“It may be the last [Christmas celebration] in this home Ann and I will have, we don’t know. But there’s one thing sure, we’ll have one in heaven,” he said. “Because we know we have put our faith in that verse (John 3:16) and we’ve trusted our lives and hearts to the Lamb of God who has taken away the sin of the world.”
Joyous Worship
Full of Scripture, anecdotes, and even a song or two on the harmonica, Mr. Barrows is still sharp—crown of gray and all.
He entered the room proudly singing “Joy to the World” with ministry partner and friend, Tom Bledsoe. Moments later, Mr. Barrows let the crowd see his humorous side, first giving Bledsoe a hard time about his festive socks, then sharing a Christmas joke.
“A little boy said to his younger sister, ‘Let’s play Christmas… I’ll be Santa Claus, you be the presents, and I’ll give you away.’ ”
The crowd erupted in laughter, and that joy never left the room.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Barrows thought of his dear friend, Billy Graham.
“I want us all on the count of three to say Merry Christmas to Mr. Graham,” he said, knowing the event was being recorded. “He won’t see it, but he’ll hear it if we say it loud enough!”
Saturday also included a few special guests.
Elizabeth Walker decided to spend her 100th birthday attending. After all, she’d witnessed Mr. Graham’s first Crusade in person. What’s likely to be Mr. Barrows’ last Christmas at the Cove was worthy of witnessing as well.
For the last three years, Rose Willis has traveled the farthest to attend Christmas at the Cove from London. But this year, Mr. Barrows broke the news that she’d been beat out by Warren Barnett, who traveled from Australia.
“Cliff was just a monumental, profound influence on my youth,” Barnett said, adding that spending one-on-one time with him that night was like “meeting the queen or the president.”
When Barnett grabbed his Sunday School teacher’s hand to walk forward at the 1959 Sydney Crusade, Barnett said it was two reasons he made that choice: to give his life to Christ and “to have a look at the choir,” he chuckled.
About 7 years ago, Barnett felt called to use his position as a Sony Music archivist to digitize the music of the Billy Graham International Crusade Choirs from the last 60 years.
“We’ve done nearly 200 tracks, and we’re going to keep going,” he said.
If there’s one lesson Barnett has learned from Mr. Barrows it’s, “To serve God with all your heart.” And that servant’s heart is something countless individuals have recognized in Mr. Barrows.
Well after Christmas at the Cove ended Saturday night, a crowd lingered in the lobby to catch him for one last goodbye.
Carolers, led by Tom Bledsoe, gathered on one side of the exit. Once Mr. Barrows and his wife, Ann, were in eyesight, they started to sing the hymn, “God Bless Thee and Keep Thee.”
Mr. Barrows raised his cane as if he were conducting—and sang along.
“May God bless you and make you a blessing,” he told everyone.
He then walked arm in arm with Ann to the car. Billy Graham’s grandson, Will, held the door—a poignant picture.
“It’s the end of an era,” Will said. “But that means it’s the beginning of a new one.”
