An ordained minister and also a member of Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in North Charleston, Crawford is a key part of the Franklin Graham Lowcountry Festival prayer team. She shared her story Wednesday evening after the team prayed to consecrate the North Charleston Coliseum, the venue for this weekend’s activities.
“I’ve watched Billy Graham since I was a little girl and when I was in Asheville, N.C., a few months ago, the Lord led me to The Cove,” Crawford says. “I went into the church that Ruth Graham had dedicated, and I went into the pulpit and I sat in the chair where Billy Graham sat, and went to the prayer room. Just to play a part in this awesome ministry is special.”
Crawford also will serve as a counselor at the Festival: “I will help lead people to the Lord and walk them through it, and help follow up with them to make sure that they grow in their walk with Christ.”
She started volunteering with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) by answering phones at the Call Center associated with her church. “As a minister, souls are very important to me. It’s just so exciting as you talk to people on the phone and you lead them to Christ through the materials that Billy Graham has. I was so impressed with the materials because they talk about salvation and repentance and coming to the Lord.”
Although well acquainted with Billy Graham, Crawford says that until now she never understood the amount of prayer, the amount of preparation, and the amount of discipline that goes into a Festival or Crusade. “It made me have a more profound respect for him as a man of God.”
She joined the Festival prayer team because she knows “we need to be communicating with God about His desire and His will for this place. We need to consecrate and dedicate the premises, the building to Him because a secular place is going to be used for a spiritual purpose. We want the presence of God to be here. We want Him to be pleased with what is going on here. We want to ask Him for souls.”
According to Crawford, the Charleston area needs God’s healing touch. “We need to come together even more as a community and be concerned about our fellow man, and bridge the cultural and racial barriers. I think there are some areas for improvement and growth, although this is called The Holy City. There are a lot of divides.”
Crawford feels the Franklin Graham Festival will so impact the city of Charleston and the city of North Charleston that they will never be the same. “Churches and people – strangers – have come together to pray for a common cause – for the people in this city, for change in the city.”
She adds, “I am just excited about men and women of God – young and old – people of all races and religions coming here for the cause of Christ and the glory of God.”
Betty Gaines, another prayer team member, also is “excited” to be part of what God is doing at the Festival in Charleston. “And it all started last year when He brought so many prayer warriors together.”
It was a year ago, says Gaines, “that the Lord sent me from Virginia to pray and walk the land and that’s what I’ve been doing. I’ve just been obedient to come here to Charleston to pray.”
Gaines is not alone. “He has sent so many others here to come and pray and walk this land,” she says. “His hand is on this land. He wants to restore this land, to bring revival, starting in Charleston first. Then it will spread to the rest of the United States.”
An intercessor for more than 20 years, Gaines says she thanks God for “how He brought so many prayer warriors together. We get together three times a week to pray and intercede. In this past year, I have seen what God has done in this city. It is not by accident that Franklin Graham is here. This is just the tip of the iceberg.”
Will you please join us in praying for the Franklin Graham Lowcountry Festival?
We need your help financially. Donate now using our online form. Checks can be made out to “Lowcountry Franklin Graham Festival” and mailed to the office at: PO Box 61207, North Charleston, SC 29419.
