(405) 425-5070

In Montgomery, marchers Crusade for Christ


MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Hundreds of church members braved the afternoon heat as they marched to the steps of the Alabama State Capitol — a half-century after the marches and demonstrations here at the peak of the civil rights movement.
Then, African-Americans were on a crusade for equal rights — in the voting booth and the school classroom — and justice. This time, they were on a Crusade for Christ.
“I believe that, if men were always looking to Jesus, we would not have had all of the racial problems that we have had … not only in Alabama but all over this world,” Jack Evans said from the capitol steps after the Christians sang, “I’ll live with him forever, in glory by and by.”
Earlier that day, nearly 3,000 people packed into the Montgomery Convention Center for Sunday worship.
Evans, a longtime minister and president of Southwestern Christian College in Terrell, Texas, was the keynote speaker at the Crusade, a weeklong evangelistic campaign hosted by Churches of Christ every two years in a major U.S. city.
A group of ministers in Chicago launched the Crusade in 1979 and chose Daniel Harrison, a native of Montgomery, to lead it.
“I felt a need to come back home,” Harrison told the Montgomery Advertiser as he made the ceremonial march to the Capitol. He’s kept up with news of a recent increase in homicides in Montgomery and hoped the Crusade could help make a difference.
“If you can bring about some type of spiritual metamorphosis,” he said, “it gives people another sense of direction.”
In addition to days of door-knocking, Bible studies and gospel preaching, crusaders gave away 20,000 pounds of food to the needy in conjunction with the Montgomery Area Food Bank, organizer Herman Wesley III said.
The group also conducted free health fairs at three area Churches of Christ.
Fred Gray, an attorney and elder of the Tuskegee Church of Christ in Alabama, defended Rosa Parks during the bus boycott in Montgomery 58 years ago. He spoke during the Crusade.
After years of tension and mistrust, “I certainly hope that the black church and the white church — terms that should have never existed in the first place — come together,” Gray told The Christian Chronicle.
RELATED BLOG POST: Hamil Harris interviews Fred Gray about the Crusade for Christ.

  • Feedback
    This year I was blessed with the opportunity to participate in some of the Crusade for Christ events as our congreagation’s youth were on a Black History/Civil Rights Tour in Montgomery, and Selma at the time of the crusade. The march was so powerful and left a lasting impression on all of us that participated. It just felt so good to be with so many CHRISTIANS in one place.
    Chantel James
    Hallandale Bch CoC
    Lauderhill, FL
    US
    August, 5 2013

Filed under: National

View Comments

Don’t miss out on more stories like this.

Subscribe today to receive more inspiring articles like this one delivered straight to your inbox twice a month.

Did you enjoy this article?

Your donation helps us not only keep our quality of journalism high, but helps us continue to reach more people in the Churches of Christ community.

$
Personal Info

Dedicate this Donation

In Honor/Memory of Details

Card Notification Details

Credit Card Info
This is a secure SSL encrypted payment.
Billing Details

Donation Total: $3 One Time