When it comes to planning for evangelist Billy Graham's Greater Los Angeles Crusade, nothing is taken on faith alone.
Four months before hundreds of thousands are expected to file into the Rose Bowl for the Nov. 18 to 21 crusade, preparations already are underway that would awe the most seasoned of political operatives in this year's presidential campaigns.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Tuesday July 13, 2004 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 59 words Type of Material: Correction
Billy Graham -- A story in Saturday's California section on preparations for a Billy Graham crusade planned at the Rose Bowl in November incorrectly said the headquarters for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Assn. is in Minneapolis. Though some staff members remain in that city, the headquarters has been moved to Charlotte, N.C., where most of the staff is based.
"A crusade is like an iceberg. Scientists tell us you see just about 10%," Los Angeles crusade director Jeff Anderson said in an interview this week in Pasadena, where the organization has leased 10,000 square feet of office space on East Green Street. "The very visible part is what is seen by the community -- four days of public meetings attracting hundreds of thousands of people. But what the watching world does not know about is the 90% of the crusade that is not seen -- the prayer, the local leadership, the evangelical training, the outreach and the logistics."
The Pasadena headquarters looks like a political campaign office. A large map on the wall has divided the crusade's six targeted counties -- Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, San Bernardino, Riverside and Santa Barbara -- into 21 organizing regions. There is a 23-person full-time staff, 10 of them from Graham headquarters in Minneapolis. The office is crowded with Bible study guides and other materials. A large banner with a picture of Graham hangs in a makeshift meeting room.
Anderson said 1,037 churches representing 91 Christian denominations have enlisted to participate in the crusade, 766 individuals have volunteered to serve as ushers and section captains, and 2,355 of the needed 6,000 counselors have signed on, as have 1,993 local church choir members who will be part of a hoped-for 6,000-voice choir. Graham's sermons, delivered in a weaker voice than in his younger days, will be simultaneously translated into 14 languages and beamed by low-power transmitters to special sections in the Rose Bowl.
Lighting, sound systems and big TV screens had to be ordered. A set had to be designed. Contractors had to be hired.
Each crusade is self-supporting. The Rose Bowl event will cost almost $5.4 million, Anderson said, with equal shares borne by funds from local churches, receipts from a direct mail campaign, gifts from major donors and the offerings of attendees.
The details are staggering.
