The New York Crusade of 1957 stands as a monumental event in the history of evangelistic campaigns in the United States. Organized by Billy Graham, this crusade was the longest and largest of its kind ever held in New York City, lasting 16 weeks and drawing over 2.4 million participants. The campaign was meticulously planned over two years and marked a significant moment in the religious landscape of the era.
Planning and Preparation
The groundwork for the New York Crusade
began in 1954 when the Protestant Council of New York invited Billy Graham to conduct an evangelistic campaign. Initially declining, Graham encouraged the inclusion of Protestant churches not affiliated with the council. By December 1955, a committee was formed to organize the crusade, involving around 1,700 denominations from New York and surrounding areas. This extensive preparation included the creation of 250,000 songbooks and 100,000 copies of the Gospel of John, along with a choir of 4,000 people from New York churches.
The campaign was designed to address the spiritual needs of New Yorkers, with Graham highlighting that 58% of the city's residents did not identify with any religion. The goal was to attract new believers and encourage less active Christians to engage more deeply with their faith. Meetings were planned to take place every evening at Madison Square Garden, with one-third of the seats reserved before the crusade began.
The Crusade's Impact
The New York Crusade officially opened on May 15, 1957, at Madison Square Garden, with nearly all seats occupied on the first night. The event featured speeches from notable figures, including Vice President Richard Nixon and Pastor Martin Luther King Jr. Over the course of the crusade, 97 evangelistic meetings were held at Madison Square Garden, with an average attendance of 17,828 people. Special meetings also took place at various locations, including Times Square, Yankee Stadium, and Central Park.
The crusade was extensively covered by major newspapers like The New York Times and the New York Herald Tribune, marking the beginning of televangelism—a new form of religiosity based on media. Despite facing criticism from liberal theologians and proponents of racial segregation, the campaign was a resounding success, drawing massive crowds and fostering a sense of spiritual revival.
Legacy and Aftermath
The New York Crusade concluded on September 1, 1957, with a massive gathering at Times Square attended by approximately 125,000 people. Billy Graham's efforts during the crusade led to a significant increase in church attendance, with 6,000 to 10,000 new members joining Protestant churches. The campaign also saw 56,767 individuals make the decision to dedicate their lives to Christ.
The crusade's impact extended beyond its immediate results, contributing to the discrediting of liberal theology and highlighting the civil rights struggle led by Martin Luther King Jr. Billy Graham's New York Crusade remains a pivotal moment in the history of American evangelicalism, showcasing the power of organized religious campaigns to effect change and inspire millions.
