Saturday, Nov. 01, 2008

Some of those who were there 60 years ago recall Billy Graham’s Modesto crusade

It's been 60 years this month since Billy Graham came to town. He was in Modesto at the invitation of Ben Jennings, director of Youth for Christ.

Graham was just beginning to make a name for himself in YFC circles. He would have his first hit on the national scene a few months later when he took his crusade to Los Angeles. A three-week stop there with moderate crowds stretched to eight weeks with standing room only.

But first, the young evangelist accepted an invitation to Modesto.

"Normally, we met in the old Winter Garden Auditorium at 10th and L streets," said Jennings. "We would have an average of 300 or so. We were always looking around for top-flight speakers and (Graham) became well-known in our circles as the traveling evangelist."

About 26,250 people attended the evening meetings over a two-week period, according to a newspaper report. That's when the population of Modesto was about 18,000.

Jennings first met Graham at that crusade.

"There was something unusual about Billy," he said. "He was very friendly, very outgoing. Almost all the speakers I hosted were very edgy — 'Is everything set up right?' 'How many people are going to be here?' But with Billy, it wasn't like that. He built up the self-confidence and sense of significance with those who worked with him.

"Another big impression is he put all of his heart into whatever he was doing. We had him on KTRB a number of times. It was the main radio station in Modesto. He would preach into that microphone just like he was preaching to a crowd. It was great to work with him."

Jennings may be a bit prejudiced. The year before Graham came, Jennings married the former Mary Jean Barrows, sister of the evangelist's longtime song leader, Cliff Barrows.

The Barrows family grew up in the Ceres area. "My father was a farmer. We lived out on Service Road right next to Faith Home," said Barrows, 85, in an interview from his home in North Carolina. "We had to work. That was part of our ethic of living.

"My grandfather was one of the first to settle in that area. When irrigation came in, they planted crops and vineyards. We grew every kind of fruit you could imagine. That was very fertile land. Of course, I had to work on the farm during the summer when harvest time came. I thought back then that I had to work too much, but I didn't really. I'm thankful for the discipline of it and what I learned from it."

Barrows met Graham while on his honeymoon.

"I met him in 1945, the year that my late wife, Billie, and I were married. We had gone to South Carolina for our honeymoon and were staying in the home of a friend. He said there was a youth rally going on nearby and asked if we wanted to go hear a young man preach. We said yes.

"When we pulled up on the grounds, Mr. Graham was standing outside. His host said, 'We've got a problem. It's time for the service to begin, but we don't have anyone to lead the worship.' My friend pointed to us and said, 'She plays the piano and he leads worship. You'll be happy to help, won't you?' That was the beginning of a wonderful relationship that has lasted for more than 62 years."

Barrows said he very much remembers the 1948 Modesto crusade.

A large tent, rented from a Southern California firm, was erected at La Loma and Burney. The "Canvas Cathedral" was filled "with (wood) shavings on the floor and a choir I enjoyed leading very much," Barrows said.

His sister, Mary Jean Jennings, remembers her family hosting Graham's team and others in 1948, as well as in 1958 when Graham spoke at Turlock's 50th anniversary celebration and at other times when the team was in the area. Some, such as Graham's soloist George Beverly Shea and his family, would stay at the Barrows home. Others, such as Graham, would stay elsewhere but drove to the farm for meals.