DC Talk, MWS, and Billy Graham - Toronto 10 June 1995
David Leibold
DC Talk, Michael W Smith and Billy Graham. Or would Billy Graham show,
given his medical problems of the past week?
Crowds started to get to SkyDome after 3 pm; the doors opened at 5:15 pm;
the doors were shut about an hour after that (when the SkyDome packed out);
the show started shortly after 7 pm.
A mere 73 500 (from radio reports) were at SkyDome Saturday night with an
overflow of thousands more outside reportedly listening to speakers - the
largest Christian concert in Canadian history, but also the largest-ever
crowd in the SkyDome facility. (The big Carman show in Dallas, U.S.A.
likely beat that number for world-largest Christian concert, though).
Certainly this is a largest-ever audience for Billy Graham in Canada.
DC Talk was first up with a set list that went approximately like this
(subject to errors in titles, perhaps missing a tune even, given my lack
of complete knowledge of DCT's discography):
* (title unknown... song about Love being a verb)
* Word to the Wise
* Jesus Is Still All Right
* Wish We'd All Been Ready (the Larry Norman tune, done acoustic)
* In the Light (acoustic-ish)
* Lean On Me (going back to jam mode)
* Jesus Freak (a new tune)
* Heaven Bound
DCT did a short prayer for Dr Graham's health and strength in mid-set.
This was followed by a testimonial video featuring NHL hockey player
Mike Gartner, Blue Jays World Series hero Joe Carter, and award-winning
Canadian singer Susan Aglukark (who performed in the SkyDome on
Wednesday night).
Okay... 7:53 pm and Michael W Smith is in the house, as introduced in
video by Joe Carter. Set list (again, subject to rusty knoweledge of
discography):
* Cross of Gold
* Place in this World
* Somewhere in the Night
* Secret Ambition
[fireworks burst]
* Friends
* Lead You Home (a new song, to appear on MWS's forthcoming album,
written in the aftermath of a really bogus time, and a 5:30 am
one-on-one with God)
The big moment arrives, and Dr Billy Graham is on the stage to a standing
ovation. He seems to be in good appearance, considering his hospital stay
and all. He joked with the crowd that his sermon wouldn't be more than two
hours long. He mentioned that thousands were left outside, unable to get
into the packed SkyDome, a facility Dr Graham declared there was nothing
else quite like it. His Gospel message lasted less than an hour, ranging
in topic from the news about the rescued U.S. pilot in Bosnia who thanked
God for his survival and rescue, to the various elements of salvation and
living a life for God, to references to the songs played earlier, to a
caution that living the Gospel would not be an easy task, to the invitation
itself.
Over 5200 came forward at the invitation (I don't have precise numbers
yet, but this figure should be close) This was a heavy-duty counselling
task, and a rather tricky audience logistics task with the huge numbers
of people involved (and many of them were in the field in front of the
main stage).
Ralph Bell, who stepped in as evangelist while Billy Graham was in
hospital, was reportedly preaching to the crowds outside SkyDome, with
more decisions as a result. Audiences came in by the busload, from
the Toronto region, from other parts of Ontario, and even from various
parts of the U.S. (there were reports of some busloads from Cleveland,
for instance).
In other news: At the Kids Gig earlier on Saturday, an estimated 25 000
showed up with 3601 coming forward with commitments (2582 out of these
accepting salvation).
The approximately $2.5 million budget for Mission Ontario was 92% paid
for as of Friday, as announced at that day's session. Billy Graham is
expected back for the final Sunday afternoon session with The Canadian
Brass and the dustkickers.
--
::David Leibold aa...@freenet.toronto.on.ca
David Leibold
: A mere 73 500 (from radio reports) were at SkyDome Saturday night with an
: overflow of thousands more outside reportedly listening to speakers - the
Clarification: that figure is now reported as being the total for those
inside *and* outside... an usher mentioned the indoor Dome figure was
more like 68k. Bigger that SkyDome's previous attendance record,
Wrestlemania in 1990.
: [DC Talk set list]
: * Word to the Wise
Maybe that was Word 2 the Father instead... title clarification would be
welcome.
No major nastiness erupted at the event, although a local Toronto radio
station made mention of someone who was rather abusive at a SkyDome staff
for not getting in and a pair attempting to scam their way into the Dome
by saying they came all the way from Winnipeg (when they came all the way
from a 'burb just north of Metro Toronto). Otherwise, the crowds were in
rather good order... paper airplanes were whipping through the sections,
and a few waves happened.
--
::David Leibold aa...@freenet.toronto.on.ca