IN AUGUSTA, GEORGIA IN 1947, 1967 AS TODAY, LIKE CATHOLICS, SOUTHERN BAPTISTS WERE/ARE CONCERNED ABOUT LOSING YOUNG PEOPLE

The Southern Baptist Convention was founded at First Baptist Church in Augusta in the 1850’s. Their Church, fellowship hall and educational building were built in downtown August on Greene Street, one street over from The Church of the Most Holy Trinity. I was pastor there from 1991 to 2004. 

In the 80’s First Baptist Church moved to the Augusta suburbs. During my time as pastor, Most Holy Trinity acquired their downtown, 48,000 square feet fellowship hall and educational building which now houses Immaculate Conception School.

But this is a 1967 article about Billy Graham who had returned to Augusta for his second Crusade there. It was held at the Bell Auditorium directly next to Most Holy Trinity but built on property that was once the location of Boys Catholic High School and once part of Most Holy Trinity’s complex. 

Please note the concern about losing young people!

On this day in Augusta, GA's history:
MARCH 31, 1967

Augusta’s First Baptist Church celebrated its 150th birthday, and the Rev. Billy Graham showed up to help light the candles.

Six thousand people crammed into Bell Auditorium to hear the famed evangelist, and when Graham took the stage, he did not disappoint them.

The Augusta Chronicle, which covered his appearance with photographers, two reporters and a city editor, wrote that Graham began his message with humor but was soon his “fiery” self.

“It feels as if we’re coming home,” Graham told the crowd.

He reminded his audience that when he had come to town for one of his first crusades almost 20 years before, he had used Augustans “as guinea pigs” to establish his evangelist formula that proved so successful over the years.

His 1967 remarks were not so different from the ones he shared in 1948, with a focus on concern that young people were losing their faith.