At the heart of the word "crusade" is a Latin root meaning "to mark with a cross."
And that's just what Utah's Protestant Christian community tries to do every time churches join forces to launch an evangelical crusade."It's an evangelical event to bring in the lost," said Dixie Gray, who has long been active with evangelical efforts. Her husband, The Rev. Michael Gray, is pastor of Southeast Baptist Church. "We want to reach those who haven't heard of Christ -- people who are not aware of the message of salvation. A crusade brings them into a place, where maybe they would not feel comfortable going into a church. It may even appeal because it's a little more anonymous."
And it's that spirit that brings 32 Wasatch Front churches together to sponsor the 1999 Fall All-Church Crusade at Highland High School on Saturday, Sept. 11. The event, which features Bruce Marchiano, marks the first major crusade to hit the area since evangelist John Guest drew thousands to the Huntsman Center for a multiday crusade in 1997.
During that event, hundreds of Utahns walked down the bleachers each night to accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior, organizers note. And that's the goal.
A crusade exists not to boost the membership of individual churches, but to bring people to a realization of who Jesus Christ is and help them to establish a relationship with him, Gray said. It will, organizers hope, fulfill what she describes as "just a great need for spiritual influence."
Crusades have changed a great deal over time, she said. Southern Baptists, for example, used to have monthlong revivals. Then they shortened to two weeks and then to one week. People simply don't have time. Now a lot of churches -- and certainly not just Southern Baptists -- kick off events with guest speakers on a Sunday, who then offer evening services for the rest of the week.
"And some have a one-day spectacular, where they bring in someone like (Christian singer) Michael W. Smith."
Often those events are the result of multichurch cooperation.
It has been a quiet couple of years for big evangelical events in Utah, according to Ron Scarpa, an evangelist who is a deacon at Salt Lake Christian Fellowship in Sandy. While individual churches have held events, there hasn't been a huge joint effort to reach out.
But "I can tell you for a fact that many renowned Christian leaders are looking to Utah. They believe God is going to move in Utah in a powerful way. And they will be coming to Utah to encourage the Christian community in any way they can to prepare for when God starts to pour his grace out onto the city."
Still, he doesn't expect to see a series of huge crusades. "What I think we will see is powerful Christian ministries come to Salt Lake to impart vision" and encourage believers "to fulfill our destiny in God."
"I believe that starting next year, throughout 2001, God will increase an outpouring of grace and blessing beyond anything the city has ever experienced. The fire of God's presence will touch every life -- those who are open, God will kindle a light in their life. Those who are not open, he will touch them in some way."
John Papanikolas of the International Christian Fellowship believes crusade-like events are important because "Satan's goal has always been to divide and conquer."
The events that instead bring church groups together are strengthening and healing events.
Marchiano's a good one to do that, organizers agree. The Hollywood actor earned renown as "the joyful Jesus" of the movie, "The Gospel According to Matthew." And as a result of that movie and the spiritual journey he took while filming it, he's also the author of books, including "In the Footsteps of Jesus." Besides Marchiano, the crusade will feature music by the contemporary Christian group 24-7.
The crusade starts at 7 p.m. in the Highland High School Auditorium, 2166 S. 1700 East. For information, call John at 949-5115 or Rose at 265-0221.