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CityLight.org
october 2011
GOD WAS UP TO
SOMETHING BIG
Gladys Grimaud
After our interview with Allison from the State
newspaper, Joe and I returned to the CityLight
Crusade Headquarters at the corner of Main
and Elmwood, the former Pontiac dealership
located on one of the busiest intersections in
the city. The red light at the corner of Main
and Elmwood allowed everyone to linger a long
time and ponder the meaning of the giant sized
photo of Dr. Evans and the list of 300 names
of supporting churches posted on the side of
the building. People passing by wanted to be
involved as they saw the hubbub of volunteer
activity through the plate glass windows of the
headquarters. No one could ride, walk, or skate
down Main or Elmwood without sensing that
God was up to something big!
During the last week of preparation before the
crusade, a young woman on roller blades skated
up to the glass door of the crusade headquarters.
With her blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail
swishing around her shoulders, she opened the
door and skated inside. A broad smile on her
face, she offered a cheery greeting, "Hi, do you
need any help? What can I do to help you to-
day?"
Joe's face lit up with a broad smile even bigger
than hers.
"What can you do to help? You are just the help
that we have been praying for." He wasn't wear-
ing roller blades, but his feet flew as he raced
over to grab a huge pile of crusade packets and
envelopes. Pointing to a table and chairs, he
slid out a chair and said, "Tammy, this chair
has been reserved just for you. Thank you so
much for responding to the tug on your heart
to come inside and help. God has sent you and
we appreciate it."
This lovely twenty-year old helped us stuff en-
velopes all day long and returned everyday that
week until the job was done. People knew that
God was moving in the city and dropped by con-
tinuously to help just like Tammy, while others
simply blew their automobile horns in a show
of support as they drove by. Who would have
dreamed that the former deteriorating Pontiac
dealership that had become the CityLight Cru-
sade Headquarters could have been transformed
into such a glorious meeting place for hundreds
of volunteers from all church denominations
with young and old from all races and walks of
life? It was a miracle of grace!
Equally as miraculous, The State Newspaper did
its part to inform and stir the city. They part-
nered with CityLight from the beginning plan-
ning stages to allow South Carolina citizens to
be informed about this historical event. Bill
McDonald wrote the first article, CityLight Is
On Fire, outlining the mission to bring God's
people together for prayer and reconciliation.
Articles continuously appeared throughout the
process of moving toward the goal of the cru-
sade at the stadium. The entire last week prior
to May 18 20, the State ran front page, head-
line articles..."Evans Pleads For Racial Harmo-
ny," "God's People Are Coming Together," "Go
Public For God." On the first day of the crusade,
Sunday, May 18, 1997, the State paper featured
a special insert about Dr. Tony Evans and his
Dallas ministry using the theme of the crusade,
"That We May Be One." Because The State
Paper courageously led the way in reporting, all
three local television network stations...ABC,
NBC, AND CBS...reported during prime time
news segments for a total of thirty-seven times!
Local radio stations were also reporting, but
would all of this reporting be enough to get the
word out sufficiently to fill the stadium? We
wondered, worked, and prayed. We worked as
if everything depended upon us and prayed as if
everything depended upon God exercising faith
when fiery doubts appeared.
It finally happened...the first night of the cru-
sade.
The butterflies that Joe and I felt as we headed
toward the stadium that first night flew around
in our stomachs in swarms. We were excit-
ed. We had done everything we knew to do,
worked hard, prayed continuously, relied upon
God's people to respond. As we were getting
into our designated vehicle to pick up Dr. Evans
and his wife, Lois, on the first night, we knew
that the answer to Allison's question on the day
she interviewed us in an empty stadium was just
around the corner. What would it be? Would
we be fools or heroes? Would God be honored
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