Rev. Billy Graham launches mission in Dallas area, but does not announce future plans

IRVING, Texas (AP) _ The Rev. Billy Graham launched a four-day mission in Dallas-Fort Worth on Thursday, crediting people's prayers for his strength in what could be his last major appearance after

Friday, October 18th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

IRVING, Texas (AP) _ The Rev. Billy Graham launched a four-day mission in Dallas-Fort Worth on Thursday, crediting people's prayers for his strength in what could be his last major appearance after decades on the preaching circuit.

The evangelist has announced no further missions this year, and an aide said Graham, who suffers from Parkinson's disease and has been in ill health, will weigh future plans later.

As he has hundreds of times before, Graham's message featured a God of judgment and of love.

``If you don't remember anything else I say in these days in this stadium, remember that God loves you,'' Graham said, his voice booming and showing little sign of frail health.

The evangelist talked about a world of turmoil. Referring to the Washington sniper, he said, ``Something in his heart is wrong.''

``That something in the Bible is called sin,'' Graham said.

Graham, who will turn 84 on Nov. 7, was conducting only his second mission this year. His son, Franklin Graham, stood ready to step in if his father was unable to preach.

``When I came here, I did not think I could speak, I felt so weak. But people were praying for me,'' the elder Graham said after the service.

During the mission, more than 200,000 people were expected to hear Graham, who has been calling people to God for more than 60 years.

The ministry said 37,000 people attended Thursday night. After speaking about 30 minutes, Graham took a seat behind the lectern.

Graham was welcomed by former President George Bush, who recalled Graham praying with him before the beginning of the 1991 Gulf War.

Speaking of the current crisis, Bush said, ``I believe our president wants to try and find a peaceful solution to the latest confrontation with Iraq, if he can.''

Graham, known for building ties between religions, apologized earlier this year after the release of anti-Jewish comments he made in a taped conversation with President Nixon 30 years ago.

His son and designated successor, Franklin, has been criticized for calling Islam a ``very evil and wicked religion.''

Graham's events, for years billed as ``crusades,'' now are called ``missions.'' A spokeswoman said the changed name is due to an awareness that other religions might take offense to the term 'crusade.'