Mission to be beamed into Bermuda Billy Graham's global mission will be beamed into Bermuda.

The US evangelist is to preach his message worldwide by satellite during a three-day mission in San Juan.

Expected to reach up to 150 countries, Global Mission will be beamed into three locations in Bermuda between March 16 to 18.

The event, sponsored by the Bermuda Ministerial Association and Christian Alliance aims to preach the word of Jesus to all nations and races.

Venues for the event have yet to be decided but the public are advised to check The Royal Gazette for locations and times.

Local choirs including Berkeley Choir, St. Paul's Inspirational Choir and the Salvation Army Band and others will be adding a touch of live musical inspiration to the broadcast.

Billy Graham's "Global Mission,'' to be held March 16-18, is the largest evangelistic outreach in the history of the church and one of the most complex technical worldwide efforts ever attempted.

The recent Super Bowl was televised to a record 174 countries in 13 languages to 750 million people. The Global Mission will be transmitted to one billion people in 185 nations in 116 languages! At a press conference, Billy Graham said: "The Super Bowl is a contest between two teams that deals with the here and now, but the Gospel is eternal.

An individual's decision for Christ determines their future between heaven and hell.'' A. Larry Ross, Director of Media, noted: "Most events of this magnitude are corporately sponsored, such as the Olympics or the World Cup. But this is the ultimate widow's mite. There is no corporation. It is predominantly God's people giving out of their heart. The average gift is $15 to $20. Our budget is $25 million.

"In reaching a billion people, the cost is only 2.5 cents each. It's a very efficient means to get the Gospel out.'' What will be broadcast is not simply Mr. Graham's nightly message that he will preach live three evenings from Puerto Rico, and transmit to 3,000 locations where 10 million will be seated in stadiums, watching 40 foot screens as if he were present.

This will also be one of the largest training efforts ever attempted worldwide. More than 500,000 pastors and church leaders gathering around the world will "attend'' a Christian Worker's Conference being held this week in San Juan, and videotaped to be transmitted next week during the day, before the evening rallies.

It is "multiplication evangelism, using satellite technology for individual teaching. It is not a conference on evangelism; it is a conference for Christians doing evangelism,'' said a leader. In England 24 seminaries are offering course credit for participation.

The Global Mission transmissions will be diversified into eight culturally sensitive versions, with preproduced testimonies and songs utilising participants from different regions to develop cultural and regional acceptance tailored for West Europe, East Europe, the former Soviet Union, Latin America, Africa/Caribbean, Oceania, Southeast Asia and Central Asia.

The diversity is astonishing. For example, a million Rwandan refugees will view 30 45-foot screens on hillsides. UN leaders have said: "We can give them food. You can give them hope.'' In Kobe, Japan 30 churches are bulldozing earthquake rubble from a city block for open air meetings. The Middle East is mostly Muslim, yet Christians are organising events in 200 locations.

Even in the most war-torn areas of the former Yugoslavia and in its prisons, evangelistic missions will be held. Unprecedented cooperation of all races in South Africa, blessed by Nelson Mandella and F.W. de Klerk, created 300 events in Johannesburg.

"There has never been a time in my life when I have seen people so hungry for answers and anxious to find something that brings peace and satisfaction and joy to their hearts,'' Mr. Graham says. "Our homes are confused, mixed-up and broken; there are wars going on -- or seemingly about to break out -- all over the world.

"This is a very strategic moment to get before people and tell them that God loves them, has a plan and is interested in them.'' He will be preaching on the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In India alone, the nation's single TV network, which is seen by 600 million people, will air the shows from 7-10 p.m. nightly. Many of the 117 nations broadcasting will air his sermons during Holy Week and Easter. However, they will be broadcast live in the US over the ACTS, Family Net and TBN cable networks.

Mr. Graham does not call this mass evangelism, but "personal evangelism on a mass scale.'' Studies of his crusades reveal that 88 percent of attendees came to them because a friend invited them.

Millions will host "home viewing parties.'' To learn more, call the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association at 612 335-1371.