Canadian crusader celebrates 40 years

KELLY HENSCHEL
CW Staff
— London, ON —

Whether talking to a customer in a coffee shop, or thousands of people at an international rally, Barry Moore does not shirk when it comes to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.

“He’s never been afraid to challenge people to making a commitment of their life to Jesus, not only as Saviour but as Lord as well,” says Barry Moore Ministries (BMM) executive director John Laari of the world-renowned evangelist.

“He’s able to challenge people, whether he’s talking to someone about receiving Christ—the unsaved down at the coffee shop—or a staff member. He’s able to challenge them into giving more and reaching higher.”

Moore’s years of service and a celebration of God’s work through BMM were highlighted as more than 400 guests and former team members gathered in London for a banquet and gospel rally November 4-5.

Also present at the celebration were the four original team members—Dr. Moore, Lyall Conlin, Harvey Schroeder, and James Blackwood.

Moore had already been a teacher for eight years when he founded the first inter-denominational Canadian-based evangelistic association in 1960.

Now, at the age of 75, the London resident shows no sign of slowing down, with a trip to Romania planned for December, and plans in the works to go to South America, the United Kingdom, Africa and Japan next year as well as North America.

Laari says the evangelist’s passion for people has been the key to his success.

“I would say he’s a visionary. He’s always had goals and he’s always seen the big picture,” said Laari. “That’s why it was not difficult for him to move from doing crusades in small towns in Canada to evangelizing worldwide.”

Moore has come a long way from the organization’s humble beginning when only 12 people turned up for the first service of the first crusade held in Cabri, Saskatchewan.

However, Moore still holds true to BMM’s mission to go to the small, out-of-the-way places, saying they are equally important when a soul is on the line.

“I remember preaching Sunday night at the first Saskatoon crusade to 4,200 people, and Tuesday, I preached to 42 people in Uranium City, which is now a ghost town,” says Moore in a newsletter. “Yet to this day, we meet folk who came to Christ at both, one of whom is the president of a western Bible college.”

Now the challenge is finding enough time and the means to fit in the many cities and countries who have requested a visit from BMM. But, says Laari, if they are meant to hold a crusade at a location, God always provides a way.

“We feel that the form of evangelism that Dr. Moore does still works,” says Laari. “People need to be challenged with the claims of the gospel and brought to a point of decision.”