Explo '72 - June/Dallas
EXPLO '72 - Dallas, TX

For a solid week the Jesus Movement rolled at exuberant crest over Dallas: 80,000 young people from across the U.S. and from 75 foreign lands, shouting, singing, praying and praising His name in a mammoth burst of Christian zeal. "A religious Woodstock," said Billy Graham of Explo '72. But long hair, pot and Jesus freaks were not the hallmarks of the Dallas scene.


Billy Graham, a hero to many of Explo's young evangelists,
spoke six times during the week


Johnny Cash & Billy Graham

The gathering was sponsored by Campus Crusade for Christ International, an evangelical, theologically conservative group with an ambitious goal: to take the message of Jesus to every individual in America by 1976, and the whole world by 1980. In addition to attending evangelistic training sessions in 65 Dallas-area locations, the young people listened to hours of rock religious music and heard encouragement from Graham, Dallas Cowboy quarterback Roger Staubach and Florida Governor Reubin Askew. Graham was delighted with Explo's unstuffy, right-on mood. "We've sort of made an end run around the church," he said.

Bill Bright-Founder&President
of Campus Crusade for Christ and
Billy Graham at a press conference



EXPLO '72 - Dallas, TX

Explo was an emotional high, centering on the figure of Jesus and shared spontaneously by the thousands in Dallas. Jesus cheers swept every Explo service. A few "Stop the war" chants were heard, and there was some criticism that Explo ignored the social dimensions of the gospel, but the young people were almost unbelievably harmonious throughout the week. Dallas police were incredulous that nobody called them pigs and that no arrests occurred among the registered delegates. ''I couldn't believe it," said a special officer assigned to handle Explo security. "Everything went just like a dream."


A sea of people with Dallas in background


The main stage at the final concert event


Four high school students made plaster-of-Paris versions
of the "one way" symbol and carried them to all the meetings

EXPLO '72 - Dallas, TX


The rain poured many a time during the week
but their spirits could not be damped
EXPLO '72 - Dallas, TX

Scenes during the week
EXPLO '72 - Dallas, TX


The most familiar sight at every service was the sea of raised arms,
index fingers pointed upward, as the widespread symbol
meaning Jesus is "the one way."


At an afternoon service in the Cotton Bowl,
two girls embrace in prayer after reading verses together from the Bible
and a delegate from Australia worships with the crowd


Upreaching hands were the sign
that Explo's message was getting through

EXPLO '72 - Dallas, TX

Explo ended with a nine-hour rock festival that drew 150,000 people to a cleared freeway site near downtown Dallas. Country-western singer Johnny Cash led the show, which included Kris Kristofferson, Andrae Crouch and the Disciples, Randy Matthews, Connie Smith, Vonda Van Dyke and many others. "I have tried drugs and a little of everything else," said Cash, "and there is nothing in the world more soul-satisfying than having the kingdom of God building inside you and growing."

A few of the artists to play at the final concert event

Andrae Crouch & The Disciples


Johnny & June Cash


Speers & ??


Rita Coolidge & Kris Kristofferson / Randy Matthews


Larry Norman / Danny Taylor


Armageddon Experience / Love Song

EXPLO '72 - Dallas, TX


At the end of the final night service held in the Cotton Bowl,
70,000 candles were lit in a brief ceremony whose mood
was reflected by the dedication of the girl shown below