A growing flock

Broadcasters gather; Anita to set the tone

← Washington Post

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WASHINGTON Riding the crest of the wave of born-again evangelical fervor that is sweeping America, more than 2,000 religious television and radio broadcasters are gathering here in the Washington Hilton for the four-day 35th convention of the National Religious Broadcasters Association.

Singer Anita Bryant will help kick off the convention by singing "How Great Thou Art" and "Amazing Grace" in a concert tonight as Washington's homosexual community stages a series of demonstrations to protest her presence in the city. Former Nixon political enforcer and born-again Christian Charles Colson is to show his film on prison reform tonight.

"It's a breath-taking week," predicted NRB public relations man William Bray. "I can't think of anything that shows better what's happening in this country. You'll see a slice of everything brand new converts, like Larry Flynt."

A fantastic cast of characters will gather under the common tent of deep personal commitment to Christ. Besides Flynt, the converted Hus

tler magazine publisher, and former Black Panther Eldrige Cleaver, speakers will include Marabel Morgan, author of "Total Joy" and "Total Woman;" Labelle Lance, wife of former Carter administration official Bert Lance; British essayist and iconoclast Malcolm Muggeridge, and Catherine Marshall, author of "A Man Called Peter."

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Many of the religious broadcasters are among the country's best-known radio and television personalities Billy Graham with his "Day of Discovery," Pat Robertson with "700 Club" out of Virginia Beach; "The Oral Roberts Show," Rex Humbard's "Cathedral of Tomorrow" from Akron; Robert Schuller's "Hour of Power," Jerry Falwell's, "Old Time Gospel Hour," and Jim Bakker's "P.L.T. Club" from Charlotte. These are on television.

And on radio: Theodore Epp's "Back to the Bible Broadcast," Billy Graham's "Hour of Decision," and Richard DeHaan's "Radio Bible Class," among others.

Evangelists claim as many as 35 million born-again Christians, including the ones in the White House.

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