On the first night, 3,900 people showed up in a driving rain to listen to him speak. The second night, beneath cloudless skies, that number became 39,000. They sang, swayed and prayed. And when the Rev. Graham issued his famous "altar call," asking everyone to come down to the stage who wanted to recommit their lives to Christ, thousands flocked to the stage. For the Rev. Graham, it was just one more monumental moment in a life filled with monumental moments.

Billy Graham charged onto the national stage in 1949 with a crusade in Los Angeles that set all records. He was scheduled to preach for three weeks. He stayed for eight. A later crusade in London went on for 12 weeks. And a crusade in New York's Madison Square Garden in 1957 ran on for 16 weeks. It's no wonder then that on his final swing the Rev. Graham has elected to bring things full circle. The next two crusades for the evangelist will be in Los Angeles in November and New York in June. After that, he is expected to hand the reins of the ministry over to his son Franklin.

Kansas City was the first stop on his farewell tour. And as he stood in the rain beneath a bank of colored lights, Billy Graham didn't talk about the heads of state and movie stars he has come to know. He shared the stories of the salt-of-the-earth souls he has seen rescued from grief by turning to Jesus.

He spoke about folks. And love. And God. And faith.

And the salt-of-the-earth souls at Arrowhead Stadium responded to his message with cheers — and tears.

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E-mail: jerjohn@desnews.com