In 1975, he said, he met Jesus Christ and was saved at Rock Church in York. Since then, he's listened carefully for divine instruction. In 1976, Graham became an ordained minister in Pennsylvania and eventually led his own church, Emanuel Fellowship, out of his Hellam Township house. And ever since, he and his wife have made the weekly hour and 15-minute drive south on Interstate 83. They come nearly every Friday bearing the 70-pound cross, handfuls of pamphlets and sandwiches for hungry people.
Tonight is no different.
Graham holds the cross in place beneath a street lamp while Majellan Graham sets out a cooler filled with ham sandwiches and iced-tea for the transient congregation. His voice reverberates down The Block outdoing barkers who stand in front of clubs ushering men inside. John Nearhood has worked on The Block for half of his 44 years. The Block was a hip place to go. Gentlemen's Clubs lined three city blocks on East Baltimore Street.