Jerry Falwell Funeral Draws Thousands

Here are two stories about yesterday's funeral for Rev. Jerry Falwell.

Thousands remember Falwell

LYNCHBURG, Va., (BP)--Thousands thronged Lynchburg, Va., and the facilities of Thomas Road Baptist Church and Liberty University for the May 22 memorial service of Jerry Falwell.

The capacity crowd heard a statement from President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush as read by Tim Goeglein, special assistant to the president.

The statement offered the Bushes' sympathies and said that Falwell was a man who "cherished faith, family and freedom."

The Bushes wrote that one of Falwell's "lasting contributions was the establishment of Liberty University, where he taught young people to remain true to their convictions, and to rely upon God's Word throughout each stage of their lives."

Read more of this story on Baptist Press.

Thousands Mourn Falwell at Funeral

LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) - The Rev. Jerry Falwell was remembered by thousands Tuesday as a champion of conservative Christian values who fearlessly galvanized the religious right into a powerful force in American politics.

The funeral returned Falwell to his roots — the Thomas Road Baptist Church, where he started as a young preacher in 1956 with just 35 parishioners in an old, abandoned soda bottling plant. More than 10,000 people attended the funeral, many forced into overflow seating.

"He was a champion of the fundamental values that we hold dear," fellow Virginia evangelist Pat Robertson said as he entered the sanctuary. "He stepped on some toes."

Read more of this story on The Christian Post.