Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Team Office. Field Director of Associate Crusades.

Evangelistic organization, founded in 1950 to: operate Billy Graham's ministry in a business-like way; provide a non-profit entity to receive donations for crusades and related ministries; plan and coordinate evangelistic meetings throughout the world; and with its agents and subsidiaries produce radio and television programs, films, DECISION magazine, and books and records. The BGEA was instrumental in: founding the magazine, CHRISTIANITY TODAY, and Wheaton College's Billy Graham Center; sponsoring a series of international and regional conferences on evangelism, beginning 1966. Its headquarters was in Minneapolis, with offices in other U.S. and foreign cities. The Team Office (based in Atlanta, 1964-1976) was the center from which crusades were coordinated. An associate crusade was any BGEA crusade other than one led by Billy Graham. Some of the responsibilities of the Director included investigating the possiblity of carrying on a crusade in various communities, appointing an associate (director) for setting up the crusade and training local counselors, scheduling crusade music teams, communicating with the associate evangelists, etc. The position of Director of Associate Crusades (first known as Field Director of Associate Crusades, 1963-1972), was filled by John W. Dillon (1963-1972), Sterling Huston (1972-1973), and again John W. Dillon (1973- ).