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Dr. Billy James Hargis, a fundamentalist minister from Texarkana, Texas, founded the Christian Crusade ministry in the mid-20th century, at the height of Cold War anxieties. Published around 1965, This Is Christian Crusade offers a vivid snapshot of the organization’s goals, leadership, and operational scope. Bold red, white, and blue typography—and a signature knight-on-horseback emblem—reveal the crusading spirit that animates the text: a blend of conservative Christianity, patriotic fervor, and militant opposition to communism.
Historical Context
By the mid-1960s, the United States was grappling with several internal and external pressures. The Cold War with the Soviet Union fueled widespread paranoia about communist infiltration, and many religious leaders equated the “godless ideology” of Marxism with a direct challenge to America’s Judeo-Christian underpinnings. In this environment, Dr. Hargis’s Christian Crusade grew rapidly, tapping into the era’s strong appetite for anti-communist rhetoric and moral reassurances.
Founded officially in 1947, the ministry gained momentum through radio and television broadcasts, live public meetings, youth conferences, and a monthly magazine. Dr. Hargis positioned the Christian Crusade as both a patriotic and a religious force, dedicated to uncovering what it perceived as communist subversion in government, entertainment, education, and broader American society.
Strategy and Purpose
- Spreading a Dual Mission
According to the pamphlet, Christian Crusade aimed “to safeguard and preserve the Conservative Christian ideals upon which America was founded.” It simultaneously called for “militant opposition” to any group—especially communists—that threatened these ideals. - Multi-Platform Outreach
The pamphlet highlights various media channels: daily and weekly radio segments, television programs, a monthly magazine, and even summer youth events. This broad communication strategy allowed Christian Crusade to reach a national audience, amplifying its anti-communist message far beyond Tulsa. - Public Engagement and Membership
Emphasis on membership fees, regional chapters, youth programs, and “Torchbearers” demonstrates how Hargis’s organization created a grassroots network of like-minded conservative Christians. Regular rallies and conferences were designed to energize followers and galvanize them into political and spiritual activism.
Language, Imagery, and Symbolism
- Knight-on-Horseback Emblem
The prominent shield depicting a knight underscores Christian Crusade’s sense of moral and cultural warfare. The image carries medieval connotations—purity, righteous battle, and defense of faith—well suited to an organization that framed itself as standing guard over the nation’s Christian heritage. - Vibrant Red, White, and Blue Layout
Evoking both patriotism and religious passion, the color scheme positions Christian Crusade as an all-American enterprise wedded to a God-first ideology. - Direct, Urgent Tone
The text explicitly calls readers to “Take a Stand for God and Country!” This imperative, repeated alongside references to “safeguarding” freedoms, contributes to an urgency typical of Cold War-era conservative pamphlets.
Impact
This Is Christian Crusade served as one of many recruitment tools that fueled the organization’s mid-century surge. The pamphlet’s approach—marrying conservative Protestant beliefs with vehement anti-communism—resonated in certain American circles for decades. Christian Crusade’s radio and television broadcasts, in particular, left a lasting mark on the intersection of religion and conservative politics, prefiguring later televangelist movements that similarly combined evangelism with specific social and political stances.
Although Dr. Hargis and his ministry did not retain enduring national influence beyond the 1970s, This Is Christian Crusade stands as a key document illustrating how Cold War fears shaped religious activism. It captures the fervor of a time when crusading against communism was a central organizing principle for numerous faith-based organizations.
Special thanks to the USC Digital Imaging Lab for their support in digitizing this item.
