The seeds of the City Rescue Mission were first planted during a spiritually exciting time in New Castle, Pennsylvania. Billy Sunday, a former major league baseball player and leading evangelist of his time, had a crusade in New Castle from September 18, 1910 to October 31, 1910. When Billy Sunday visited any town, he usually drew a big crowd. A special tabernacle was built – called The Arena – on Grove Street for the event. Approximately 7,000 filled the tabernacle on the first Sunday, with 3,000 being turned away. During his crusades, Billy Sunday preached on caring for the least and lost of society and how he himself was saved at the Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago, IL. There was a massive revival in the city of New Castle where a reported 6,383 accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior!
