Focus on Family to Trim 25th Anniversary Plans

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.--Focus on the Family, the evangelical Christian media ministry based here, has scaled back its 25th anniversary celebration this summer because of the faltering economy, Sept. 11 fallout and other logistical barriers, organizers said.

The organization wanted to stage a massive, three-day public event at the U.S. Air Force Academy football stadium not far from the ministry’s headquarters.

But problems arose even before the terrorist attacks, including worries about transportation, parking and weather, said Steve Johnson, manager of the celebration. Since then, tighter security and the threat that the academy might be closed if another terrorist strike were to take place convinced the group to look elsewhere, he said.