The Rev. Jerry Falwell, a nationally known religious leader who is founder and chancellor of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., will be the keynote speaker at the sixth annual banquet of the Regional Commerce and Growth Association.

Originally, the banquet had been planned this week, but in order to accommodate Falwell's schedule, it has been moved back to Feb. 24.

"The RCGA is proud to have the Rev. Falwell come to Southeast Missouri and is looking forward to hearing what he has to say," said Walt Wildman, executive director of the organization, who announced Falwell's planned appearance.

The event will begin at 4 p.m. with a social hour; the Rev. Falwell will speak from 5:45 to 6:15 p.m. Following his speech, there will be dinner and annual awards presented by the RCGA.

The banquet will be held at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Cape Girardeau.

Besides Liberty University, Falwell is also the founder of the Thomas Road Baptist Church, which grew from 35 members in 1956 to 22,000; the Lynchburg Christian Academy, a school for grades K-12; the Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary in 1973; the Liberty Home Bible Institute in 1976, which has had over 77,000 students participate in their home Bible study program; and in 1979 he founded the Moral Majority.

Liberty University, founded in 1971, has a total enrollment this school year of over 14,000 students with enrollment from all 50 states and 48 foreign countries.

Falwell is president of the Old Time Gospel Hour, the television outreach of the Thomas Road Baptist Church.

He is the author of 12 books and has had three books written about him.

The 60-year-old Falwell, and his wife Macel, have three children and two grandchildren. They reside in Lynchburg, Va.

More information on the RCGA banquet is available by calling its office at 334-4142.