Tag:

Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

Over 17,000 Brazilians Heard The Gospel At A Will Graham Evangelistic Crusade

by Christa September 20, 2023

written by Christa

Over 17,000 Brazilians gathered at Campina Grande do Sul rodeo arena to listen to the message of Jesus Christ. More than 7,000 have also watched the livestream. This evangelistic event was marked as the first outreach in the country of Will Graham.

Will Graham

Surpassing the capacity venue with 1,000 in overflow seating, Will joked as he preached. “I think we made one mistake tonight. We needed a bigger arena.”

Will Graham is the “third-generation of Grahams to proclaim the Gospel under the banner of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA).” He is Billy Graham’s grandson, Franklin Graham’s firstborn, and serving as the Executive Vice-President of BGEA.

And at his first evangelistic outreach in Brazil, he share the power of God’s love.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Will Graham (@willgraham_4)

Brazilians Respond to Jesus

“God took the sin of the world and placed it on the shoulders of Jesus for sinners like you and me,” Will said.

“The cross was the most important moment in the history of the world. It’s impossible to measure God’s love on the cross. It doesn’t matter how deep you are in sin. God’s love on the cross covers you as well,” he told the crowd.

He then invited them to give their lives to Jesus and hundreds responded to the call.

Felipe, one who responded, testified the peace and courage he felt after receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior. He said, “Before, I felt like my head was a blank sheet of paper. Now, I am feeling that I am starting to write my whole story again.”

“Yesterday, I felt lost. [But] God really touched my heart during [tonight’s] service. I felt brave and so much courage to come forward,” he continued.

Moreover, 400 local churches that partnered with BGEA will follow up on the hundreds of new believers.

Reference: Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

MORE THAN 13,000 GATHERED FOR THE FIRST TIME TO HEAR THE GOSPEL IN ITALY

September 20, 2023 0 comments

Articles Featured

More Than 13,000 Gathered For The First Time To Hear The Gospel In Italy

by Christa November 4, 2022

written by Christa

Italy’s Noi Festival with Franklin Graham gave way for more than 13,000 people to gather and listen to the powerful message of Jesus. “I’ve met a lot of people who are religious but don’t have a relationship with God,” Franklin said in his opening remark. “Religion is not enough. … You cannot work for your salvation. You cannot buy your salvation.” And it is only through Jesus that one can be saved.

More Than 13,000 In Attendance

For the first time in Italy’s history, more than 520 evangelistic churches worked together for the biggest evangelistic event ever. It resulted in thousands of attendance and hundreds of responses to Christ.

According to Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA), it was also the first for Milan’s Mediolanum Forum to receive its largest crowd. In its 32 years, Mediolanum has been primarily used for entertainment activities.

“There are many people here with hungry hearts, many who have been searching for peace in their lives,” Franklin said. “I’m here to tell you that God loves you. And you can find that purpose for your life by putting your faith and trust in God’s Son, Jesus Christ. He came from heaven to this earth to save us from our sins.”

At the peak time of the pandemic, when Italy became the epicenter of the country’s COVID-19, BGEA deployed field hospitals to assist the medical team. They were the first international organization to send spiritual aid and medical relief to the city.

As a result, it opened doors for churches across the region to unite and proclaim the Gospel of Christ. They worked together and planned for the biggest evangelist gathering.

Today, pastors who never met with other pastors are coming together regularly. The NOI Festival will only be their first event.

Gerry Testorill, a Festival committee member, expressed his awe for God’s work over their city. “Pastors in the north part of Milan are praying with pastors in the south. This is a blessing for our nation.”

Reference: Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

November 4, 2022 0 comments

Articles Israel Insider

Ken Barun, From A Jewish Drug Addict To Becoming The Vice President Of The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

by Christa January 12, 2022

written by Christa

Ken Barun, the Vice President of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, was once a drug addict. When he was asked how he came from being a heroin user to a part of the international Christian evangelistic organization, he confidently said, “It’s all about Jesus.”

Ken Barun

Ken’s father disowned him when he became addicted to drugs. He was dependent on the substance for seven years until a drug program representative came and recruited him to join a residential treatment program to which he agreed. Eventually, he became the president of the same drug rehabilitation program.

His efforts in helping drug addicts were soon recognized by former President of the United States, Ronald Reagan. The president then made Ken to be his public liaison for the US Department of Health and Human Services.

Together, they found the Ronald Mcdonald House Charities, and Ken became its president. He helped build it to become one of the most innovative charities in the world.

Despite the success, Ken still felt empty.

Friend of Jesus

One day, in a fundraising event, Ken met a friend of Jesus. His name was Paul Saber. He presented Jesus as the Jewish Messiah.

Ken was initially surprised by the idea. But, as their conversation went on, he finally gave in. “God, forgive me for my sins,” he prayed. “I accept Jesus as my Savior. I repent for all the wrong things I’ve done wrong, and I ask you to come into my heart and soul and make me new again.”

After his prayer, he couldn’t help but sob. But, he felt a whole weight lifted off his shoulders. His heart was suddenly whole. “It was a physical reality,” he declared.

But, the ultimate surprise happened after Ken called his father. He told him about his encounter with Jesus, and as a Jew, he figured he would get disowned once again. His father cried but it was not tears of sadness, rather tears of joy. Because his parents actually found Jesus when they were trying to look for a solution to his drug problem.

Reference: Youtube | One for Israel Ministry

From drug addict to vice president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association! | Ken Barun

Watch this video on YouTube

January 12, 2022 0 comments

Articles

Gospel Has Reached Millions Through Shoebox Gifts By Edward Graham’s Operation Christmas Child

by Christa November 10, 2020

written by Christa

Grandson of the late Billy Graham, Edward Graham, has commended the efforts of Operation Christmas Child, a project under Samaritan’s Purse. According to Edward, “More kids have heard about Christ through these shoebox distributions than ever heard about Christ in stadiums with my grandfather.”

Operation Christmas Child

Operation Christmas Child has been giving gift-filled shoeboxes to kids in more than 160 nations across the world. This includes 50 hard to reach areas.

The shoebox is filled with toys, school supplies, hygiene kits, and Gospel booklets. The simple box has created a platform for the Gospel and has already reached millions.

OCC’s vice-president of programs and government relations, Edward, has seen how God uses an ordinary shoebox to transform the lives of many children. “A kid doesn’t care, a kid goes out and lives their faith, and they’ve been so bold,” he said. “I saw that in Mexico, and that’s happening here in Himba. These are unreached people groups, kids that have never, hear the Gospel.”

ALSO READ: US Ministry Brings Christmas Blessing & Gospel To Impoverished Russian Children

Shoebox gifts as a platform for the Gospel

Himba children listening to the minister

The tribe of Himba, located in a village in Africa, was one of the receivers of OCC’s shoebox gifts. They consist of 50,000 semi-nomadic people who practice ancestral worship. Before, they resisted the message of the Gospel. But after OCC hosted 130 children in the village, 46 children and 6 young adults showed interest in Jesus.

They were then introduced to a 12-lesson discipleship program, teaching them more of Jesus and how to share that with their family. Followers of Jesus grew within the Himba people that the village elder had to provide land for the people to gather.

Today, villagers have stood the first-ever church building where 100 Himba gathers to worship the Lord Jesus Christ.

Edward affirmed, “Just like what we saw in Mexico, that village is very proud of their church and where they worship the Lord. And they want other villages; they want their neighbors to see. And they go out, and they share that news and that message and the Gospel. It’s so encouraging for me to see.”

He added, “God is using something simple, as a simple shoebox full of toys to pierce the heart of darkness. I love that, and I’m so excited about it.”

Reference: Christian Post

November 10, 2020 0 comments

Articles

Franklin Graham Decision America Northeast Tour Now Underway

by Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) May 21, 2019

written by Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA)

From May 19 to 30, Franklin Graham is hosting a BGEA Decision America Northeast Tour across seven cities: Portland, Maine; Burlington, Vermont; Manchester, New Hampshire; Springfield, Massachusetts; East Providence, Rhode Island; Bridgeport, Connecticut and Syracuse, New York

At a time when people across America are filled with uncertainty, Franklin wants to offer a message of hope to people in the northeast region of the USA. He will also invite them to join him in prayer, asking God to heal the issues that are plaguing our country.

The tour culminates in New York on May 30th.

“Syracuse has one of the highest rates of poor mental health in all of New York. People are bound by depression, poverty and despair,” said Jim Wolford, a pastor in upstate New York. “Syracuse needs a breakthrough and people need hope.”

Franklin, who is the president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) will bring a message from God’s Word each night.

“We need a spiritual revival – an awakening across this country,” he said. “We all face crossroads in our lives – moments when we need to make important decisions. Through this event, people will have the opportunity to make a decision that can impact their lives not only now but for eternity.”

Popular Grammy-nominated music artist Crowder is also part of Decision America and will perform LIVE at each event. He and Franklin just completed a tour in Australia where tens of thousands of people attended seven events in six cities.

The Decision America Northeast Tour is free and everyone is invited to attend.

Franklin started Decision America in 2016 when he held events in all 50 state capitals. He continued to tour in 2017 by traveling to 11 cities across Tennessee and Texas. Then in 2018, he toured the west coast, visiting 17 cities in California, Oregon and Washington.

To learn more about Decision America, visit DecisionNortheast.com.

May 21, 2019 0 comments

Articles

Thousands Make Commitments to Jesus As Will Graham Preaches In Philippines

by Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) February 20, 2019

written by Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA)

Evangelist Will Graham – grandson of the late Billy Graham – returned to the Philippines in February to hold an eight-day, nine-event evangelistic campaign that took place in multiple locations in and around Manila. The Greater Pangasinan-Metro Manila Celebration with Will Graham was held Feb. 9-17, and included a two-day outreach at the Narciso Ramos Sports Complex in Lingayen, Pangasinan, followed by three special events for teens, government/military leaders and marketplace leaders, and culminated with a three-day, four-event series at the Quirino Grandstand at Manila’s historic Rizal Park.

All told, 149,656 people attended the Greater Pangasinan-Metro Manila Celebration with Will Graham.

“Jesus, the Son of God, came for one reason: to transform your life by dying on the Cross for your sin and my sin,” said Graham from the stage during one of the outreaches. “Everything points to the Cross. The Cross is the most significant event in human history. It can change your life tonight.”

More than 19,400 responded to Graham’s invitation to make a commitment to Jesus.

“This is amazing. I’m sure that there will be an exponential result and impact of the Gospel to the Filipino people,” said Bishop Noel Pantoja, general chairman of the Greater Pangasinan-Metro Manila Celebration and national director for the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches. “People are receiving hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Gospel has come just in time, giving hope to the Filipino people.”

The Greater Pangasinan-Metro Manila Celebration with Will Graham marked the first time that all three generations of Graham evangelists have preached from the same venue in the same city. Will’s grandfather, Billy Graham, preached a Crusade at Rizal Park in 1977 and Will’s father, Franklin Graham, held an evangelistic Festival in 2006 in the same location.

The Greater Pangasinan-Metro Manila Celebration has come to an end, but we still need your prayers for those that responded to the Gospel over the last several days! God bless you! #ManilaCelebration #Pray pic.twitter.com/QvT109gLoB

— Will Graham (@TellaGraham) February 17, 2019

Two milestones were reached during the campaign in the Philippines. During the opening weekend in Lingayen, Pangasinan, total cumulative attendance at Graham’s evangelistic outreaches over the course of his ministry reached and exceeded the one million mark for the first time. More important, the cumulative number of people making spiritual decisions for Christ since Graham began his evangelistic ministry topped 100,000 at the Saturday morning children’s event in Manila.

This was Graham’s third trip to the Philippines to hold multi-day outreaches. He first preached in the Bicol region of the Philippines in 2011. He returned in 2015 to preach in Cebu and Tacloban following the deadly Typhoon Yolanda.

The Greater Pangasinan-Metro Manila Celebration was the first evangelistic outreach for Graham in 2019. Yet to come this year will be international efforts in Albania and Canada, and domestic Celebrations in Kaua`i, Hawaii, as well as Helena, Great Falls and Hamilton, Montana.

About the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) proclaims the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ throughout the world by every effective means available. From its headquarters in Charlotte, N.C., the BGEA directs a wide range of domestic and international ministries, including: large-scale festivals led by evangelists Franklin Graham and Will Graham; The Billy Graham Library; The Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove, located outside of Asheville, N.C.; SearchforJesus.net, an Internet evangelism project reaching thousands of people for Christ online; and many others through print, television, telephone, radio and the Internet. For more information, visit BillyGraham.org. Get news updates on Twitter at Twitter.com/BGEAnews.

February 20, 2019 0 comments