Hybrid evangelistic rally, which featured music by Aaron Shust and Rhett Walker, viewed by thousands online
TIFTON, Ga., Feb. 8, 2021 – The Tiftarea Celebration with Will Graham was originally slated for March 20-22, 2020. However, just one week before that long-anticipated outreach, the growing threat of the COVID-19 virus forced it to be postponed. On Saturday, Feb. 6, more than 10 months after it was originally scheduled, the Tiftarea Celebration finally took place in Tifton, marking Will Graham’s first in-person evangelistic outreach in more than a year.
The setting was intimate, with just a couple hundred socially-distanced people in the auditorium. Tens of thousands more watched online, including audiences at several area churches that hosted “watch parties.”
Graham used his return to discuss much of what has taken place in the United States and around the world over the past year. Addressing the coronavirus pandemic, political upheaval, civil unrest and more, Graham stated that the one word that described 2020 was fear. And, he added, the antidote to fear is the peace that Jesus provides.
“Peace is rare, because the world cannot produce peace. You can’t find it here on earth. There’s no factory making peace. You can’t buy peace anywhere. You cannot earn it. Peace is simply a gift, given to us freely. You can only receive it,” said Graham. “Peace only comes from one place, and that’s Jesus. He gave us peace with God, which is man’s greatest need. He said, ‘Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you.’” (John 14:27, paraphrased)
Graham was joined for the Tiftarea Celebration by musical guests Aaron Shust and Rhett Walker. Earlier in the day, a special event called KidzFest was held, featuring live music by children’s performer Go Fish and a new interactive video program called “The Quest,” along with a short message from Graham.
Graham’s upcoming events include outreaches in Fairmont, West Virginia, as well as Sudbury and London, Ontario (all of which were originally scheduled in 2020 and postponed to 2021). Celebrations have also been announced for this fall in Rapid City, South Dakota, and Des Moines, Iowa.
About Will Graham
Will is the third generation of Grahams to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ under the banner of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA). He also serves as vice president of the BGEA, and as executive director of the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove in Asheville. Follow Will on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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