Eight-city tour will bring prayer, live music and a life-changing message of hope to Springfield, Missouri, on September 23
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 23, 2021 — Franklin Graham is going through the heart of America to offer people a message of God’s love. He is holding an evening of music and hope in eight cities along historic Route 66, and he’s bringing the tour to Springfield.
“I think this is where the strength of our country lies, and I’m coming to remind people that God loves them,” said Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. “There are a lot of people who are afraid. People have lost their jobs. Many people have been sick and loved ones have died. I just want people to know that God hasn’t forgotten them.”
On Sept. 23, Graham will bring the Route 66 God Loves You Tourto Springfield. The festive, family-friendly event is free and everyone is invited to attend. It begins at 7 p.m. at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds and Event Center.
A network of churches and pastors in the area are working with Graham because they say the life-changing message of the Bible needs to be shared in their community. “Springfield is a city filled with broken hearts, homes, and hopes,” said Eddie Bumpers, senior pastor of Crossway Baptist Church. “Only Jesus Christ’s love and redemption is the answer to the brokenness and emptiness in people’s lives.”
The tour will visit Joliet, Illinois, and St. Louis before coming to Springfield. From there, the tour will continue along Route 66 with events in Oklahoma City; Amarillo, Texas; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Flagstaff, Arizona; and San Bernardino, California.
One of the most influential bands in Christian music history, Newsboys, are joining the tour, and they will perform live at each event. Newsboys have had 33 No. 1 radio hits, four Grammy nominations and two American Music Award nominations. “I first joined Billy Graham 27 years ago to perform at an evangelistic event in Cleveland, Ohio,” said Michael Tait, Newsboys lead singer. “It was the beginning of a friendship with the Graham family that has lasted to this day.”
Marcos Witt is also performing live on the tour. He’s one of the most iconic Spanish-speaking Christian music artists in the world, and he has received five Latin Grammys and two Billboard awards. Award-winning guitarist Dennis Agajanian has performed at Billy Graham and Franklin Graham’s evangelistic events for more than 45 years, and he will also be joining the tour.
Franklin Graham’s tour across the U.S. made headlines in 2016 when he visited all 50 state capitals to invite people to make a decision for Jesus Christ that would impact their lives for eternity. More than half a million people have attended these tours that Graham has continued in Tennessee, Texas, California, the Pacific Northwest, the Northeast, North Carolina and Florida.
To learn more about the Route 66 God Loves You Tour, visit GodLovesYouTour.com.
DATES AND LOCATIONS FOR ROUTE 66 GOD LOVES YOU TOUR
- Joliet, Illinois (Sept. 19)
- St. Louis, Missouri (Sept. 21)
- Springfield, Missouri (Sept. 23)
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (Sept. 25)
- Amarillo, Texas (Sept. 26)
- Albuquerque, New Mexico (Sept. 28)
- Flagstaff, Arizona (Sept. 30)
- San Bernardino, California (Oct. 2)
MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES
- Interview Franklin Graham
- Interview Newsboys
- Interview people attending events
- Video of event (audio connections available)
MEDIA CONTACT: Mark Barber, (828) 386-5803
NEWSBOYS CONTACT: Jules Wortman
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