Franklin Graham shares powerful message of hope with massive crowds during Love Siem Reap Festival
Over 27,000 attended the two-night event at the former Siem Reap airport
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA, Jan. 26, 2026 – For the first time in its more than 1,000-year history, the ancient city of Siem Reap hosted a large-scale evangelistic event this weekend. Thousands of Cambodians who had never been to a church before flooded to the former Siem Reap airport where they heard a message of hope and God’s love.
“Maybe you feel your life isn’t important, but you’re important to God. He made and created you—He loves you!” Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA), told the crowds. “God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to save us from our sins. Jesus can change your life, He can give you eternal life, but you’ve got to be willing to turn from your sins and put your faith and trust in Him.”
Rev. Graham came to Siem Reap at the invitation of local churches, and he partnered with nearly 475 churches throughout the city and the surrounding five provinces for the Love Siem Reap Festival.
This was Rev. Graham’s sixth visit to Cambodia, and earlier this week, he joined 2,700 church leaders from all 25 provinces in Phnom Penh for a special fellowship luncheon with 100 government officials. Graham expressed amazement at the growth and development that he had witnessed in the capital over the past two decades. He also thanked the government for supporting the churches in their provinces before he and the pastors prayed for the leaders of the country.
In Siem Reap this weekend, a fleet of nearly 600 buses brought people to the former airport, where Graham invited the over 27,000 people in attendance to turn from their sins and put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Hundreds of people responded to the Gospel message, including Soklai Chea, a homeless Prey Chan resident who evacuated during the border conflict.
“When I was rescued from Prey Chan village, I thought it was God who rescued me. When I came to Siem Reap and saw Franklin Graham, he introduced me to Jesus, the only creator God, and now I know Jesus saved me and sent His people to rescue me from the war,” said Soklai Chea.
The churches that invited Rev. Graham to preach are now coming alongside Soklai and the hundreds of other people who made decisions for Christ this weekend.
Rev. Hong Chan Narom, the pastor of a church in Sihanoukville, traveled over 300 miles to attend. He said, “The Gospel message was so clear and easy to understand for everyday people. And it was powerful to see so many youth respond to the Gospel! This means so much for the future of our nation.”
Rev. Graham’s interpreter, Lokru Mao, who is also the director of a Christian ministry, said the festival was a great encouragement to the churches, “People were so receptive to the powerful simple Gospel. We were overwhelmed with joy at the way people came to the event. There were more than we ever expected.” The Love Siem Reap Festival was free and all were invited to attend. The event also featured live music from Cambodian artists Sim Chanponloue, United Siem Reap Worship Team, and One Voice Worship, as well as award-winning international musicians TAYA and The Afters.
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ABOUT FRANKLIN GRAHAM AND THE BILLY GRAHAM EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION
Founded by Billy Graham in 1950, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association shares the Good News of Jesus Christ around the world. Franklin Graham is continuing the lifelong work of his father, Billy Graham, who preached to millions across southeast Asia. Franklin Graham first shared the message of God’s love in Phnom Penh in 2019, which was one of the largest Christian outreaches in Cambodian history. The event had a tremendous impact on the growing church in the country, and many of the people whose lives changed during that outreach are now partnering with Franklin Graham and BGEA to reach Siem Reap once more with the power of the Gospel.
Franklin Graham held his first evangelistic event in 1989, and since then, he has preached at more than 346 outreaches in 55 countries. Last year, Rev. Graham proclaimed the hope of Jesus Christ in Brussels, Belgium; London, England; and in Buenos Aires, Argentina. After preaching in Siem Reap, he is looking forward to sharing the Gospel in Lima, Peru; Ushuaia, Argentina; Madrid, Spain, and Manchester, United Kingdom, in the coming months.