Two-day outreach will feature live music, messages of hope from Graham
GULFPORT, Miss., Sept. 22, 2025 – The Gulf Coast Celebration of Hope with Will Graham, a two-day outreach coming to the region next year, was announced on Thursday night, Sept. 18, at a gathering of pastors and spouses in Gulfport. More than 100 local church leaders heard directly from Graham, the grandson of the late evangelist Billy Graham and son of Franklin Graham, at the announcement event.
“As we look at the world around us—here on the Gulf Coast and beyond—many people are experiencing fear and anxiety. They are looking for meaning and purpose. They want to know that their life matters,” said Graham. “The answer to all of these struggles and questions can be found in Jesus Christ. I’m coming to the Coast to share how people can find hope, peace and love, not just for today, but for eternity.”
The Gulf Coast Celebration of Hope with Will Graham will take place March 21-22, 2026, at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center. The two-day event will be free of charge and open to everyone. It will feature live music from award-winning Christian bands and messages of hope from Graham.
“Sin and unrighteousness have become so prevalent that the world is becoming more and more toxic. There’s political turmoil, spiritual confusion and pervasive uncertainty. Only the Gospel of Jesus offers unshakable truth, forgiveness, and hope,” said Pastor Eddie Hartwell of St. James Baptist Church, referencing 2 Chronicles 7:14 and speaking to the need for the Gospel on the Gulf Coast. “There is a call to the body of Christ to unite and break down every divisive barrier and work together for true revival.”
Pastor Bryan Atwood of Harvest Church added, “We’ve asked God to do something amazing in our city, and now we get to see that come to life. God has provided the resources and partners to come alongside us—to help us ultimately fulfill God’s commission in our region in this season. The timing couldn’t be better. We’ve prayed. We’ve asked God. So now what we see is the answer to those prayers, knowing that God is about to do something amazing in our city.”
Several events will take place over the coming months in preparation for the Gulf Coast Celebration of Hope with Will Graham, including a pastors’ conference, workshops, and a region-wide night of prayer and worship. All events are free. Visit GulfCoastCelebration.com for additional information and resources.
Graham recently returned from Toronto, Canada, where more than 2,675 people attended the Night of Hope with Will Graham on Sept. 12. At the outreach, more than 100 people responded to Graham’s invitation to follow Jesus. Next month Graham will be in Tallinn, Estonia, for a two-day event titled Time of Hope with Will Graham, Oct. 18-19, at Tondiraba Arena. He will immediately pivot from that to the four-city Sunshine State Good News Tour with Will Graham, a four-city outreach in Tallahassee (Oct. 26), Gainesville (Oct. 28), Sarasota (Oct. 30) and Pompano Beach (Nov. 1).
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 has spoken to more than 1.2 million people on six continents since beginning his evangelistic ministry in 2006. Will also serves as Executive Vice President of the BGEA, giving leadership to all aspects of the organization that his grandfather Billy Graham founded in 1950. Follow Will on Facebook, Instagram and X.
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Media Contact:
Erik Ogren
eogren@bgea.org