Thousands attend three-day outreach at Vidinha Stadium, May 3-5, 2019
Kaua`i, Hawaii, May 6, 2019 – Evangelist Will Graham visited the island of Kaua`i, Hawaii, this weekend, where 6,495 people heard the Gospel during the three-day Kaua`i Celebration with Will Graham at Lihue’s Vidinha Stadium.
In an unexpected surprise for those in attendance, Will Graham was joined by his father, Franklin Graham, who spoke at Friday night’s opening service. It was a historic moment because it was the first time the two generations have preached from the same stage at a Will Graham Celebration.
“Sin is a robber. It steals your joy, your happiness, your fellowship with God,” said Franklin on Friday night. “Jesus is here. Will you reach out to Him? Are you willing to call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ tonight?”
Will spoke on Saturday and Sunday nights, and shared the same eternal hope of Christ. “God can change your life tonight. He wants to come into your life and give you a chance to turn around,” said Will. “God’s chasing after you, not to punish you but to love you. Surrender all of your brokenness, your junk. Hand it over to God. He’ll take it and give you a new life.”
On an island where – according to local Christian leaders – roughly 5,000 people attend church on a given weekend, approximately 600 people responded to the invitation to begin a relationship with Jesus at the Kaua`i Celebration.
“We’re believing God that this Celebration is part of the answer for the lack of hope on this island,” said Pastor Nathan Hanohano, who served as the Celebration team leader. “Revival can happen if people will really start crying out to Jesus. We really need to see this darkness broken off this island.”
In addition to the unique father-son nature of the Kaua`i Celebration, the event also marked one of the rare times that all three generations of Grahams – Billy Graham, Franklin and Will – have spoken in the same city. Billy Graham preached in Lihue, Kaua`i, in 1965 after a weeklong outreach in Honolulu.
Will’s next outreach will take place in Albania, the first time that any evangelist with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association will preach in the country. From there he will hold the Big Sky Celebration (a tour of three cities in Montana – Helena, Hamilton and Great Falls) and a three-day Celebration of Hope in Belleville, Ontario.
For information on the Kaua`i Celebration with Will Graham, visit www.KauaiCelebration.com and www.facebook.com/KauaiCelebration.
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Media Contact:
Erik Ogren
(704) 577-2109
eogren@bgea.org