Evangelist Will Graham holds final event in Don Barnett Arena
RAPID CITY, S.D., Sept. 27, 2021 – The Don Barnett Arena at The Monument in Rapid City came to life this weekend with uplifting music and inspirational messages of hope, as more than 5,100 people attended the three-day Black Hills Paha Sapa Celebration with Will Graham, held Sept. 24-26.
“There’s more to Jesus than many people think. Jesus is the Son of God who takes away the sin of the world,” said Graham during his message on Saturday night. “Sin leads you away from God. Do you know that your sins are forgiven? Have you asked Jesus to come into your life and asked Him for forgiveness of your sins?”
Approximately 350 people responded to Graham’s invitation to begin a relationship with Christ over the course of the weekend. In addition to those in attendance, the Celebration services were broadcast online, with thousands of views around the world. More than 180 indicated a decision for Christ through the livestream.
Graham was joined for the Black Hills Paha Sapa Celebration by award-winning and up-and-coming Christian artists, including Kari Jobe, Lacey Sturm, FLAME, Cochren & Co. and The Afters.
“We’re grateful that the Lord loves our city and He has brought unity to the pastors in our city. He has given us another instrument to be able to train our people, to have a heart for evangelism and to seek the lost the way that Jesus was seeking the lost,” said Pastor Greg Blanc of Calvary Chapel Rapid City. “We are praying that long, long after the three days of the Celebration are done, that people are going to have a passion and hunger for evangelism and the Great Commission.”
The Celebration marked the last large-scale concert in Don Barnett Arena. A state-of-the-art venue – called The Summit – is being constructed within the same complex and is slated to open soon. The first event ever held at Don Barnett Arena was one of Elvis Presley’s final concerts, a point which Graham referenced in his first sermon. “This building began with the King of Rock, and it’s ending with the King of Kings.”
The Black Hills Paha Sapa Celebration was the first of four multi-day outreaches in five weeks for Graham. His next event will take place in Des Moines, Iowa, Oct. 1-3, followed by Canadian outreaches in Sudbury, Ontario (Oct. 15-17) and London Ontario (Oct. 22-24).
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 is the grandson of Billy Graham and the oldest son of Franklin Graham. He also serves as vice president of the BGEA, and as executive director of the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove in Asheville, N.C. Follow Will on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Erik Ogren
(704) 577-2109
eogren@bgea.org