Franklin Graham continues to share Gospel nationwide through TV ads
In March 2020, when the coronavirus panic initially hit the United States, a generous donor paved the way for Franklin Graham to share the hope of the Gospel in 60-second TV spots. These spots aired on major television networks, including CNN, Fox News, and A&E.
Today, BGEA has produced and released over a dozen new spots, offering peace and hope in what continues to be a troubling time.
“2020 was a pandemic year, very tough for so many people around the world. …But I want you to know that we have hope, and that hope is in God and His Son Jesus Christ,” Graham encouraged viewers. “God will not leave you. He will not forsake you. …There is only one way to God, and that’s through Jesus Christ.”
Each television spot offers a chance for the viewer to pray a prayer of salvation along with Graham, and contact the Billy Graham Prayer Line for additional prayer and encouragement, or to indicate that they accepted Christ as their Savior.
In response to the television ads and other promotional opportunities, the Billy Graham Prayer Line has answered more than 330,000 calls and thousands have made spiritual decisions for Christ.
To view these television spots, visit the BGEA website.
Iowa Celebration with Will Graham announced in Des Moines
On Jan. 26, Will Graham met with dozens of Christian leaders in Des Moines, Iowa, to officially announce the upcoming Iowa Celebration with Will Graham. The multi-day evangelistic outreach, which will be held Oct. 1-3 at Wells Fargo Arena, will be free of charge and will feature music from award-winning Christian artists and encouraging messages from Will Graham.
“We have been through—and, in many ways, are continuing to go through—a very difficult time in this country,” said Graham. “With so many people now searching for peace, hope, purpose and comfort, I believe God has something big in store for Des Moines and the state of Iowa—something beyond what we could ask or imagine.”
Mike Schreurs, who is helping to guide the months-long Celebration planning process, said, “While we are anticipating an end to the pandemic and the profound impact it has had upon us, we are also anticipating a revival in our state and nation. For decades, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has represented the highest standards of Christian integrity and influence across the globe. Welcoming Will Graham, grandson of Billy Graham, to Des Moines will be an opportunity for Christians, churches, ministries and individuals to come together for unity and spiritual revival. We invite all to be a part of this opportunity.”
Nicholas Venditti of Daily Treasures Ministries, who is serving as a key team leader for the Iowa Celebration, added, “This is an answer to the prayers of many in this first-ever partnership in Iowa. The unity among churches and leaders is a sign of God’s approval and blessing.”
A nearly continuous stream of activities and planning will take place across the region between now and the Celebration in October, including prayer rallies, workshops and community gatherings.
Visit www.IowaCelebration.com for details and information.
Billy Graham Rapid Response Team deploys to North Carolina, California, and Alabama
The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) deployed to four new locations in January. The first two weeks of the New Year saw chaplains travel to Lenoir, North Carolina, and Lancaster, California, to serve at Samaritan’s Purse Emergency Field Hospitals that were set up to treat coronavirus patients as numbers increased and overwhelmed the local hospital systems.
“As the virus is spiking at the beginning of 2021, we consider it a privilege to offer emotional and spiritual support in our ministries’ home state of North Carolina, as well as in California where the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team has such a long history of serving—primarily after devastating wildfires,” said Josh Holland, assistant director of the BG-RRT.
On Jan. 26, less than 12 hours after an EF-3 tornado swept through Jefferson County, Alabama, BG-RRT chaplains were already on the ground in the area to provide emotional and spiritual support to the community. The tornado damaged more than 400 homes and resulted in one death.
“As we learned of the devastation and loss of life in the aftermath of a tornado, our hearts were broken for those in central Alabama who have had great loss,” said Jack Munday, international director of the BG-RRT. “Our crisis-trained chaplains are there in the midst of this tragedy to provide emotional and spiritual care as the area grieves and begins the recovery process.”
Chaplains continue to serve in Louisiana where they have been since August 2020 when multiple hurricanes hit the area.
Since the beginning of 2021, more than 70 chaplains have deployed to disaster sites, praying with more than 2,600 people. The BG-RRT served at 50 locations in 2020, offering more than 44,000 prayers on behalf of those who were impacted by disasters.
For more information about the BG-RRT ministry, visit www.rrt.billygraham.org/.
Fearless with Cissie Graham Lynch encourages listeners to hope in God
Cissie Graham Lynch released three new episodes of the Fearless podcast in January, centered on facing today’s obstacles with confidence and hope in God.
“We are not to conform to the world, but we are to walk with God,” Lynch said during her first Fearless podcast of the year. “We are to teach our children the stories that God’s Word is truth, the foundation that we are to stand on, the solid rock that we are to stand on in the days we will face.”
Leading up to the March for Life on Jan. 29, Lynch recorded a podcast episode featuring Jeanne Mancini, the president of March for Life and a fierce pro-life advocate. The two discussed the mission behind March for Life, as well as the theme for the 2021 march, Together Strong: Life Unites! “We’re so much stronger… when we’re working together on [advocating for life],” said Mancini. “Giving witness to the life that’s being lost on a regular basis is important in the public square.”
On episode 40 of her Fearless podcast, Lynch explores the question, is unity possible? “Like a lot of words in our culture, unity has lost its meaning and purpose,” Lynch said. She added that when considering unity, “You have to ask the question, what are we unifying with?”
Lynch referenced the book of Romans, where Christians are encouraged to live peaceably with all if possible. “That doesn’t mean that there’s not going to be times where you’re going to have to stand for [biblical] truth… We only have peace when we have truth.”
Concluding that unity cannot be reached without the love and peace of Jesus Christ, Lynch encouraged Christians that it is possible to live in unity with one another. “Unity, fellowship, and love with one another are so important in the body of Christ,” Lynch said. “As Christians, we have more in common than we don’t, and that’s Jesus.”
To listen to these episodes and more, visit www.CissieGrahamLynch.com/category/podcast/.
If you would like more information about these, or other, updates from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, please contact media@billygraham.org. Complete press releases from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association are available at media.billygraham.org.