Franklin Graham Shares the Gospel with more than 65,000 North Carolinians on Decision America Tour
Franklin Graham has traveled to Asia, Australia, and South America this year to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ, but, in October, he returned to his home state of North Carolina for the Decision America Tar Heel State Tour.
On this eight-city tour, Graham shared the Gospel with more than 65,000 people. Over 4,800 people indicated making decisions for Christ in person, online, and through text. Stops included Fayetteville, Greenville, Wilmington, Raleigh, Greensboro, Hickory, Charlotte, and Asheville.
Each night, attendees heard a powerful message of hope from Franklin Graham, as well as live music from Jeremy Camp and Dennis Agajanian. The evening events concluded with a show of fireworks.
It’s been on Franklin Graham’s heart to share a message of God’s love with people in his home state—the place his late father, Billy Graham, called home for most of his 99 years of life.
“God loves you,” Graham said. “He sent His Son from heaven to this earth for your sins. You can leave this stadium forgiven tonight.”
In 2016, Graham visited all 50 state capitals as part of the original Decision America Tour, leading Americans in prayer and calling the nation back to God. He has since traveled to various states and regions across the country, proclaiming the hope of the Gospel in multi-city tours.
On Dec. 7-8, Franklin Graham will conclude 2019 with the Love Phnom Penh Festival in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. To see more stories and photos from each city of Graham’s Tar Heel State Tour, visit https://nc.billygraham.org/
Will Graham takes the Gospel to Canada with his Celebration of Hope
Last month, Will Graham shared the Gospel in multiple regions in Canada, including its geographic center. The free, three-day events included Christian music and testimonies, children’s outreaches and Gospel messages from Will Graham.
On Oct. 4, Graham kicked off the Celebration in Ontario, where he held the Quinte Celebration of Hope. Kids from the Quinte Region attended Kidzfest on Friday night, which was complete with bounce houses, games, a climbing wall, and a Gospel message from Graham.
More than 2,000 people traveled to Belleville, Ontario for the Saturday night celebration on Oct. 5. Another 2,900 viewers from 46 countries watched via livestream. More than 130 people made decisions for Christ that Saturday night. “Jesus wants to come into your life tonight, but you have to be willing to come to Him,” Graham said.
The final night of the Quinte Celebration of Hope took an unexpected turn when, during worship led by The Color, The Afters, and Matt Maher, fire alarms began to sound. This caused the crowd of 2,300 people to evacuate the building before Will Graham had an opportunity to speak.
The crowd patiently waited for the fire department to give the “all clear,” holding impromptu conversations and singing accompanied by Matt Maher and The Afters’ Josh Havens. After returning to the building, the Celebration resumed right where it was abruptly interrupted. Sharing a story from 1 Samuel 1, Will Graham used this opportunity to talk about how life doesn’t always go how we plan or hope.
“Tonight is your chance to get off that [wrong] road and go toward Christ. You may never have another chance like this,” Graham said. Many responded to the invitation to receive Jesus Christ during the Quinte Celebration of Hope.
Will Graham returned to Canada for the Baker Lake Celebration of Hope Oct. 25-27. Home to 2,000-plus people, Baker Lake is a small mining town situated along a large lake about 25 miles from the center of Canada.
On Friday, Oct. 25, Graham held Kidzfest with music and an encouraging message of God’s love just for the area’s youth. After hearing about the love of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, more than 100 children made decisions for Christ.
The Celebration continued on Oct. 26 & 27 as over 600 people came to experience worship by The Color and Aaron Shust, testimonies, and the presentation of the Gospel.
Each night, Will Graham presented the Good News to the people in attendance, proclaiming God’s love and the sacrifice He made for them. Graham gave the congregation an opportunity to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and nearly 200 people responded to this call.
In 2020, Graham will hold Celebrations in Tifton, Georgia, and Fairmont, West Virginia. Click here more information about these scheduled events or to see more photos and stories from past Celebrations.
Bikers donate over 5,700 Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes at Bikers with Boxes
On Saturday, Oct.19, hundreds of bikers traveled to the Billy Graham Library for the 12th annual Bikers with Boxes. The event invites bikers to collect gift-filled shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child – a project of Samaritan’s Purse.
Many of the bikers have attended this event for several years, making the most of this opportunity to meet up with friends. A total of 832 bikers brought 5,788 shoeboxes, totaling about seven boxes per biker.
Each box is carefully packed with items meant to bring children joy and share the love of God with them. Gifts range from crayons and coloring books to soccer balls and other toys.
Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham, sends these boxes around the world to children in need. During distribution, the children hear about the love that God has for them.
At Bikers with Boxes, the Library offered a complimentary lunch, giveaways, and live music to everyone who participated. Tours of The Journey of Faith were also given, where guests can glimpse into the history behind the personal and public life of Rev. Billy Graham and see how God used a farm boy from North Carolina to share the love of Christ around the world.
Yuliya Shubina, a recipient of a shoebox when she was a 9-year-old living in Central Asia, spoke to the attendees. Shubina now volunteers with Operation Christmas Child.
For more information about upcoming events at the Billy Graham Library, including a book signing with Southwest Airlines captain Tammie Jo Schults, visit www.BillyGrahamLibrary.org.
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.