More than 56,000 attend Route 66 God Loves You Tour
At a time when many people are experiencing fear, uncertainty and hopelessness, the God Loves You Tour traveled 2,000 miles and Franklin Graham shared a Gospel message in eight cities along historic Route 66. More than 56,000 people attended the free events of music and hope that started in the Chicago area and finished in the Los Angeles metro two weeks later.
Night after night, hundreds of people responded to the message of God’s love. In all, more than 4,500 people indicated they made decisions for Jesus Christ. In the eight cities Graham visited, people from more than 1,400 churches worked with the God Loves You Tour out of a desire to see the Good News shared in their communities. Those churches are now following up with the thousands of people who responded to the Gospel invitation.
“Times change, culture changes, but people’s need for a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ, doesn’t change,” said Franklin Graham, president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. “With all the bad news around us day in and day out, people need hope. I want people along Route 66—and the rest of this nation—to know that God loves them.”
To learn more about the Route 66 God Loves You Tour, visit GodLovesYouTour.com.
Visit the BGEA website to learn more about the ministry’s evangelism and outreach plans.
Many find hope in Christ as Will Graham holds pair of Celebrations
With Celebrations on back-to-back weekends, evangelist Will Graham shared Gospel-focused messages of hope with crowds in Rapid City, South Dakota (Sept. 24-26), and Des Moines, Iowa (Oct. 1-3). Graham was joined by award-winning Christian musicians at both locations, including; Skillet, CeCe Winans, Kari Jobe, FLAME, The Afters, Aaron Shust, Lacey Sturm and Cochren & Co.
Approximately 350 people responded to Graham’s invitation to begin a relationship with Christ in the Black Hills of South Dakota 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 of the Black Hills Paha Sapa Celebration.
Nearly 500 people indicated making a decision for Christ at the Iowa Celebration with Will Graham. In addition to the thousands in attendance, more than 20,000 people from 55 countries watched the Celebration online.
In October, Graham will travel to Canada for a pair of three-day outreaches in Sudbury, Ontario, and London, Ontario.
Visit the BGEA website to learn more about the ministry’s evangelism and outreach plans.
Billy Graham Library starts fall schedule
The Billy Graham Library began its fall schedule of events this month, with Hispanic Heritage Celebration Day, a Law Enforcement Appreciation Dinner, and a book signing and dinner with Anne Graham Lotz and her daughter Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright.
Hundreds of people attended Hispanic Heritage Celebration Day, enjoying indoor and outdoor activities, specialized Journey of Faith tours, a kids’ craft and other specials. Daniel Calveti and Raúl Sánchez provided live music and guests also enjoyed a special performance by ventriloquist Yoly Pacheco.
During the Law Enforcement Appreciation Dinner, officers and their families enjoyed a complimentary dinner, received discounts in the Ruth’s Attic bookstore, and took tours of The Journey of Faith during the a private event that was held after normal operating hours.
Billy Graham’s daughter, Anne Graham Lotz, and her daughter Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright hosted a book signing and dinner during the prerelease of their new book Jesus Followers. Hundreds of people came—some from as far away as Tennessee and Illinois—to get signed copies and to hear from the authors the heart behind the book. Jesus Followers talks about passing “the baton” of our faith to the next generation. During the dinner, Lotz and Wright recorded an interview-style discussion that will be replayed on the Billy Graham Channel on Sirius XM.
To learn more about upcoming events at the Billy Graham Library, visit billygrahamlibrary.org/events/.
Billy Graham Rapid Response Team deploys as result of shootings
The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) deployed to a mass shooting at a Kroger grocery store in Collierville, Tennessee, and after a Sheriff’s deputy was shot during a traffic stop in Nassau County, Florida.
BG-RRT chaplains were welcomed with open arms in Collierville after a gunman killed one person and injured 14 others before taking his own life. Many people who were in the store at the time of the shooting stopped by the BG-RRT’s Mobile Ministry Center to ask for prayer and to tell their stories to the chaplains.
In Florida, Deputy Joshua Moyers died from his injuries after being shot during a traffic stop. The suspect led law enforcement officers on a five-day manhunt before he was taken into custody. Moyers’ mother called the BG-RRT to request that chaplains come to Nassau County to minister to the law enforcement officers in the area.
The BG-RRT has deployed 38 times this year, sending out more than 840 chaplains across the United States. Chaplains have prayed with nearly 25,000 people this year alone.
For more information about the BG-RRT ministry, visit billygraham.org/RRT.
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.