TALLINN, Estonia, Oct. 21, 2025 – In 1984, under the cloud of Soviet communism and behind the infamous Iron Curtain, evangelist Billy Graham visited the Estonian capital city of Tallinn, preaching the hope of Jesus Christ in historic Oleviste church. A quarter-century later, in 2009, Franklin Graham returned to Tallinn for an evangelistic outreach.
This past weekend, Oct. 18-19, the third generation of Graham evangelists, Will Graham, followed in his grandfather’s and father’s footsteps, proclaiming the Gospel at the Time of Hope Festival with Will Graham (in Estonian: Lootuse Aeg koos Will Grahamiga). More than 8,950 people attended the two-day event at Tondiraba Arena, which was supported by approximately 270 churches.
“God loves the Estonians. He came to die for the Estonians. Jesus bled and died on the cross so that you and I can be forgiven. That’s how much God loves you,” Graham said through his Estonian interpreter. “He gives forgiveness and salvation to you freely, because He already paid the price. But you have to be willing to come to Him and ask for His forgiveness.”
More than 575 people responded to the invitation to follow Christ at the Time of Hope Festival. Additionally, over 115 people indicated a desire to know more about Jesus.
With this visit, Tallinn joined Budapest, Hungary, to become just the second European city in which all three generations of Grahams have preached. While in Estonia, Graham had the opportunity to tour Oleviste church and stand in the same pulpit where his grandfather preached more than 40 years ago.
Next on Graham’s schedule will be the four-city Sunshine State Good News Tour with Will Graham, which begins Sunday night, Oct. 26, in Tallahassee, Florida, followed by stops in Gainesville (Oct. 28), Sarasota (Oct. 30), and Pompano Beach (Nov. 1). The free evening events will feature concerts by award-winning Christian artists Jeremy Camp and Christine D’Clario, along with messages by Graham.
About Will Graham:
Will Graham is the third generation of his family to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ under the banner of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA). The grandson of Billy Graham and the oldest son of Franklin Graham, he has spoken to more than 1.2 million people across six continents. Graham also serves as executive vice president of the BGEA, giving leadership to all areas of the organization his grandfather founded in 1950. Follow Will on Facebook, Instagram and X.
About the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA):
Founded by Billy Graham in 1950, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association shares the Good News of Jesus Christ around the world. From its headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, the BGEA directs a wide range of domestic and international ministries, including: large-scale festivals led by evangelists Franklin Graham and Will Graham; the Billy Graham Library; the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove, located outside of Asheville, North Carolina; SearchforJesus.net, an internet evangelism project reaching thousands of people for Christ online; and many others through print, television, telephone, radio and the internet. For more information, please visit billygraham.org. Get news updates at X.com/BGEAnews.
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Media Contact:
Erik Ogren
eogren@bgea.org