Hundreds of people responded to a gospel call by evangelist Franklin Graham, son of the late Billy Graham, at two ‘God Loves You Tour’ events held in the UK. Graham went to the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham on June 15 and then the OVO Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland, on June 22.
The hope-filled preaching was complemented by worship led by award-winning artists Taya, known for her ‘Oceans’ song with Hillsong, three-time Grammy Award winner Michael W. Smith, Dennis Agajanian and the Tommy Coomes Band.
“Maybe you’re here tonight and you’re wanting to know, who is Jesus?” Franklin Graham said to a crowd of more than 7,500 people gathered at the Glasgow venue.
“Jesus Christ is God’s Son and He came on a rescue mission to save you from your sins. The Bible tells us that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.”
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) stated that “hundreds” responded to the gospel call to surrender to Jesus Christ at the event in Scotland. The association asked for prayers for each new believer.
Some 450 churches from the Midlands were involved in organizing the Birmingham event.
There is a historic association between the Graham family and the city. Billy Graham spoke in Birmingham too, some 40 years ago at Villa Park. That event in 1984 saw “tens of thousands of lives” changed as people came to faith in Christ, according to BGEA.
Some of the Birmingham churches have been involved with both Billy and Franklin Graham evangelistic outreaches in the past four decades. They see a new generation in desperate need to hear about the hope found in Jesus.
"Birmingham, one of the youngest cities in Europe, is full of people searching for identity, hope and purpose. Many are asking ‘Where do I fit?’,” said the Rev. Kirk McAtear, pastor of Trinity Birmingham Church.
“The message that Franklin Graham will be sharing during the God Loves You Tour has the power to change our city. The gospel provides peace, healing, and answers to those who are searching.”
Reuben Morley, the youth festival director for the God Loves You Tour, said before the event, that contrary to statistics showing young people turning away from God, an “excitement is building among our youth.”
“We've witnessed hundreds of Gen Z and Gen Alpha attendees at our pre-tour events, where they are being equipped with tools to deepen their relationship with God and gain the confidence to share their faith with others!”
Graham has preached the gospel in the U.K. many times before and spoke of his excitement about returning to the country. “This will be the ninth time I will have preached in the UK and I’m just as excited as the first time that I preached in the UK 25 years ago,” he said.
“Just like every time before, I’m coming with a message of Good News. I’m coming to share how people can have a real and personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ,” commented Graham, who serves as the President of the BGEA
Meanwhile, evangelist Will Graham, son of Franklin and grandson of Billy, is bringing the hope-filled message about Jesus to Australia this Saturday (June 29). He will feature at the ‘Look Up Celebration’ being held in Australia’s Gold Coast.
More than 380 churches are involved and about 1,000 people have completed ‘Christian Life and Witness’ courses, in preparation, teaching them how to live out their faith and share it with others.
