January 2023
In January, Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) chaplains ministered in Selma, Alabama, United States, after tornadoes swept through the area Thursday night, killing at least seven people. The National Weather Service said tornado damage was reported in at least 14 counties across the state.
“We can’t even begin to imagine the shock and heartache the people in Selma are going through right now,” said Josh Holland, international director of the BG-RRT. “We want residents to know we are praying for them and we care. That’s why we are sending our crisis-trained chaplains to pray with, listen, and share God’s love with those who have been impacted by this storm.”
In Mexico, more than 30,000 people were trained to share their faith in preparation for the Festival of Hope Mexico City. From worship sessions to evangelism trainings and youth and children’s events, all of them seek to glorify the Name of Jesus Christ and encourage believers to invite others to meet Him.
February 2023
Left: In February, Franklin Graham preached the Gospel message at Festival Esperanza CDMX (Mexico City Festival of Hope) in Mexico City—one of the most populous cities in the world.
More than 52,000 people attended the two-day event, and over 6,000 people made a life-changing decision to follow Jesus Christ.
Right: After Franklin Graham offered the invitation to receive Jesus Christ, many people in the stadium left their seats to make a public declaration of their decision. Others in the overflow area also prayed to accept Christ in repentance and faith. In Matthew 10:32, Jesus says, “Everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven” (ESV).
March 2023
During the two-day Spring Love Festival in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Franklin Graham shared the Gospel through his interpreter, Pastor Lam Thien Loc, with thousands of people gathered at Phú Tho Sports Stadium. At the end of each night, Franklin Graham led a prayer for all those who decided to begin a new life with Christ.
Left: This Festival marked Franklin Graham’s second time sharing the Gospel in Vietnam. He previously held a Festival in Hanoi in 2017. Through music and a message, the crowd heard about our loving and forgiving Heavenly Father who is worthy of praise. In the Bible story Franklin Graham shared, a man leaves his father to live his own way, but finds he’s made a mistake and longs for home. He returns to his father who welcomes him with open arms. That’s a picture of God, Franklin Graham said, who wants us to return when we stray from Him.
Right: Thousands filled the venue to witness the Spring Love Festival, which was originally planned for 2019 but was postponed in part because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In March, Will Graham, vice president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and an ordained pastor, closed out the Sharing Hope in Jesus’ Name Conference—a joint conference to help equip Billy Graham Rapid Response Team chaplains and Samaritan’s Purse volunteers—by leading the attendees in communion.
April 2023
Left: The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) shared the love of Christ in Sullivan County, Indiana, United States, after a tornado ripped through a small, tight-knit community. In this photo, chaplains visited with a resident who was at home when the twister ripped off much of his roof. After a time of prayer, the new friends share an encouraging hug.
Right: Three people in the community died—including a mother and son—after a tornado picked up their home and slammed it to the ground. At this Sullivan County home (left), cement steps are about all that’s left.
In a special half-hour programme aired on Easter Sunday, Franklin Graham reflected on Jesus Christ’s death on the cross and celebrate His victory over the grave.
Filmed in Rome, Italy—where Franklin Graham held an evangelistic outreach in autumn—Graham shared the Biblical significance of this city. “Jesus was born in the Roman Empire. He ministered in the Roman Empire,” he explained. “[Rome is] a place full of religious history, but we need more than religion. We need a relationship with God, and the only way that we can have that relationship is through faith in God’s Son Jesus Christ.”
The special Easter programme featured music from Michael W. Smith, along with a 46-member orchestra and specially selected choir.
May 2023
Left: More than 4,000 people came to the first stop of the God Loves You Tidewater Tour on a soggy evening in La Plata, Maryland. As Franklin Graham shared a Gospel message, hundreds responded and made a decision for Jesus Christ on Saturday night.
Right: Trained prayer volunteers around the Charles County Fairgrounds walk people through the discipleship book, Living in Christ.
Left: In May, a crowd of 3,900 didn’t let the bad weather hinder them from attending the second stop of the God Loves You Tidewater Tour with Franklin Graham Sunday in Timonium, Maryland, United States.
Right: Franklin Graham got straight to the point after taking the stage in Timonium, Md., by talking about how sin separates people from God. “The basic desires of human beings have not changed. Money, power, sex … But none of these are enough to satisfy the emptiness in people’s lives. Something is missing—it’s God.
“God loves you, and He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, from Heaven to Earth, not to condemn you, but to save you.”
Left: More than 9,000 people bundled up and came out Tuesday night to the third stop of the God Loves You Tidewater Tour in the Tri-state region of Elkton, Maryland, US.
“I want you to know that tonight you can come home to your Father in Heaven,” said Franklin Graham, whose message centred on the story of the prodigal son from Luke 15. “A lot of people are running. They are searching for purpose and meaning in their life.”
Right: After sharing the Gospel, Franklin Graham told those who stood to make a life-changing decision for Christ how they can grow in their faith, starting with reading God’s Word and using the “Living in Christ” discipleship book they received.
June 2023
Left: At the 50th anniversary celebration of Billy Graham’s historic 1973 Crusade, Franklin Graham told thousands in Seoul how they can know they’ll spend eternity in Heaven. “I don’t think you’re here by accident,” he said. “God is speaking to you today.” Exactly 50 years ago on June 3, 1973, 1.1 million people attended the historic finale of Billy Graham’s Seoul Crusade—the largest in-person outreach of his ministry. Over five days, 3.2 million people heard the Good News, and more than 72,000 made decisions for Christ.
Right: A 10,000-member choir, accompanied by a full symphony, led the audience in worship, with favourites such as “Amazing Grace” and “How Great Thou Art.” Though a warm day, tens of thousands of Koreans came to the Seoul World Cup Stadium for a message of hope. The stadium, which is 22 years old, was built for the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Dozens of Christian Life and Witness Courses (CLWC) were held around London in preparation for the God Loves You Tour in London taking place in the summer. Noel Aiworo, from London, attended a CLWC seminar at his local church in Harrow, London.
“Training like this is important for the most mature Christians because it’s always good to refresh and revitalise your knowledge in the Bible,” Noel said. “This training has reminded me that as believers, we must not conform to the world but instead be bold for the Gospel truth. We must be a beacon of light to others around us and share the Good News, that’s the only way we can save souls.”
July 2023
In July, the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) hosted two training events in Zambia, preparing believers to boldly share the hope of Jesus Christ and offer emotional support to those who are hurting.
Over 1,300 church leaders and church members attended the first Sharing Hope in Crisis (SHIC) training. A second, invitation-only seminar included more than 60 government officials, military personnel, and national police members.
The news of the tragic car crash that killed two children in Wimbledon, London, broke the hearts of many. Last week, a vehicle crashed into a school building where an end-of-term tea party had been taking place which killed two schoolgirls and injured many more.
Chaplains from The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) deployed to Wimbledon to minister and pray with those impacted by the devastating incident.
Left: Over 10,000 people came to Chisinau Arena for the of the Celebration of Hope in Moldova, again filling the venue, along with two overflow areas. Another 8,000 watched online, and 50 churches across the country showed the livestream. More than 8,800 people came to the first night of the Celebration of Hope with Will Graham in Moldova’s capital city of Chisinau, including the city’s mayor, Ion Ceban. Thousands more sat in an overflow area, while many more watched the livestream.
Right: This young man was one of more than 300 people who made a decision for Jesus Christ after a prompting from the Holy Spirit Saturday night. A Celebration volunteer prayed with him after going over the steps to peace with God.
If you could sum up the Bible in one verse, it would be John 3:16, Will Graham said. That’s what he centred his message on, focusing on God’s overwhelming love for us.
On Saturday 29th July, prayer rallies took place in 11 different regional venues across Great Britain in preparation for the upcoming God Loves You Tour next month. In London, over a hundred church leaders and pastors gathered at the Emmanuel Centre in Westminster to ask God for a revival in their city. Alongside the London event, prayer rally events were held simultaneously in Canterbury, Portsmouth, Birmingham, Reading, Cardiff, Brighton, Gloucester, Rugby, Grays, and Hitchin.
August 2023
More than 10,000 people came to the God Loves You Tour in London on the 15th August. Men, women and children came by the busload from all over England and Wales to hear a Gospel message. Approximately 130 coaches carried 5,000 people to the outreach from as far away as Liverpool.
Left: People streamed out of buses and trains into ExCeL London, eager to hear powerful music from Christian artists—CeCe Winans, Newsboys, and Michael W. Smith—and a message of hope from Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA).
Right: After Franklin Graham led a prayer of salvation, prayer counsellors spoke with those making decisions for Jesus Christ. As they answered questions, they also distributed discipleship materials and Bibles to help new believers grow in their walk with God.
September 2023
Will Graham has shared the Gospel around the world, but in September, he preached for the first time in Brazil. “Tonight, I want to talk to you about a symbol. … It’s one of the most recognizable symbols in all the world,” he said with a Portuguese interpreter by his side. “At one time, the cross was a symbol of death and torture. But when Jesus died on the cross, it became the greatest symbol of love.”
The energy and passion were contagious as thousands arrived for Esperança Curitiba (Hope Curitiba), a one-night evangelistic outreach in southern Brazil. Christians from hundreds of churches in the area had been praying for their non-Christian family and friends and brought them along in hopes that they, too, would embrace the freedom and peace Jesus Christ offers.
Left: Hope Curitiba was held at the rodeo arena at Campina Grande do Sol. More than 17,600 people filled the venue and spilled into an overflow area outside.
Right: “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Hebrews 9:22, ESV). Will Graham explained that’s why Jesus—who lived a sinless life—was able to cover our sins through His death on the cross. All who surrendered to Christ in Brazil received a red discipleship booklet (Living in Christ) to help them as they begin their new walk with the Lord.
October 2023
In October, thousands attended the Festival of Hope with Franklin Graham in Essen, Germany. “Are you lost tonight? Come to Christ,” Franklin Graham asked. Through a German interpreter, he told them Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, the life, and that no one can get to God except through Him (John 14:6).
Churches brought 2,500 people on buses to the Festival from as far away as Hamburg—nearly five hours north of Essen.
Left: Rev. Ulrich Parzany, a respected pastor in this region, shared at the beginning of the night that following God is not about traditions and programs, but it’s about a relationship with our Creator. “Open your heart,” he urged. “Jesus is knocking.”
Right: Over 550 people made decisions for Jesus Christ and received a packet containing a Bible and follow-up discipleship materials to strengthen their walk with Christ.
November 2022
More than 10,000 people from all around Italy attended the Noi Festival with a message from Franklin Graham and music from Kari Jobe earlier on the 4th and 5th November. “Tonight you can have the hope of eternal life,” Franklin Graham told the crowd. “But you have to come to God His way … that’s by faith in His Son Jesus Christ.”
Left: During the weekend event, Franklin Graham read from the Bible about two men—Zacchaeus, a despised tax collector, and Bartimaeus, a blind man—both who sought out Jesus Christ and expressed faith in Him. Franklin Graham then shared with everyone listening that Jesus sees you, loves you, and wants a relationship with you.
Right: More than 500 people made that decision at the historic outreach, the first of its kind in Rome. More than 150 evangelical churches came together to partner with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in sharing the Gospel in Italy’s capital city.
“This Festival shook the nation, shook the church,” said Roman Pastor Gabriele Crociani after seeing months of event preparation culminate in this powerful outreach. “We need this vision to continue.”
December 2023
Chaplains from the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) served alongside dozens of volunteers processing shoebox gifts at the new Samaritan’s Purse National Ministry Centre in Coventry. Cate Oxenham, trained chaplain from BG-RRT and DART member with Samaritan’s Purse, has been in the midst of the fun and excitement in the National Ministry Centre. Whether it’s packing shoeboxes, offering a listening ear, or praying for someone—Cate is ready to provide practical, emotional, spiritual care to volunteers and staff.
Chaplains were able to pray with dozens of volunteers, staff and visitors of the National Ministry Centre.
Josh Holland, international director of the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team, helps lead a Sharing Hope in Crisis seminar for believers in Haifa, Israel. In the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, “everyone is in trauma to some degree,” said Josh Holland, international director of the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT).
Holland delivered Sharing Hope in Crisis seminars in Israel, to equip believers there to care for their suffering neighbours.
Between the three locations, around 150 pastors, leaders, and local believers—including many women whose husbands and sons are serving their country on the front lines—came to grow in their ability to comfort those around them and offer God’s peace.