Five minutes before Franklin Graham finished preaching on Saturday, people were already filling the aisles at Lima’s National Stadium, eager to respond to his invitation to start a new life in Jesus Christ.
As soon as he was done speaking, people rushed to the front of the stage and waited for those high in the stands to join them so they could pray with Graham to repent of their sins.
Earlier in the night, he shared the parable of the Prodigal Son from Luke 15. The young man came from a wealthy family, but he left home to party and pursue worldly pleasures. Never fulfilled, this man eventually came to his senses and returned home where he was welcomed by his father with open arms.
“Have you ever wanted to run away from your problems?” Graham asked the crowd. “I think there’s some of you here tonight—you’ve been running. It’s time to come home to your Heavenly Father.”
Oscar and his wife, Karina Arcela, have been going to church for about a year, and on Saturday, they took an hourlong bus ride from their church to the National Stadium.
“Sometimes when I pray, I think that God doesn’t listen to me or maybe I don’t know how to pray,” said Oscar. He’s often asked God why certain things have happened in his life.
“I told God, ‘I’m looking for you,’” he explained.
By the end of the evening, he was ready to finally surrender his heart to Christ. So was his wife, who is expecting a child later this year. As they waited in line to receive a Bible—a free gift offered to each person who responded to the Gospel—Oscar said he’s starting to see how God is working in his life.
“I used to drink a lot; I used to sleep around; I lied a lot. God’s been working wonderfully in my life. I don’t drink anymore. I have a good life with my wife. I try to be on good terms with my family.”
And following Graham’s message, Oscar could say with confidence, “I acknowledge that I’m a sinner. I acknowledge that Jesus is my Saviour. I thank God because He has allowed us to be here right now.”
“I feel like God has heard all of my prayers,” Karina added. “I used to think that He didn’t forgive me, but today the message has been clear. [Jesus] is my Saviour.”
Frank Pierre also decided it was time to stop running from God. He had known the Lord years before, but he hadn’t fully surrendered to Him.
“He’s going to fight my battles, and He has shown me [that] in many ways,” Frank said. “I’m filled with that confidence. That’s something that drew me in and I can’t let go.”
Frank finally understood that the only way to have a relationship with God is through Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate redeemer.
“He is the name above all names,” he said.
Will you lift up in prayer all those who gave their lives to Christ Saturday night? Also pray for the second night of Esperanza Lima, that God will bring even more people into His kingdom.
