Jesus told us in John 4:35, “Look, I tell you … the fields are white for harvest” (ESV).
It is true everywhere around the world we go. I’ve never seen anything like it. There is a hunger in the souls of men and women. People are searching—they don’t even know why, or what they’re searching for. But that void in their hearts can only be filled by Jesus Christ. He is what is missing in their lives.
I have just returned from preaching in Myanmar (formerly Burma), where we saw God move in an amazing way. More than 170,000 people crowded an evangelistic festival, hungry to hear the Gospel. It was a historic moment for churches there—Myanmar is a country where Christians have long endured persecution and where Christian evangelism has been severely restricted. But when God opens the door, no opposition can shut it. Christians boldly showed up from all over the country, bringing spiritually searching friends and loved ones with them. I am thankful that more than 9,000 people made decisions for Christ at the festival or during related outreach events.
The work is the Lord’s, and the harvest is His. Your prayers and gifts are an investment in lives changed for eternity, and we are deeply grateful.
May God richly bless you,
Franklin Graham
President
Thousands flock to hear Will Graham preach the Gospel in Peterhead
Many Scots reject Christianity because they feel it is irrelevant to their lives and offers no hope for the future. But Will Graham, on his recent visit to Aberdeenshire, explained that is far from being the case.
“God loves you. He knows everything in your heart. He wants to give you the hope and love you’re looking for,” Will told the audience. “Maybe you’re dealing with guilt, anger or hopelessness. God wants to change all that. All you have to do is receive His forgiveness.”
Will Graham was preaching during a five-night celebration event in the small fishing town of Peterhead, which was broadcast simultaneously in churches in Fraserburgh, Banff and Elgin. More than 4800 people attended. A further 5,240 people from 77 countries logged on to a livestream broadcast of the celebration on the internet. At least 400 people are known to have made a decision for Christ. For many more it may have been an important step on a journey towards faith. And the event organisers are saying that the Celebration sparked fires of revival that they hope will spread to other cities within Scotland.
As Will Graham said on his last night of preaching: “This is just the beginning of what God continues to do here.”
You can watch highlights of the event here.
A few years ago, it was unthinkable that Christmas celebrations would not have Christ at their centre – but in today’s secular society, that is becoming the norm.
Half of British adults say that the religious aspect of Christmas is not important to them, and two
out of three won’t attend a church service at Christmas.
Former atheist Sam Denison recalls what her Christmas used to be like before she became a Christian. “It was family time, not about anything spiritual. On Christmas Day, we’d open our presents, eat Christmas dinner and fall asleep in front of the TV. Looking back, Christmas always left me feeling a bit empty. It never quite lived up to the hype.”
“Now, the highlight of my Christmas Day is going to church to praise and worship God. I’m so grateful that the Lord saw me as someone worth saving. I might not have believed in Him – but he always believed in me.”
Sam became a Christian after she saw a My Hope film at her local church in Bradford. But it was the breakdown of her marriage and the onset of a life-limiting disease that led her on a search – although she didn’t know it was God she was searching for.
It’s often a crisis that starts people on a journey of spiritual seeking. Ironically it is the pressures of
Christmas that can prompt such a crisis.
When people start to search for meaning in their lives this Christmas, we’ll be there to share Jesus and the peace that only He can provide. One vital way in which we’ll do this is through the internet.
Millions find Jesus through the internet
An astonishing 9 million people worldwide have made a commitment to follow Jesus through
Search for Jesus since the programme launched in 2011 . It is our hope that many more will find. Jesus through this vital, life-changing ministry over Christmas and the New Year.
80% of British people access the internet daily or almost daily, and every day some of them use it to search for answers to life’s big questions. BGEA developed the interactive Peace with God website (PeaceWithGod.org.uk in the UK) to present the Gospel simply and clearly, inviting visitors to make a decision to follow Jesus. A team of trained volunteers is available online to answer any questions they may have.
Malc Seaman, a member of the BGEA team in the UK, says: “When nonbelievers search on the internet for certain words or phrases, a link to Peace with God is programmed to appear. Clicking on the link takes them to the website.
“Churches are also starting to partner with Peace with God, recognising that it can augment their own outreach programmes. When a visitor to the website tells us they want to follow Jesus, we’ll direct them to their local church so that their faith can be nurtured.”
PLEASE PRAY:
• God will release the finances we need to extensively promote the PeaceWithGod.org.uk website to nonbelievers this Christmas and New Year
• The Holy Spirit will prepare the hearts of those who visit the website to receive the Gospel
• God will guide our volunteers in how to answer the questions that website visitors ask them