Watch Replay: Noi Festival in Naples, Italy
As the sun went down over Naples, Italy, Maddalena listened intently with her boyfriend Antonio and 9-year-old son by her side.
The couple had been invited to the Noi Festival by their friend Enzo, a prayer volunteer, who had been praying for them in the months leading up to the Festival.
The couple had to work on Saturday, but Maddalena wanted to hear what Franklin Graham was going to preach.
She has been curious about the Gospel since they visited Enzo’s church and later had conversations with him about faith and the Bible.
“God, if it’s meant to be, then let us go,” Maddalena prayed beforehand.
Both finished work early enough to attend the Festival and brought their 9-year-old son to the Piazza del Plebiscito, one of the largest squares in Italy.
After powerful worship from Charity Gayle, Christine D’Clario, and other musical artists, Franklin Graham came on stage and shared a story of the Prodigal Son from Luke 15.
The evangelist shared how the young man had wasted his inheritance on earthly pleasures and came home to his father, who welcomed him with open arms and forgiveness.
The crowd of 21,000 listened to God’s plan of salvation.
“All of us are guilty of sin,” said Franklin Graham, explaining how Jesus Christ forgives our sins. “This young man had a choice.
You have a choice tonight. You can accept what Jesus Christ did on the cross. You can come home to your Father in Heaven.”
Listening intently, Maddalena followed the Holy Spirit’s prompting and surrendered her life to Jesus Christ.
“I felt light and free, and really felt God forgave my sins,” she said, smiling.
Partnering With More Than 300 Churches
Maddalena and countless more like her are why over 340 churches in southern Italy have been working with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) for months preparing for Saturday’s Festival. It’s the third Italian outreach in as many years with 23,000 people hearing the Good News at events in Milan (2022) and Rome (2023).
Domenico, age 9, is another. The shy boy with a sweet smile responded to Franklin Graham’s invitation to accept Jesus Christ into his heart.
When asked how he felt, he simply said, “I’m happy.” He thought for a long time and then whispered to his mother that he felt “renewed.”
Angela, his mother, was beaming. She’s worked with children for years, and now has two sons of her own. “I pray every day and night for them to know Jesus. I pray for God’s wisdom for them and to serve Him with passion; to be real servants of God.”
‘There Was a Radiance’
Hours before the Noi Festival, Edoardo* rode by Piazza del Plebiscito. He abruptly stopped and cut the engine on his motorcycle when he saw volunteers putting up signs for the event.
Edoardo was excited to tell the group why he was coming to Saturday night’s Noi Festival with Franklin Graham. Four months ago, he had visited a church and committed his life to Jesus Christ.
When Edoardo began reading the Bible, he realized he wasn’t following God’s commands by continuing to live with his girlfriend and her children.
With the evangelistic event coming to Naples, Edoardo knew it would be the perfect time to propose to his girlfriend and begin living a life that honours God.
“There was a radiance, just joy in his expression,” one volunteer said. “He was really touched to tell his story to other believers.”
Life in Piazza del Plebiscito may have returned to its normal bustling activities, but there’s something different in the hearts of many Neopolitans now. Like Edoardo, they are starting new lives of following Jesus Christ. And local believers are praying that this is just the beginning of a great move of God in their city.
*Name changed for privacy.
Will you pray as area churches follow up and disciple new believers from the Festival?
