A CRITICAL MISSION
Dear Friend,
As we welcome a new year, people are making resolutions they believe will change their lives in 2024 through things like diets, budgets, or exercise.
The best these can offer is temporary satisfaction. Only a relationship with Jesus Christ, who “is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8, ESV) will satisfy
their longing hearts and bring true peace, hope, and joy.
God has given us many opportunities in 2024 to tell people about the peace He alone offers—and I’m so thankful for friends like you who partner with us in this critical mission.
The Lord has opened the door for me to preach His truth around the world—from the US southern border during the God Loves You Frontera Tour at the beginning of the year to Kraków, Poland, in April. I’ll also hold a two-day, evangelistic Festival in Mexico City this month, and I’ll return to the United Kingdom this summer for God Loves You Tour events in Birmingham and Glasgow..
Will you begin praying now for these Gospel outreaches? The challenges in these cities are vastly different, but people’s desperate need for Jesus Christ is the same.
GOD LOVES YOU FRONTERA TOUR
SHARING THE GOSPEL ON THE BORDER
Later this month, the God Loves You Frontera Tour will kick off in Texas. The 10 communities we are going to along the border are struggling—from poverty and food insecurity in Texas to addiction and homelessness in California—and I’m eager to tell residents there about “the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God” (2 Corinthians 13:14, ESV).
Since November, over 2,000 Christians have gone through our Christian Life and Witness Course training to grow in their faith and learn to boldly share it with others. Will you pray for these believers as they invite their lost loved ones to the tour? Also pray for the leaders who have worked so hard to mobilise their churches and communities for this Gospel outreach. Many of the pastors who are participating in the tour work another job to make ends meet, on top of leading their churches—supporting their families and serving the body of Christ.
EVANGELISTIC CRUSADES
HUNDREDS RESPOND TO THE GOOD NEWS
My son Will recently shared the Gospel during a massive celebration in Budapest, Hungary, which marked the 500th anniversary of the beginning of Baptist church ministry and evangelism in the country. More than 8,000 people listened as he “preached boldly in the name of Jesus” (Acts 9:27, ESV)—and hundreds responded by making life-changing decisions for Him, including Anna.*
The teenager rushed to the front with a group of friends as soon as Will gave the invitation—but her decision to embrace salvation in Jesus Christ was all her own. “She was really touched when [Will] was talking about sin,” an interpreter told us. “She felt that she should come to the front. She also felt that her sins were forgiven.” Anna went on to share that she finally had hope for the future—and assurance that God would be with her every step of the way. Please pray for her and for the many new believers in Hungary.
Thank you for your prayers, your support, and your heart to share God’s love with people far from Him. You are crucial to this ministry, and I am grateful for you. I pray that the Lord blesses you with wisdom, strength, and boldness to tell others about His love this year.
May God richly bless you,
Franklin Graham
President & CEO
PRAYING FOR A MIGHTY HARVEST IN BIRMINGHAM AND GLASGOW
Last month, around 500 church leaders and pastors across Birmingham and Glasgow gathered at the God Loves You Tour kickoff events during 16–18 January. They united for one reason only: to ask God to move in a mighty way in their city.
The kickoff lunches are the first of many preparatory events hosted by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) designed to engage and mobilise local churches ahead of the upcoming God Loves You Tour in June. Franklin Graham will share the Gospel message, and each event will feature live music from Taya, Michael W. Smith, and Dennis Agajanian.
Viktor Hamm, vice president of Crusades at BGEA, reminded ministry leaders of the great opportunity to reach thousands with the Good News of Christ. “This is the time to fully trust the Word of God. We must lift our eyes and see the fields are ripe for harvest,” he said. “There is a great harvest, there is a great hunger. The labourers are few, and we need more to fill the arenas in June!”
THERE IS A GREAT HARVEST, THERE IS A GREAT HUNGER.
—VIKTOR HAMM
After a time for worship and prayer, local pastors took the stage to speak about how partnering with BGEA has revitalised their church’s passion for evangelism.
Stephen Premkumar, from Glasgow, saw a significant growth in his church after hosting Christian Life and Witness Courses (CLWC), a seminar designed to equip believers with skills on how to share their faith. “Our spiritual and evangelism level increased since hosting CLWC classes. People who attended the course started bringing other people and evangelising,” Stephen explained. “So now we need a bigger building because our church is full!”
In Birmingham, Pastor Kirk McAtear shared the same enthusiasm to see churches in the Midlands grow through a partnership with BGEA. “You can trust this ministry to preach the Gospel, but it’s our responsibility to unite churches in the Midlands. If we do that, we will see the greatest harvest of souls we’ve ever seen in Birmingham,” McAtear said. “Let the world talk about what God is doing in Birmingham!”
The impact of Billy Graham’s ministry in the United Kingdom can still be seen today, particularly in Glasgow. During the lunch, people were asked to raise their hand if they heard Billy Graham preach at Celtic Park in 1991. Over a third of the room raised their hand.
“Like before, there will be a legacy left here in Glasgow,” church leader Michael Rollo said. After seeing hundreds come to Christ during the Celebration of Hope in Falkirk six years ago, he wants to encourage every church leader to join the mission and see the same happen in Glasgow this year.
“A move of God has begun and we need to catch that wave,” Rollo told the crowd. “I believe that the God Loves You Tour is another aspect of what God is doing in our nation, and God is doing something amazing in Scotland.”
You can make a difference
God works through people like you to change the world by the power of the Gospel.
PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS THROUGH FESTIVALS AND CELEBRATIONS
Though people search for truth everywhere, life-changing truth is found only in Jesus Christ. When you give a gift for Festivals and Celebrations, you help give people in places around the world the opportunity to hear the Gospel message of God’s eternal love.
WHERE MOST NEEDED
The Gospel changes lives—now and for eternity. When you designate a gift for Where Most Needed, it is available for immediate ministry opportunities and needs, including the personnel, resources, materials, equipment, and support services vital to the work of evangelism around the world.
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