TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH

Dear Friend,
I recently had the privilege of preaching the Gospel at “The End of the World”—literally. Several signs with this nickname are sprinkled across the world’s southernmost city of Ushuaia, Argentina. In this remote—often frozen—outpost, we held Esperanza (Hope) Ushuaia to tell residents that while they may feel isolated, God has not forgotten them. There had never been an evangelistic event like this in the city before.

Thousands came out for the two-night Festival—total attendance was around 10% of the city’s population. The arena was packed to capacity both nights, and the overflow hall we set up was full too! People were hungry to hear about God’s love for them in Jesus Christ. And pastors were so excited for this outreach that some had driven from provinces as far as 1,500 miles away. That’s more than half the width of the United States!

Argentine artists Rescate and Evangelina Crubinca—along with my friends Dennis Agajanian and the Tommy Coomes Band—did a wonderful job preparing hearts to hear “the hope of the gospel” (Colossians 1:23, NKJV). After worship, I preached on the value of the soul and the great price Jesus Christ paid to redeem us. “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36–37, NKJV).
The Holy Spirit used these words to pierce the hearts of many. Victor, who was sitting in the overflow section, had

been diagnosed with cancer several months earlier, and he knew his days were numbered. When I invited people to repent of their sins and surrender to the only One who can save their souls for

 eternity, he got up from his seat, walked forward, and prayed with his friend Gustavo to receive Jesus Christ. Gustavo was serving as a counsellor at the Festival and had been praying for his friend’s salvation for six years. Together they rejoiced over Victor’s new life in Christ.

God moved in the hearts of hundreds of others as well—including Santiago. The young man had seen advertisements for Esperanza Ushuaia for weeks before the event. He even took the day off from work so he could attend—but he wasn’t sure why he wanted to. Santiago was not a believer, and on Saturday afternoon, he started to have second thoughts. He was wrestling with anxiety when he heard a knock at his front door. His friend Benjamin had come to check on him. Benjamin, already a believer, urged Santiago to go to the Festival and said he would go with him. When Santiago heard the Gospel, he was overcome with emotion. He prayed to give his life to the Lord in repentance and faith. “I felt that through the event God was telling me, ‘Here I am. Here is the answer,’” he said. “I felt God’s embrace in a way that truly fulfilled my heart.”

 Santiago explained that addiction had taken over his life, but he knew the Lord could deliver him. “I want to change my whole life. Just a month ago, I was deep into drugs, and I had even said that I would never stop using,” he explained. “Now I’ve decided I want to surrender all. I want to give it all to Jesus.”

We praise God that Santiago can find peace in His promise that “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NKJV). This young man even returned Sunday to hear more from God’s Word! Please pray that he and Victor will find strength for the days ahead as they pray, read the Bible, and attend church. Will you also lift up the nearly 1,600 other individuals who made life-changing decisions for Jesus Christ at this event—and the local churches who will be following up with them in the weeks to come?

RESURRECTION HOPE

On Easter Sunday, we’re going to broadcast a special program on national television. What Is Truth? was filmed at the University of Northwestern in St. Paul/ Minneapolis, Minnesota, where my father served as

president from 1948 to 1952, beginning at the young age of 29. He then established the headquarters of BGEA in Minneapolis in 1950, where it remained for 53 years.
In this 30-minute special, I will share a message of hope for our world overrun by division, turmoil, and conflict. Before He was crucified, the Lord Jesus Christ encouraged His disciples to stand strong in the face of the coming trials. “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, NKJV). You can see it Easter Sunday on Fox News, TBN, and TV stations across the United States—and online at BillyGraham.org.uk. Broadcast times will be posted on our website when they’re available. I hope you’ll join us and invite your friends to watch as well. Please ask God to work mightily through this program and set many people free through the power of Jesus Christ, who is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6, NKJV).

PROCLAIMING CHRIST ON THE COAST

My son Will is going to proclaim the Good News at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center on March 21 and 22. The Gulf Coast Celebration of Hope will also feature worship led by Charity Gayle, DOE, and Terrian. This outreach is the culmination of months of prayer and preparation by local

churches, including training through our Christian Life and Witness Course. Since January, over 600 believers were equipped with Biblical insight and practical tips to live boldly for the Lord and share their faith with others. Those who finish the course also have an opportunity to serve as prayer counsellors at the Celebration. We also recently held a special evangelistic event for children and their families.

Praise God that 275 people heard the Gospel at Kidzfest—and nearly 50 children responded by making decisions for Christ. One local congregation had been ministering to an impoverished area in their community and used the church’s van to bring 14 children from the neighbourhood. Five of them gave their lives to the Lord—and all 14 showed up for church the next day! The pastor told us he was so grateful for everyone who had given to make this outreach possible. He said that God has already been answering the fervent prayers of local leaders as they prepare for the Celebration—and they’re not stopping. He said, “They’re praying ‘Oh God, we need a breakthrough!’”
Will you pray for many more breakthroughs along Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, that God will open hearts to receive His Good News? In my next letter, I’ll bring you an update from Peru on our Esperanza Lima Festival that we just held in South America’s third-largest capital city.

Thank you for your commitment to reaching people here at home and across the globe with the Gospel. “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory” (Ephesians 3:20–21, NKJV).

May He Richly Bless You,

 Franklin Graham

President & CEO