“It’s great to be here today and to see this area—first time I’ve ever been to the Midlands,” Franklin Graham shared as he welcomed over 8,000 guests to the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham, England. His father, Billy Graham, had preached a message of hope 40 years ago in Villa Park, a soccer stadium nearby. “He loved the people of this nation,” Graham said.
Franklin Graham had planned to share the Gospel across several U.K. cities, including Birmingham, in 2020. Those events were postponed due to a legal battle involving religious freedom, after seven venues cancelled their legally binding contracts with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Most of those cases have been resolved favorably, and on Saturday, churches witnessed God’s perfect timing as they watched their friends and neighbors come to know Jesus Christ.
To kick off the evening, guests clapped to the beat and sang along with Dennis Agajanian’s fast-picking, Gospel-centered songs.
Over 500 churches around the country have been praying for months for the God Loves Your Tour, trusting God to do what only He can do. Many believers brought their friends and family on one of 150 buses that arrived from churches across the region to hear Franklin Graham’s Gospel message.
“Are you tired of lacking peace?” Australian worship leader TAYA asked. “Come into the light,” she urged in one of her songs about Jesus Christ, the “light of the world” (John 8:12, ESV).
Saturday night, the Lord faithfully answered prayer in Birmingham, the first stop on this year’s God Loves You Tour in the U.K. After hearing Graham preach about a loving God who redeems lives, over 600 people made a public decision to follow Jesus Christ. The tour continues next weekend in Glasgow, Scotland.
“I just want you to know this tonight—Jesus Christ is the Son of God,” Graham shared. “Jesus Christ loves you.”
“We’ve been praying for a great move of God in this country,” Michael W. Smith said to the crowd. He led those in attendance in a powerful time of worship with songs like “Open the Eyes of My Heart” and “Awesome God.”
Prayer volunteers ministered to attendees, helping those who decided to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ get connected to a local church. Each person who responded received a Bible and materials to help them grow in their new faith.
Where do you find your hope? “My hope is in the Lord,” members of the Tommy Coomes Band sang. You, too, can find this lasting hope by putting your faith in God’s Son, Jesus Christ.
God is working in people’s hearts throughout the U.K.—and the world. Please pray for new believers in and around Birmingham, and for hearts to be softened ahead of next week’s evangelistic outreach in Glasgow, Scotland. Get details on the next event.
