On May 30, Franklin Graham’s seven-city evangelistic tour across the Northeast concluded in Syracuse, New York. Once again, God answered the prayers of believers by replacing rain forecasts with beautiful spring weather.
Syracuse is the fifth most populous city in New York and serves as an educational and economic hub for the region. The city is also known as one of the poorest places in the United States, with about 30 percent of the population living in poverty.
Each stop on the Decision America Northeast Tour included musical worship, a clear Gospel presentation and lots of prayer. On the final night of the tour, Franklin Graham reminded the crowd to pray for President Donald J. Trump, who’s from New York, and led them in a prayer for government leaders across their state.
History lies around every corner in Syracuse. Stately buildings with detailed architecture are evidence that the city has been around for more than 200 years.
“We pray that the Church will be faithful, that the Church won’t compromise in this culture that’s demanding compromise,” Franklin prayed. After the prayer, sunset rays reflected off the nearby Onodaga Lake and illuminated the thousands that had bowed their heads in agreement.
Before Franklin took the stage, his close friend Dennis Agajanian kicked off Thursday’s evangelistic event with his famously fast guitar skills. The crowd stood to join him in singing classics like, “Nothing But the Blood” and “God Bless America.”
Another talented musician, Crowder, crisscrossed the Northeast with his band to prepare the hearts of those gathered to make the most important decision of their lives: to accept or reject Christ.
“Oh wanderer come home. You're not too far. So lay down your hurt. Lay down your heart. Come as you are.”
People of various religions, cultures and traditions call Syracuse home, due in part to the city’s significant immigrant population. Thursday night, Franklin Graham talked about the only path to eternal life.
“There’s lots of religions in this world, but there’s only one Jesus,” Franklin said. “He gave you a soul, and it’s valuable because He paid for it with His blood.” Do you know the worth of your soul?
Thirty years ago, Billy Graham shared a very similar message with more than 100,000 people during a five-day Crusade at Syracuse University’s Carrier Dome.
More than 6,400 people of all generations gathered together for Franklin Graham’s one-night event in central New York. The passionate crowd contributed to an overall attendance of more than 31,000 people who heard the Gospel over the course of the tour.
When it came time to respond to the message, the front of the stage and the aisles filled with people wanting to surrender their lives to Christ.
“God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.” —Ephesians 2:4-5
One prayer volunteer talked with a man who walked forward to release his burdens to his heavenly Father. “He knew he needed Christ,” the volunteer said, smiling with excitement. “I just asked God to give me the right words to say.”
Before he left the stage at Syracuse’s Lakeview Amphitheater, Franklin Graham said, “God loves you. You’re forgiven. Go to church. Read the Bible. … To God be the glory.”
Praise God for the hundreds of people who started new lives with Him during the Decision America Northeast Tour. As local churches welcome these new believers into the family of God, please pray that the Good News continues to transform hearts in the Northeast.
