Beginning on Feb. 9, the evangelistic tour included nine events. First was a two-day outreach in Lingayen, Pangasinan, followed by several special events in Manila for government/military/police leaders, business/marketplace leaders, teens and more. The Celebration culminated with four large events at Manila’s historic Rizal Park (pictured here).
The Greater Pangasinan-Metro Manila Celebration with Will Graham marked the first time all three generations of Graham evangelists have preached from the same venue in the same city. Billy Graham held a 1977 Crusade at Rizal Park and Franklin Graham did so in 2006.
Sunday night, Will Graham told those gathered in Manila: "There is going to be a lot of good people and a lot of very religious people in hell, because they never asked Christ to forgive their sins. You can be the most moral person and still go to hell."
No matter how young or old you are, it's a wonderful confirmation to know that after you receive Christ, your real home is heaven.
San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila, is the oldest standing church in the Philippines. The structure was rebuilt three times due to man-made and natural disasters.
On Saturday, Feb. 9, over 200 police officers provided security for the Pangasinan Celebration event. Of those, several dozen officers prayed to receive Christ but were unable to leave their posts. When they were off duty the next day, Will Graham was invited to lead them in prayer.
"The strategic leaders event was one of the most significant things we could have done to take the Gospel to those leaders in government, in military and the police,” said Chad Hammond, director of Asian Affairs for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
Of the more than 1,500 people who attended the event for business/marketplace leaders, hundreds made decisions for Christ.
This was Will Graham’s third trip to the Philippines to hold multi-day outreaches. He preached in the Bicol region in 2011; and in Cebu and Tacloban in 2015 following the deadly Typhoon Yolanda.
Volunteers from more than 1,600 Manila-area churches and over 400 in the Pangasinan region gave their hearts and time to make the Celebration a success.
Mark Christian came all the way from Charlotte, North Carolina, to join Filipino artists in leading worship.
Thank you for praying for the Celebration, and please keep praying for the people who joined the body of Christ through this evangelistic campaign.
