About 9,600 people turned out for the fifth stop of the six-city, 16-day Graham Tour with Franklin Graham in the city of Adelaide, South Australia. From front to back, Aussies spent their evening praising the Lord.
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and home to more than 75 percent of the state’s population. The event was held at Titanium Security Arena, a multipurpose indoor sports stadium.
Believers from more than 150 churches and 25 denominations worked together to prepare for Franklin Graham’s visit to their city. “Franklin, the platform has been set for you to deliver the message, and God will honor it,” said Viktor Hamm, vice president of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
Crusades, during a time of prayer with the Graham Tour team before the event.
Nicknamed the “City of Churches,” Adelaide is known for the diversity of faiths among its population of 1.3 million. While more than half of the residents identify as Christian, 28 percent claim no religion.
For the third stop in a row, those in attendance exceeded the venue’s capacity and many had to sit in overflow seating.
Dennis and Danny Agajanian (pictured), Steve Grace, Planetshakers and Crowder Music prepared the hearts of those gathered with musical worship.
“I think it’s the best place in the planet when the church gets together and starts singing,” David Crowder said to the crowd after a worshipful song.
“Oh come, let us sing to the Lord. Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.” —Psalm 95:1
Billy Graham preached in Adelaide 60 years ago during the historic 1959 Crusade across Australia. In 1998 and again on Wednesday night, Franklin Graham shared the unchanging message of salvation through Jesus Christ in Adelaide.
Australia’s fifth largest city is a lively one, with festivals and sporting events throughout the year. The month-long art and food festival, Adelaide Fringe, overlapped with the Graham Tour stop.
While Adelaide residents had many options for how they could spend the mild summer evening, thousands chose to be encouraged by an evening of live music and a message of hope.
To explain the Gospel message, Franklin referenced John 3 and the story of Nicodemus, a religious man who needed to make the personal choice to accept Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. “Maybe you’re religious. But religion in itself cannot save you,” Franklin said.
Those gathered in Adelaide were presented with the same decision. We thank God for each and every one who came forward to start a new life with Christ or recommit their life to Him.
More than 400 people squeezed into the area in front of the stage to acknowledge their faith, repentance and commitment to Christ.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” —2 Corinthians 5:17
Prayer volunteers encouraged those who came forward with prayer and materials to help guide their new walk with Christ. After the event, local churches will follow up with these people.
Please continue to pray for the Graham Tour, which wraps up with a two-day event in Sydney this weekend. If you haven’t joined us on the Graham Tour yet, watch these last events live starting at 6:30 p.m. AEST/2:30 a.m. EST each night.
