Franklin Graham joined his son, Will Graham, on Friday in Lihue, Kaua`i, to share the Gospel with islanders. The Kaua`i Celebration with Will Graham runs through the weekend with events for adults, children, families and students. Will Graham is giving a final message of hope on Sunday.
The Celebration kicked off in true Hawaiian tradition with a beautiful hula worship dance. Many churches in Kaua`i incorporate hula into their services.
More than 1,600 people came out to Vidinha Stadium Friday and another 5,000 watched live online.
The front of the stage was crowded as people came forward at the invitation to
turn their lives over to Christ. You can make this important decision, too, right now—from wherever you are.
Musical artist Aaron Shust gave all the praise to God as he readied hearts to hear the Gospel message preached.
Celebration leaders have poured into students leading up to this weekend's Celebration. Some of the youth events these students attended were open mic and jam sessions, a dance party, movie night and sports tournament.
Brief downpours didn't discourage locals at the Celebration. Franklin Graham even said, "I know rain is a sign of blessing."
Welcoming a sister into the family of Christ.
The Afters love bringing people onstage to help lead the crowd in praising God for all He's done.
Many island churches, though small, put in tremendous time and prayer leading up to this weekend. Here, pastors and ministry leaders gathered to pray with Franklin Graham and Will Graham before the evening began.
Trained prayer volunteers went through the Christian Life and Witness course earlier this year. Some 140 students took evangelism classes led by representatives of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA), along with over 650 adults. This training helps Christians dig deep in their faith and learn how to share Jesus with others.
More than 50 years ago, in 1965, Franklin Graham's father, Billy Graham, preached the Good News in Kaua`i as part of a five-day Crusade. Billy Graham also held an eight-day Crusade event in Honolulu, as well as meetings on the Big Island and Maui.
A local worship team provided praise music for the hula dance.
Hawaii was first introduced to Christianity by American missionaries who arrived on May 3, 1820, exactly 199 years to the start of the Kaua`i Celebration.
Former Kaua`i County Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. shared his testimony about coming to Christ through the ministry of the BGEA. He also sang a blessing over the Celebration.
After the invitation was over, Stephen McVicar, a pastor from nearby Kapaʻa, couldn’t stop smiling. “It touched my heart," he said. "It brought me back to when I was a little child and heard Billy Graham speak, and just the response there. ... This many years later, it just brought back all these memories of when I was with my grandparents and my dad, who was also a pastor, and just that whole family experience."
Embracing a time of worship to our heavenly Father.
The grassy field at the stadium was a great place for families to spread out and have fun.
Franklin Graham urged locals in Lihue to think about how they'd spend eternity. "Every one of us has to choose Christ for ourselves," he said. "You're going to have to stand before Christ on your own."
"O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger."
—Psalm 8:1-2
