San Juan, Puerto Rico, is the first stop on a list of Franklin Graham Festivals this year. The three-day Festival de Esperanza (or Festival of Hope) kicked off Friday with a powerful Gospel message that had people of all ages streaming forward in response to Christ's calling. One woman doubled as both a counselor and a performer earlier in the evening.
Franklin Graham shared with an estimated 11,000 people about the value of a soul.
Daniel Calveti, a Venezuelan-born Puerto Rican singer, led the crowd in worship and encouraged people in their faith.
Prior to the Festival, hundreds gathered Thursday evening at Hiram Bithorn Stadium, where the event is being held, to pray over the Festival and worship God together.
A man gets on his knees in prayer.
A colorful choir split into men and women filled the stadium with songs of praise.
Getting alone with God in a crowd. Do you have a one-on-one relationship with Him? You can.
Sheila Romero's powerful voice drew the audience into an intense time of worship as thousands of voices filled the air in the open stadium.
Clowns livened up the crowd before the Festival began.
"God says hear me that your soul may live. And tonight you can be sure that your soul is safe and secure in the hands of God," Franklin Graham said at the Festival de Esperanza. His message was translated into Spanish by Galo Vasquez, director of Latin American Festivals for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
One little girl hung onto her dad as they took in the Festival.
For each person who came forward at Franklin Graham's invitation, a counselor was ready to explain the Gospel again and answer any questions that may come up. The counselors gave each responder a booklet of the Gospel of John.
Dennis Agajanian (far left) joined the Gutierrez Brothers for some songs that got the crowd clapping their hands and tapping their feet.
This man was happy to lift up the name of Jesus Christ—side by side with so many others.
The Tommy Coomes Band is a staple at Franklin Graham Festivals and often picks some songs to sing in the native language. They sang in both English and Spanish so everyone could understand.
There's something special about the person who leads you to Jesus Christ. After this weekend's Festival, each counselor will follow up with those he or she counseled.
Please pray for more lives to be changed as the Festival continues this weekend.
