The city of Launceston sits in a cozy valley and touches the banks of the Tamar, North Esk and South Esk Rivers.
Saturday started with a free, family-friendly event for preschool and elementary-age children called KidzFest. Musical guest Dan Warlow led worship and kids watched “The Quest,” an interactive presentation with a fun Gospel message.
Families enjoyed bike stunts, games, balloon animals, face painting, laser tag and more.
Then, Will Graham spoke to the young crowd, dressed in the colorful outfit his character wears in “The Quest.”
Kings Bridge is a pretty Launceston landmark at the mouth of Cataract Gorge, which offers hiking, swimming and lovely views from a scenic chairlift.
Before the evening event, which featured Christ-centered music and messages for all ages, Will Graham prayed backstage with the musicians, local church leaders and Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) staff.
Austrailian worship band Planetboom and American artists The Afters (pictured) stirred up the crowd with energetic selections and then dialed it down with reverent praise songs.
Young Tassies danced along to every single Planetboom song.
For the past two years, believers from over 140 churches have held weekly prayer meetings to ask God for a great harvest of souls at the Tasmania Celebration.
More than 800 people came Saturday night, either believers or just curious, but none left without hearing the Gospel.
“Forgiveness is a choice, and God chose to forgive you of your sin. All you have to do is receive it as a free gift,” Will Graham told the crowd in Launceston—along with people watching from 45 countries online.
Many decided to receive God’s free gift of forgiveness, and they walked forward to publicly acknowledge their faith.
“God is so big that it’s not up to us to lead people to Him, but [we're] just to be there for people when they’re ready—when they’re touched by God,” said Paris Ferguson, a trained counselor who prayed with two Nepalese sisters who both invited Jesus into their hearts and lives.
There’s still one day left of the Tasmania Celebration. Will you ask God to draw those who need Him to hear the Gospel on Sunday?
