Close to 4,000 responded to the message, either making a first time commitment to Christ or recommitting their lives to Him.
“We had an amazing experience here in Belo Horizonte,” says Festival Director Galo Vasquez. “A unique aspect of this Festival is that at least 80 percent of those who attended were young people. It was exciting to see them not only coming to the Festival every night, but truly listening to what Franklin was saying.”
At the moment of the invitation, Vasquez adds, it was moving to see so many young people coming forward, touched by the power of the gospel.
The Festival has already made an impact, says Vasquez, because this is the first time that more than 900 churches have worked together and rallied around the idea of proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ to the entire city.
Finally, says Vasquez, the pre-Festival training will have a long-term impact on Belo Horizonte. Almost 10,000 people were trained and 5,000 became counselors. “They are now equipped to make evangelism a lifestyle.”
The national leaders told Vasquez they have learned so much over the last four months: “We did not have an idea what this really represented. Thank you for investing in us and giving us a new vision and new perspective for what evangelism together as a body of Christ is all about.”
See all the articles and videos from this life-changing event:
Singing Hope to the Nations
Meet Ana Paula Valadão, a popular Brazilian singer who wowed young and old at the Festival de Esperança in Belo Horizonte. When she was a little girl of 8, Jesus Christ tugged on her heart and she yielded her life to Him. Perhaps that is why Valadão is so passionate about ministering to children.
Read the interview »
Heaven Opens Over Belo Horizonte
On a moonlit night in Belo Horizonte, Franklin Graham preached the pure and simple Gospel of Jesus Christ. Drawing on the story of the prodigal son, Graham first shared how he came to know Jesus, then showed the audience how they, too, could find eternal life in Christ.
Read the article »
Our God is Mighty to Save
The crowd may have been slow in arriving, but the minute they got to Mega Space in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, they rocked. More than 10,000 people came out Thursday night to hear amazing music from Michael W. Smith and a powerful message from Franklin Graham.
Learn more »
Watch and Be Amazed
As the Festival of Hope in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, kicks off tonight, Festival Director Galo Vasquez looks to the Book of Habakkuk and draws a comparison: “It describes where we are in Belo Horizonte. God told him to look at the vision, to watch and be amazed.”
Read the article »
A Legacy of Ministry in Brazil
Nearly 36 years ago, Billy Graham preached to a crowd of 590,000 people in Rio de Janeiro. More than 30,000 responded to the invitation to accept Christ during that five-day Crusade. Mr. Graham also preached in São Paulo, Brazil, in 1962 and in 1979.
Learn more »
Belo Horizonte Prepares for Harvest
Belo Horizonte, a Portuguese name meaning “beautiful horizon,” is ready for harvest, according to church leaders in the bustling Brazilian city. The capital of the state of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte will host the Festival of Hope with Franklin Graham, May 27-29.
Read the article »
Help Spread the Gospel
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Belo Horizonte Videos
Please pray for all the people who accepted Christ in Brazil during the Festival, that they will grow in their faith and find a church home!
