Maria is just one of the thousands of Estonians who found fresh fire at the Franklin Graham Festival of Hope – or Lootuse Festival – May 29-31, 2009.
“God changed Estonian churches,” says Maria, “and made the whole heaven rejoice for each who received Christ.”
As Billy Graham has said, “The real story of the crusades is not in the great choirs, the thousands in attendance, nor the hundreds of inquirers who are counseled. The real story is in the changes that have taken place in the hearts and lives of people.”
By the end of the weekend, 1,478 people responded to the invitation to follow Jesus Christ.
Miguel Zayas, pastor of the Vineyard Tallinn, says the turnout was “by far, the largest in Estonia’s history for any Christian event.”
Buses and ferries brought people to the three-day Festival, some traveling from neighboring Finland and Latvia. More than 30,000 heard Franklin Graham’s messages translated into Estonian, Russian and sign language.
Throughout the week, the BGEA video and web teams worked together to provide up-to-the-minute coverage of all that God was doing. Take a moment and see the amazing move of the Holy Spirit in Estonia:
Franklin Graham Returns to Estonia with a Message of Freedom
When Franklin Graham arrived in Estonia this week, he found the memories flooding back. “I was here close to 25 years ago with my father and at that time, it was under Russian rule, under Communism,” Franklin recalled during an interview. “And the only place we could speak was inside a church. There was no freedom of religion.”
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Past and Present Converge in Tallinn’s Rock Baptist Church
Erki Tamm was just 16 when Billy Graham addressed a group of ministers and church leaders at Rock Baptist Church in 1984, but he recalls the moment as though it happened last week. “I was in the second row,” Tamm shared with the BGEA team this afternoon, pointing out the spot. “It was the first time a very popular American preacher was in Estonia.”
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Want to Know Why the BGEA is in Estonia?
The need for the Gospel is great. Two sisters who are volunteering in the Festival office say that suicide, depression, and drug abuse are far too common among their peers. It’s not only the long, gloomy winters that drag their hearts down, but lack of hope for a brighter future.
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Historic Moment for Estonian Churches
“The main story of this Festival is the unity of the Church,” says Viktor Hamm. “Before we came, the Church was theoretically together, but they never worked together on projects. So this has been an exception.”
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Franklin Graham: ‘The Nations Need to Look to God’
Speaking to international media Thursday morning in Tallinn, Estonia, Franklin Graham was unequivocal in keeping the focus on Christ. Whether he was asked about his message to Estonians or how to help youth, Franklin emphasized the Gospel and power of Jesus.
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A Message of Hope for Estonia
“This could be the most important night of your life,” Franklin Graham said to Estonians Friday. “Tonight you can find the meaning and purpose for your life.” Preaching from the Gospel of Luke, he told Estonians that it does not profit a man to gain the whole world if he loses his soul.
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Reaching a New Generation for Jesus
Close to 4,000 children poured into Saku Suurhall Arena for an afternoon of fun and a very important message. Many of the children who attended the rally came because of an invitation in their Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes.
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Sparking a Revival in Estonia
Using the story of the prodigal son, Franklin Graham touched the hearts of more than 10,000 people inside and another 1,000 outside in an overflow tent Saturday night. “We all search for personal happiness,” Franklin told Estonians. “We think if we have a lot of money, that it will make us happy. We think the latest fashions will make us look good and be happy – or a flat screen TV.”
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Sunday Blog: All of Heaven is Rejoicing
“New birth is the union of your soul with Jesus,” Franklin Graham told the audience of 8,730 people Sunday. He taught from the Gospel of John, while Michael W. Smith and Huntley Brown glorified God in song. Olympian Tiidrek Nurme shared a powerful testimony.
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