Franklin Graham spoke with German media outlets Friday ahead of today’s Festival of Hope, an evangelistic outreach in the industrial city of Essen. In past months, over 250 churches throughout the country have united in prayer and preparation for the event.
“It’s exciting to be able to work with [these Christians], to lead other Germans to faith in God’s Son Jesus Christ,” Graham said.
Franklin Graham, burdened to share “the message of the cross, that Jesus Christ died and shed His blood … for our sins,” is returning to the same arena, Grugahalle, where Billy Graham preached the Good News 30 years ago.
“The Bible tells us that God wants all of us to be saved,” Graham emphasized.
While many across Germany have plenty of material possessions, there’s a spiritual hunger deep down, one reporter noted Friday.
“We all have so many days of life and at some point, we’re all going to be faced with our immortality,” Graham said. “At that point, people begin asking questions: Am I ready to stand before God?”
In addition to an inspiring message from Franklin Graham, the Festival of Hope will feature powerful worship music from Veronika Lohmer and Band as well as the Newsboys. Churches are using 60 buses to bring 2,500 people from as far away as Hamburg—nearly five hours north of Essen—to tomorrow’s event.
“I think people are searching for meaning and purpose to life,” Graham continued. “I’m giving a short message—a message of hope—how a person can have their sins forgiven and how they can have that assurance that they’re going to be in the presence of God forever. …
“My message is for everybody.”
Are you looking for lasting peace and purpose in your life? Watch the Festival of Hope live today at noon ET, with music from the Newsboys.
