The streets leading to the Arena Castelão in Fortaleza, Brazil, are in stark contrast to the beautiful, bright blue water and beaches that outline the city.
Dark alleys are filled with trash. Windows and doors are locked down with iron bars. And most buildings have more graffiti than clean walls.
Yet, that drive is symbolic of the path many took to salvation this weekend at the Franklin Graham Festival of Hope.
People spoke of dark areas and dangerous paths—records of sin written on the walls of their hearts. Yet on the other side there was a glorious peace in the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
And now that the two-day Festival has come to an end, churches and local leaders are hoping this marks the start of cleaning up both streets and lives all around Fortaleza.
“God doesn’t want us to perish. He wants us to have everlasting life. He wants to forgive our sin,” Franklin Graham told the crowd of more than 45,000 on Saturday.
And for some 2,400 people this weekend, the slate was wiped clean.
The Fortaleza Festival of Hope was full of energy, with a 30-minute flash mob dance routine kicking off both nights. Michael W. Smith, Dennis Agajanian and the Tommy Coomes Band all performed, in addition to Brazilian artists like Rose Nascimento and the massive Dias De Elias Festival choir.
Ceará Gov. Camilo Santana commended Festival organizers and participating churches for already making a noticeable difference.
“The work of the church is helping the city with peace and bringing hope to our hearts. Thank God for this event,” he said.
The governor noted his state’s crime and drug problem, but said the government and churches can work together to help rehabilitate former drug dealers, addicts and criminals by giving them new hope.
After tonight, the city will hopefully have at least one less drug dealer on the streets.
Roberio, 23, decided to walk forward after hearing Franklin Graham’s message.
“What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet lose his soul?” Franklin asked the crowd, preaching from Mark 8.
“A person can gain everything they want in life … you can be on top of the mountain … but what you’re seeing is temporary.”
With those words in mind, Roberio told his counselor, Sampaio, how he “owned” his neighborhood as a drug dealer but didn’t want to live that type of life anymore.
Though reserved while expressing how he’d make the change in his life, Roberio vowed to find a church near his home to build his faith in Jesus.
“I told him I can help him and we can help him find a church. I encouraged him to keep walking in Christ,” Sampaio said.
Roberio’s brother, who invited him to the event, will be there for him, too. Like a proud parent, he took a photo of Roberio and Sampaio together to memorialize the event.
And all weekend, story after story of redemption left the Arena Castelão.
Twenty-year-old James couldn’t help but smile at the thought of his friend being a new believer. After the invitation on Saturday, he sat in the stands next to Keulvin—both of them wearing shirts with Isaiah 53:5 on the front—awaiting Michael W. Smith’s performance.
“I’m really, really happy. It’s a wonderful feeling!” James said.
He’d been inviting his friend of 10-plus years to church with him for quite some time. And it was Saturday’s message at the Festival of Hope that brought fruit from those seeds that were planted.
Keulvin hopes he can now be an example to his family and prays that he can bring them to Christ as well.
The Fortaleza Festival has no doubt been covered in prayer.
Vigils were held at least once a month since Festival preparations officially launched January 31, 2014. And Festival leaders challenged participating churches to take part in 50 days of prayer leading up to the event.
More than 2,000 churches were involved in the Festival, drawing thousands more volunteers and counselors for the event.
Some found themselves in tears as people poured from the stands and opened their lives to Christ.
“It has brought great happiness seeing people accepting Christ,” Sampaio said. “Through sadness and tough times in their lives—they left all that to follow Christ.”
Now, the follow-up process begins with local churches reaching out to them. And from the pastors and counselors to the governor’s departing words—”Thank God for this event”—hopes are high for Fortalaza’s future.
