Just days after the culmination of My Hope with Billy Graham, pastors and others who shared the Gospel through the My Hope videos are reporting story after story of hope and salvation. Meanwhile, many people continue to share the videos and plan additional events.
Nov. 7-10, millions of people across North America watched and shared videos from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s (BGEA) My Hope project. The videos were shown via broadcast television, DVD, streaming on the web and on Netflix.
Each day, new reports of My Hope stories are coming into the BGEA headquarters from people who watched one of the powerful Gospel presentations or showed them to others. This is a sampling of some of the latest stories from across the U.S.
Since the videos are still available on the web and on DVD, people are continuing to share them at various My Hope events. Many more inspiring stories are expected, as God continues to reveal His love and forgiveness to people from all walks of life.
Minnesota – A man named James showed “The Cross” at an adult detention center on Nov. 9. He reported 51 men made decisions to follow Christ.
California – The pastor of two Filipino congregations in southern California said six people have trusted Christ so far through My Hope. In one case, an entire family of five came to the Lord.
Texas – A woman named Teresa held a My Hope event with seven people from her housekeeping crew. She had been praying for each person who attended. After showing the Spanish My Hope video, “Momentos Decisivos,” six of the people made decisions to follow Christ, and one person made a rededication to Jesus.
Wisconsin – A pastor named John held a shoebox packing party for Operation Christmas Child On Nov. 8. He said 65 people came out and packed 173 boxes. About 50 people stayed to watch a My Hope video, and two received Jesus.
South Carolina – Organizers at a church in Colombia said they had about 600 people watch a My Hope video through a series of events, and they counted 49 responses to the Gospel invitation. The group then held a Sunday night celebration/baptism service where the My Hope video was shown one more time. Six people came forward to be baptized, and one received Christ and was baptized in the same night. Organizers reported a “joyous and exciting” atmosphere. “In all we baptized 17 people.”
Various Locations – A Navy chaplain reported that he travels by helicopter from ship to ship to minister to sailors in his squadron. He hosted My Hope America events on four deployed ships so far, had 50 sailors attend and six prayed to receive Christ. He is planning to host a My Hope event onboard an aircraft carrier soon.
Florida – A church hosted a “card game night” to reach out to the local community with the help of My Hope America. The pastor said 21 people showed up, including nine new faces. Four people made decisions for Christ that night.
South Carolina – A husband and wife watched “The Cross” with their children on Nov. 7. Their 6-year-old daughter and 16-year-old son both prayed to accept Christ. “My son and my daughter were saved right before my eyes!” the mother reported.
California – A pastor in Tehachapi has been visiting people in his neighborhood and arranging to show My Hope videos during his visits. During a one-week period at the beginning of November, he saw three people make decisions for Christ. He is going to continue reaching out to neighbors with the My Hope message.
Oregon – A church in McMinnville reported that 72 people became new followers of Christ as a direct result of My Hope outreaches that took place in homes, a Celebrate Recovery event, a church showing of the video and a youth event. A church member said, “It was absolutely electric in each of two services! Revival is happening!” Many more members have My Hope parties scheduled for the future.
Louisiana – A pastor said four migrant workers from Mexico made decisions for Christ at a My Hope house party before returning home to Mexico.
Arizona – A pastor reported one rededication to Christ and three salvation decisions so far, including a man who recently lost his wife.
Iowa – Shelley Hoogers, director of outreach and discipleship at First Reformed Church in Sheldon, led an effort to mobilize her whole town for My Hope America. After organizing prayer walks through the town for weeks, a My Hope event was held, with 350-400 people in attendance. After “The Cross” was shown, four people made first-time decisions for Christ and 18 others rededicated their lives to Jesus.
Montana – A woman named Lindsay worked with her church to show one of the My Hope America programs to women at the jail in her area. Two women made decisions to follow Christ and 11 others made rededications. Because Lindsay’s church already has a service at the jail every Sunday, they will be able to follow up with the women and help them grow in their walks with God.
Wisconsin – A Bible camp invited the surrounding community to come out for games and watch “The Cross.” The organizer wrote, “Forty people showed up, but none of the 40 were Christians. They did not go to church and had never heard the Gospel before. It was amazing what God did. We were expecting mostly church people to show up, but God had different ideas.” No salvation decisions were recorded, but many people are now asking spiritual questions. One man said that he thought anyone who went to church was automatically a Christian. Thanks to the My Hope gathering, he learned about the possibility of having a personal relationship with Jesus. Organizers are following up with the people who attended.
South Carolina – A couple reported that their granddaughter received Christ after watching a My Hope video with them.
Ohio – A woman named Vontayne said she saw a tremendous response at a nursing home where she has had an ongoing ministry. She held a My Hope party there and saw a total of 14 people come to Christ, including two staff members. She said two more My Hope parties were going to take place soon.
North Carolina – A man named John shared his My Hope DVD with a parent on his daughter’s soccer team. The parent then shared the video with a friend, who in turn showed the program to a young, Spanish-speaking community in the Hendersonville, N.C., area. Of 29 people who gathered to watch, 21 prayed to receive Christ. “This, of course, thrilled me, to know that simply sharing a DVD with a friend could be so divinely used by our Lord and Savior to reach these kids!” John said. “God is so faithful, and praise the Lord for this gentleman who desired to share ‘The Cross.’”
