With “Back to School” popping up on family calendars across the country, it’s hard to believe summer is technically just now at the halfway point.
At Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, ministry has been revving up all summer and is about to shift into high gear with two multi-day Franklin Graham outreaches later this month.
Here’s a quick snapshot of what’s going on at BGEA this summer:
Franklin Graham Festivals
Franklin Graham will present the Gospel—surrounded by top-notch Christian musicians—over the next two weekends in Birmingham, Alabama, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
You can watch both the The Greater Birmingham Festival of Hope (Aug. 14-16) and The Oklahoma City Good News Festival online (Aug. 22-23) at BillyGraham.org/Live.
Artists playing at these Festivals include Kirk Franklin, Newsboys, Skillet, Flame, Kari Jobe, Lacey, Michael W. Smith along with Franklin Graham proclaiming the hope of Christ all five nights.
“I will be preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ that can bring forgiveness, healing, and hope,” Franklin Graham said. “Will you put this on your prayer list?”
Billy Graham Rapid Response Team
The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team has been active this summer, beginning in July with massive flooding in Johnson County, Kentucky, followed by the fatal movie theater shooting in Lafayette, Louisiana.
Crisis-trained chaplains in both locations experienced divine appointments as God opened doors to share the Gospel.
“I really feel like the Lord orchestrated it all,” chaplain Beth Johnson said. “It was just all the Holy Spirit and the Lord.”
The Rapid Response Team is also providing a ministry of prayer and presence at the Randall Kerrick trial in Charlotte, North Carolina, and have been asked by local churches to return to Ferguson, Missouri, where civil unrest returned as the one-year anniversary of Michael Brown’s death was observed this past weekend.
Internet Evangelism
As many have spent vacation time kicking back in the mountains or on the beach, BGEA’s Internet Evangelism ministry has been working 24/7 to spread the Good News online.
Since the start of summer, PeaceWithGod.net has presented the hope of Christ to more than 1 million visitors.
This summer, new initiatives to spread the Good News through social media have helped reach people through Facebook and Twitter. Social media-friendly web pages focusing on Father’s Day, Independence Day, the semicolon movement and even a popular reality show have led to tens of thousands of visitors, introducing them to a relationship with Jesus.
You can be a part of the mission to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth by praying for these initiatives or making a summer gift.
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