Jessica Dantas had trouble holding back tears ever since she walked into Arena Castelão Thursday night. Twenty-four hours later, with the first night of the Festival de Esperança (Festival of Hope) behind her, she was still misty-eyed but beaming.
“God is taking care of our people,” she said with a wide smile on her face. “Seeing things happen here is like a dream, a miracle.”
Dantas is a school teacher in Fortaleza, Brazil, where Franklin Graham is holding a Festival this weekend. Dantas asked Christ into her life at 8 years old during a similar event over 15 years ago. Now in her mid-20s, she’s helping others in her hometown do the same thing.
Friday night, she counseled three young women who are neighborhood friends. One decided she needs Christ in her life; the other two renewed their relationship with Him.
Hundreds in the massive arena made the same decision for Christ, recognizing their great need for Him following a message on the Prodigal Son from Luke 15. Franklin Graham talked about the young man in the Bible who, after blowing his inheritance on a fast, carefree lifestyle, found himself penniless and without a shred of self-respect.
But then the young man returned to his father, surprised that his father welcomed him back home with open arms and celebration.
Franklin Graham admitted that he, too, was a prodigal son.
“I was lonely. I was unfulfilled,” he said, talking about his life before Christ. He wanted to go his own way and do his own thing, but at 22, got on his knees to ask God’s forgiveness and turn his life around.
And just like the Prodigal Son from the Bible, his Heavenly Father was there to gladly accept him.
“Have you come here tonight looking for happiness?” he asked the crowd. Without God, he told them, it’s impossible to find total satisfaction.
Although the Festival didn’t kick off until Friday, more than 20,000 people gathered at the arena Thursday night to pray for the two-day event. Several pastors offered powerful prayers and delivered the Gospel. One pastor said his hope is that Fortaleza will no longer be known for crime and violence but for belief in Jesus Christ.
Dozens came forward afterwards, moved by the Good News. Counselor Iris Alexsandra Medeiros, from a nearby city called Caucaia, ended up counseling a woman from the same city who asked Jesus to be part of her life.
Even more from the 37,000-plus crowd streamed forward Friday, many who were invited by friends or local churches.
Italo Henrique approached one young man who came forward and got on his knees in front of the stage. The man said he needed someone to talk to, and Italo was that person.
“The point is all of us are guilty (of sin),” Franklin Graham said moments before. “Jesus Christ took your sins and if you’re willing to turn to Him tonight … He will heal your heart.”
But it doesn’t end there; living with Christ is a lifelong commitment, he continued: “If you come tonight, you can’t continue to live in your sins. … You have to leave your sins.”
Droves who filled the space up front were encouraged to get involved in church—maybe even one of the hundreds that have worked together for months to make the event happen.
“Fortaleza is not going to be the same city,” the Festival emcee predicted onstage.
And it seems he’s right. By the end of the night, people like Adriadne Arzua had watched God’s kingdom expand before their eyes.
“It’s very emotional,” Adriadne said.
As a counselor, she spoke to a woman who’s been visiting a church but during the Festival decided it’s time to come back to Jesus completely. And now she has Adriadne to disciple her.
Earlier that morning, Franklin Graham talked about his visit to Fortaleza, a beautiful coastal city with lots to see and do. He’ll see people walk down the street or watch boats cross the horizon, he said, and think about how many people in this postcard-worthy city aren’t secure in an eternity with Christ.
But this weekend is an opportunity to deliver that kind of hope and assurance.
“Come back tomorrow,” he told the crowd Friday night. “And bring a friend.”
Would you like to have Christ in your life, too? Begin a relationship with Him today.
