Evangelist Franklin Graham has preached the powerful message of the Gospel to a crowd of more than 320,000 people in Ethiopia.
They crammed into the massive Merkel Square in the capital Addis Ababa that was once notorious for its Communist rallies.
Hundreds of thousands of people worshipped Jesus at Meskel Square for the Encountering God Ethiopia outreach.
Over two nights Reverend Graham’s message reached nearly half a million people.
“This is my 11th trip to Ethiopia, but the first time I have ever held a crusade here.”
“We praise God for the many who came forward at the invitation to put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as their Saviour,” he added.
AMERICAN EVANGELIST FOLLOWS IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF HIS LEGENDARY FATHER
“65 years ago today, my father Billy Graham preached the Gospel here in Addis Ababa, and it is such a privilege for me to be able to preach here this weekend.”
“We didn’t choose these dates for that reason. God just worked it out that way. It is His timing.”
On the second night, the huge public square was so full, thousands of people spilled into the nearby streets to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ,” said main organiser, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA).
Reverend Graham told the massive crowd:
“If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, I’m going to give you an opportunity tonight.”
“God loves you, but our sins separate us from God. All of us have sinned. Every one of us is guilty, we have fallen short of God’s standards.”
“But God so loved Ethiopia, He sent His Son from heaven to save Ethiopia. And tonight He will save you if you repent and believe on the Name of His Son, Jesus Christ.”
THOUSANDS MAKE DECISIONS TO FOLLOW CHRIST AS THEIR SAVIOUR
At least 4,000 people made decisions for Christ.
Many of these new believers will be discipled by local churches to help them grow in their walk with the Lord, said BGEA.
More than 1,600 evangelical churches in the country worked with the US organisation to plan the outreach.
“I have no words to express my heart. My eyes were full of tears to see so many people respond to the good news that was preached,” said Reverend Dereje Jemberu, general secretary of the Ethiopian Council of Gospel Believers Churches.
“This is what we wanted. We have been praying many years for a moment such as this.”
“I thank God for what He is doing in Ethiopia and what He has done this weekend.”
“This has helped encourage and motivate evangelical churches to continue to work together to understand one another and to organise activities to reach as many people as possible with the hope of Jesus Christ,” he concluded.
Photos: Facebook — Franklin Graham
