Evangelist Franklin Graham has told 17,000 people in London that only Jesus can turn around the world which is “one step closer to Armageddon” since he previously preached in the UK capital two years ago.
The God Loves You Tour hosted by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) reached full capacity at last weekend’s event despite organisers increasing seating to 15,000.
More than 2,000 had to be turned away from the ExCel London indoor stadium, but many of them responded with spontaneous worship and singing outside the venue.
Inside, the worship was led by Christian music legends CeCe Winans and Michael W. Smith as well as The Afters.
Many in the audience were young people from across Britain who chanted “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,” before Reverend Graham took to the stage.
HUNDREDS RESPOND TO FRANKLIN GRAHAM’S GOSPEL INVITATION
Referencing the current global unrest, the evangelist told the crowd: “Since I last preached here in London two years ago, the world seems to be one step closer to Armageddon. Many people feel hopeless.”
He added: “You can come to the One who can turn that around, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Hundreds responded to the Gospel invitation, including a 16-year-old girl who said: “Everybody is hungry for God in my generation right now, and He is moving.”
THE EVENT CHANGED THE LIVES OF TWO SISTERS
BGEA reports another attendee Celeste* had been praying for her younger sister Luciana* to come to Christ for seven years.
The older of the two sisters became a believer seven years ago.
But as her faith strengthened, it broke her heart to see her little sister drift further from the Lord as the years passed.
When Celeste heard that the God Loves You Tour was coming to London, she prayed even more fervently, asking God to use the event to change Luciana’s life.
“I just told my sister that I was coming to the event. I didn’t want to pressure her, so I just planted that seed in her heart,” Celeste shared.
WHAT CONVINCED THE PRODIGAL SISTER TO GIVE HER LIFE TO CHRIST
One day, her sister sent her a message with a picture of an advertisement for the God Loves You Tour she saw while walking the streets of London.
“I keep seeing these ads. I think it’s a sign,” Luciana commented after she sent the picture.
“I just kept praying. And one day she told me she would come with me,” explained Celeste.
At the event, Franklin Graham shared a message about a blind man called Bartimaeus in the Bible who asked Jesus to restore his sight.
“Bartimaeus was blind. He didn’t have a job. All he could do was just sit on the side of the road and ask for gifts from people passing by. Bartimaeus was poor,” preached Reverend Graham.
“But regardless of your worldly possessions, we are all poor towards God.”
‘WE ARE POOR TOWARDS GOD BECAUSE OF SIN”
“We are poor because of sin, because we’ve all broken God’s rules.”
“God loves you, and He will forgive you tonight,” Reverend Graham continued.
“But you have to come through Jesus Christ because when He hung on that cross, He took your sin.”
When 19-year-old Luciana heard these words, her heart was pierced, and she knew she needed to turn from her sins and ask for God’s forgiveness.
When Franklin Graham invited those in attendance to come forward and pray, Luciana was one of the first of hundreds to get up from their seat and walk towards the front.
Celeste followed her closely, praising God as she witnessed the miracle that she had long prayed for.
SISTER’S REACTION TO ACCEPTING JESUS AS HER LORD AND SAVIOUR
“It felt really welcoming and powerful to be here tonight,” Luciana said after she prayed to confess Jesus as her Lord and Saviour.
“God had been nudging my heart in so many ways.”
“My friends were turning to God, and coming in together. This was my time.”
Luciana believes that young people are searching for answers that only the Lord can provide.
“I believe that the younger generation is looking for God,” she told BGEA.
“There are a lot of young kids lost in this generation, and I think it takes opportunities like this to bring everyone in.”
FRANKLIN GRAHAM’S UK EVENTS HAVE LED THOUSANDS TO THE LORD
Like Celeste, thousands of people have prayed desperately for their loved ones to come to Christ through these events.
They expected God to perform a mighty work — transforming hearts and impacting their cities for His kingdom.
The tour has visited Britain for four consecutive years, with events in Glasgow, Cardiff, Sheffield, Birmingham and Liverpool.
It was the third time that Franklin Graham has preached in London.
The UK tours have led thousands of Britons to the Lord.
As a result, 553 churches decided to join forces to support this year’s tour — more than double the number of two years ago..
*Names changed for privacy.
