FRANKLIN GRAHAM’S U.K. “GOD LOVES YOU” TOUR

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Over 8,000 people traveled from around the U.K. to hear Franklin Graham preach in Birmingham on Saturday night. It was the American evangelist’s first time in the Midlands, with his visit coming 40 years since his late father, world-renowned evangelist Billy Graham, preached the Gospel in nearby Villa Park.

“Jesus Christ is not dead. He’s alive and He’s here tonight,” said Graham to cheers and applause inside the Birmingham Resorts World Arena.

Graham is back in the U.K. to continue his God Loves You Tour, with another night coming up in Glasgow on June 22.

His thoughts turning momentarily to his father, who preached many times in the U.K., Graham said, “I miss him and every time I come to this country I think of him because he loved this nation, he loved the people of this country.”

Birmingham was one of the eight cities that Graham had originally planned to visit in 2020, but it was postponed due to legal action against seven venues that canceled their legally binding contracts. The tour was eventually able to go ahead after the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association took successful legal action against the venues.

Last night, Graham preached from Luke 19, which tells the story of the salvation of Zacchaeus, a wealthy chief tax collector who put his faith in Christ and vowed to pay back fourfold anyone he had robbed.

The event was prayerfully supported by 500 churches around the U.K., with worship led by Michael W. Smith and former Hillsong worship leader Taya.

Graham heads to Glasgow, Scotland, next weekend and will be in London in 2025 for another stop on his God Loves You Tour. More details can be found at https://godlovesyoutour.org.uk/

GOD THINGS HAPPENING IN ITALY

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Franklin Graham’s Noi Festival in Milan Breaks Attendance Record, Hundreds Respond to Gospel

Noi can mean we or us. It can also mean together or united,” “It also means joining forces, belonging to something bigger.”

More than 520 evangelical churches came together to plan and pray for the Noi Festival with Franklin Graham in Milan, Italy over the weekend, resulting in a historic turnout of people hungry to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  According to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA), this marked the first time in Italy’s history that hundreds of Italian churches worked together to share the Gospel. The churches’ efforts resulted in a standing-room-only crowd of more than 13,200 people at the Mediolanum Forum Saturday night. 

God is certainly doing something in Italy as this wonderful response to the Gospel follows the recent election of Italy’s Christian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni – whose campaign was based on the belief that the government’s job is to support family, church and civil society rather than control it. 

Make sure you pray for Giorgia Meloni and Italy as she is sure to come under intense spiritual warfare. I recently returned from Florence, Italy where I attended my eldest granddaughter’s wedding. Despite the fact that Florence has no visitors from China or Japan due to Covid, still, tourist numbers are breaking records so the city is flourishing.