Since the 1500s the world has recognized the potential of the thin strip of land that connects North and South America and separates the Pacific Ocean from the Atlantic. It wasn’t until 1914, though, that the Panama Canal was completed and revolutionized the world’s shipping industries. Today, Panama continues to attract the world’s attention as businesses and retirees flock to Panama City, the nation’s capital. Construction cranes and gleaming new offices and condominiums accent the city’s skyline. But a booming economy can’t fill an empty soul. So church leaders invited Franklin Graham to present the message of real hope in Jesus Christ.

In the waning afternoon heat, Ana and Yesenia climbed the concrete steps of Rod Carew National Stadium in Panama City. Over the din of hundreds of voices, the two young women tried to explain why they had come: “Some people told us about the testimonies from Crusades, and we wanted to come and see about those things. We don’t know much about the Festival. We know it is about a preacher–someone is going to be preaching tonight.”

Inside the baseball stadium, Ana and Yesenia joined thousands of others for the first evening of Festival de Esperanza Con Franklin Graham (Festival of Hope With Franklin Graham). They heard music from local musicians as well as Crystal Lewis, Dennis Agajanian, Marcos Vidal, Marcos Witt and the Tommy Coomes Band.

And yes, there was preaching. Franklin Graham explained his purpose: “I’m here to talk about a personal relationship with God’s Son, Jesus Christ. I’m not here to talk about religion. My question for you is ‘Are your sins forgiven?’ Do you have the confidence that if you died tonight, God would receive you into His presence? If you’re not sure, I want you to come tonight. … I want to lead you in a prayer to confess your sins to God, ask Him for forgiveness and by faith receive His salvation, His Son, Jesus Christ.”

Both Ana and Yesenia responded. Yesenia said, “It was something special tonight. I came forward and prayed the prayer of faith. I wanted to know that if Jesus comes tonight, I will go with Him.”

Ana and Yesenia were among more than 8,600 who went forward during the Festival. For the thousands of Christians and 747 churches who participated, the new believers were an answer to prayer. But there were other answers, too.

“We’ve seen tremendous unity among the churches in Panama, like we have never seen before,” said Dacyana de Angulo, who served on the women’s committee. “We’ve been able to see all the denominations come together for this Festival. That didn’t used to happen.”

Local pastors prayed that the Festival would address the spiritual needs they see every day. Lisandro Angulo, who ministers in downtown Panama City, said, “There are a few towns in Panama where they haven’t yet heard about Jesus or the Gospel. And Panama is full of people who say they are Christians but are not really. The Festival has awakened the spirit of the Panamanian people to seek God a whole lot more.”

Over the three days of the Festival, more than 65,000 attended the meetings, and many indicated that they were seeking God. After the final meeting, as people filtered out of the stadium, counselor Rosa Gonzales noticed two uniformed members of the National Police standing at the edge of the field. She sensed God’s leading: “Go and greet them.”

Gonzales found that both officers were ready to make commitments to Jesus but had not been counseled. “I asked them if I could counsel them,” she said. “Of course,” they said. “Go ahead.”

Neither officer had been attending church. They told Gonzales that because of their sin they didn’t feel like they could get close to Jesus. Gonzales prayed with them, and the officers left the field with the joy of forgiveness–like thousands of others who turned to Jesus Christ during the Festival of Hope.