On Nov. 7, 1918, William Franklin Graham Jr., later known to the masses as Billy Graham, entered the world as a farm boy outside of Charlotte, North Carolina. No one could have guessed that God would use the life of this ordinary country boy to reach hundreds of millions around the world with the message of salvation.

This October, a century later, Billy Graham’s son Franklin will bring that same message home to North Carolina. The Tar Heel State Tour will be held throughout North Carolina Oct. 1-13.

“We need an awakening in North Carolina—a spiritual revival,” Franklin Graham said. 

With one-night events in Fayetteville, Greenville, Wilmington, Raleigh, Greensboro, Hickory, Charlotte and Asheville, the Tar Heel State Tour will encourage residents to pray for the leaders of their state and our nation.

At each stop, Franklin will share the Good News, and Jeremy Camp and Dennis Agajanian will lead attendees in worship.

In preparation for the Tour, Charlotte resident Marvin James attended the Christian Life and Witness Class at The Park Church in Charlotte. He wanted to learn how to present the Gospel in a clear and biblically sound way.

James had long been interested in volunteering with BGEA and felt that this was the perfect opportunity to be trained as a counselor for the Tour. A retired computer technician, James hopes to attend all eight stops on the Tar Heel State Tour.

“[BGEA] has always done a good job at evangelizing throughout the world, but it’s not always easy to get back home,” James said.

Juanita Lewis, also a Charlotte resident, is aware of the unique opportunity to share Christ with those in her “backyard.”

“There’s so much need,” she said. “There are people that may not step foot in a church building but may go to [the Tour] with a friend because it’s not ‘church.’”

Lewis is anxious to see how the Lord will use the Tour to lead people to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior.

“I’m excited!” she said. “With North Carolina being the home state of Billy Graham, I’m happy that Franklin is taking up the mantel and moving forward, continuing his father’s legacy.”  

 

For more information on the Tar Heel State Tour, visit NC.BillyGraham.org