Churches in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America are partnering with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) to proclaim the Good News of Christ in 2025, and Christian leaders report that God is moving powerfully as they prepare for this year’s Franklin Graham Festivals, Will Graham Celebrations and other events.
“This is the time to do it,” said one Latin American leader. Asian, African and European leaders are saying the same. “This is the Kairos moment,” said a leader in Europe, while another added candidly, “We would be stupid if we would not use this God-given opportunity.”
Following are highlights from some of the locations with upcoming Gospel outreaches.
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Leading up to Franklin Graham’s March Festival in Addis Ababa, believers are on fire for the Gospel. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” said veteran Crusade director Hans Mannegren. “We are already seeing people come to Christ.”
By late November, more than 17,000 people had attended Christian Life and Witness classes, with more than 16,000 applying to serve as counselors at the Festival. And on a single weekend, the Festival office distributed some 200,000 “I Am Andrew” cards to 420 churches. Christians write the names of unsaved friends and family members on those cards and commit to pray for them and invite them to the Festival.
“I believe that ‘I Am Andrew’ is the revelation of God’s light to spread the Gospel,” said Pastor Nigatu of Bole Meserete Kristos Church. “It is a kind of training that reaches out to lost souls.”
Cochabamba, Bolivia
“The church engagement in Cochabamba has been outstanding,” said Chris Swanson of the preparations for Will Graham’s Celebration in March. Swanson serves as BGEA’s senior director of Crusades and development for Latin America. “We expected to be working with about 500 churches,” he said, “and as of mid-November we’re looking at just over 700—and they are beyond excited about it.”
Most churches in Cochabamba are fairly small, with attendance or membership of 30 to 50 people. “These are humble churches that are thirsty for training—thirsty to be prepared to share Christ with their friends and family,” Swanson said.
Pastor Juan Carlos Bustillos Zambrana told Decision: “I see how God is working in the depths of people’s hearts. He is awakening a passion and unity like never before, mobilizing His people with renewed fervor. I feel that He is touching lives, calling people to a deeper commitment to His message and mission. Many hearts that were once apathetic or broken are now being restored and filled with hope. … There is a palpable expectation, a certainty that this event will be a turning point in the lives of many.”
European Congress on Evangelism
BGEA is inviting 1,000 leaders from 57 countries and territories to Berlin May 27-30 for the European Congress on Evangelism. The goal of the Congress is to strengthen Christians’ resolve to work together to re-equip and motivate the church in Europe and worldwide to fulfill the Great Commission “through a renewal of bold, Biblical and confident proclamation evangelism.”
The theme of the Congress is Not Ashamed of the Gospel. It will include daily Bible studies on the Great Commission and plenary sessions with world-renowned speakers teaching on such topics as: “The cross and the blood of Christ are essential to preaching the Gospel,” “The Bible is foundational for preaching the Gospel,” “Discipleship is crucial to preaching the Gospel,” “Holy living is mandatory for preaching the Gospel,” and “Preaching the Gospel has a high cost.” Sessions will be interpreted into nine languages.
Many of Europe’s younger pastors have attended seminaries that don’t focus on evangelism, said Viktor Hamm, BGEA’s vice president of Crusades.
“We hope that with a laser focus on proclamation evangelism, this Congress will encourage them to preach the Gospel,” Hamm said.
London, England
The God Loves You Tour London returns to ExCeL London June 21 for the third time, following meetings there in 2022 and 2023. The kickoff event had 350 pastors and church leaders in attendance, the largest of any kickoff meetings across the God Loves You U.K. Tour in the past three years.
“The progressive cultural pressures are great on the church,” said Festival Director Scott Lenning. “Many believers feel their belief needs to be kept inside the church, but others want to share the Gospel more confidently. The upcoming Christian Life and Witness Course is designed to build believers’ confidence in their walk with Christ and in sharing their faith more intentionally. We hope the evangelism training we give local believers will allow them to witness for Christ on a more regular basis.”
Looking at the slate of 2025 events, Hamm said: “The opportunities are many. Proclamation evangelism works, and most important, local Christian leaders are seeing that it works and are regaining trust in the Gospel and in the Word of God. And they’re seeing BGEA as their partner.” ©2024 BGEA
PLEASE PRAY
Ask God to save thousands as
a result of these events.
March 8-9: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia / Franklin
Graham Festival
March 22: Fountain Hills, Arizona / Will
Graham Celebration
April 5: Cochabamba, Bolivia / Will
Graham Celebration
May 27-30: Berlin, Germany / European
Congress on Evangelism
June 21: London, England / Franklin Graham
God Loves You Tour
Sept. 27: Brussels, Belgium / Franklin
Graham Festival
Oct. 4: Madrid, Spain / Franklin Graham Festival
Oct. 18-19: Tallinn, Estonia / Will Graham Celebration
Nov. 14-15: Buenos Aires, Argentina /
Franklin Graham Festival
Dec. 6-7: Siem Reap, Cambodia / Franklin
Graham Festival