All human beings–regardless of where they live or what religion they may have been raised under–have a natural longing for God. The Bible tells us that God’s law is written on our hearts. The same thing that Paul wrote about the Gentiles applies today: “When Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them” (Romans 2:14-15, NIV).

As one early Christian writer put it, “Thou has made us for Thyself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.”

In our hearts, we are all aware of our hopeless state as sinners, and we all yearn for Christ’s love and forgiveness. This is true regardless of nationality, race or ethnicity. On every continent, people are hungry for the Bread of Life. Some have never even heard the Name of Jesus, but when someone tells them about His life, death, burial and resurrection, the Holy Spirit works in their hearts to draw them to Christ.

Many throughout the world have been deceived into believing they can satisfy their need for grace and salvation through false religions and worldly pursuits, but their hearts are never filled. At our recent Festival in South Korea, we saw the desperation that comes from following an empty belief system when a Buddhist monk responded to the call to receive Christ. Without Christ, even the most rigorous religious discipline cannot comfort the human heart.

A recent survey of believers who had converted to Christianity from Islam said that they were first attracted to the Christian faith because of the uniqueness of Jesus Christ. They were especially drawn by the love and forgiveness that Christ offers for sin and sinners.

At the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, our only focus is to bring the message of eternal hope through Jesus Christ to the entire world so that those who hunger for the truth of the Gospel can be filled.

Next year, we are planning Festivals in the United States and in Mexico, Northern Ireland, Romania and Taiwan. In each and every place, the Holy Spirit is already at work to bring men and women to saving faith. Please pray that the Lord will use these events to reveal that “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12, NIV).