BGEA Launching 'My Hope' Ministry in Canada
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is recruiting churches across Canada to train some of their members in evangelism as preparation for next year's launch of its "My Hope" telecast.
The Canada telecast of BGEA's "My Hope," which involves friends sharing Jesus with friends with the help of broadcasts and videos, is being planned for November 2013, Calgary Herald reported.
With the goal of saturating every country in the world with the Good News of Jesus Christ, this relationship-based ministry has reached 57 countries and about 10 million people have said they have established a personal relationship with Christ, according to the ministry website.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
On Wednesday, the BGEA held a special event at First Alliance Church in Calgary to announce the launch of My Hope in the country.
"Our founder, Billy Graham, although 93, still has a deep concern for people in Canada and the U.S. who don't yet know the love and saving power of Jesus Christ," Fred Weiss, BGEA's executive director in Canada, stated. "He has asked us to undertake an urgent and unprecedented effort in Canada to present the Gospel and call millions of people into a personal relationship with our Savior."
Though a media-based delivery, the ministry coordinates with local churches before My Hope is delivered into people's homes, Weiss said. "It's just a way of helping believers with their own, personal evangelism. Often as believers, you want to have an ability to share what you believe with your friends and neighbors and family, but you don't always feel equipped."
My Hope coordinates and trains pastors in every region of each country. The pastors then train members of their churches to host others in their homes, inviting friends and family for refreshments and to watch the evangelistic national telecasts featuring a message from Billy or his son Franklin Graham, faith testimonies, and inspiring music. At the conclusion of the My Hope broadcasts, hosts share their personal testimonies and ask their guests if they too have a desire to accept Christ.
"So what we're doing is speaking with pastors," Weiss said. "We're going to go across the country meeting with pastors and just casting this vision of My Hope as a way for the people in their congregations to just take their personal evangelism farther. It equips and trains people along the way. We make resources available to individuals. It's just about reaching our country for Christ."
The ministry's website says it is also working together with local churches and Christians in the United States to hold a massive, nationwide outreach in November 2013.
