Franklin Graham Maxes Out Festival Center in Canada

By Lillian Kwon, Christian Post Reporter Monday, October 23, 2006

The Franklin Graham Festival in Central Canada filled to overflow crowds totaling more than 44,000 over the weekend. Each successive night saw a larger turnout with the MTS Center in Winnipeg, Manitoba, maxed to capacity all three nights.

Sunday's attendance was at 15,570 with 1,700 in the overflow area and Casting Crowns, Michael W. Smith, and Graham on stage. Graham's gospel message came to Winnipeg nearly four decades after Billy Graham preached in the same city.

Three generations of Grahams are now taking the gospel around the world. The youngest Graham, Will, who recently held his first U.S. evangelistic event, insists he is not carrying on a family legacy, but all three have continuously packed stadiums and arenas with the message of sin and forgiveness.

Billy Graham launched his global evangelism career in 1949 when large crowds kept him preaching for eight weeks in Los Angeles. Billy Graham crusades came to an end in New York last year, but Graham events continue through both his son and grandson.

The Franklin Graham Festival heads to Okinawa, Japan, on Nov. 3 and returns to the states in May.