Graham, Palau Evangelistic Festivals Kick-Off Tomorrow
Two evangelistic festivals kick-off tomorrow below the equator with the potential to reach thousands for Christ.
Two evangelistic festivals kick-off tomorrow below the equator with the potential to reach thousands for Christ. In Hobart, Tasmania, Franklin Graham of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association will be hosting Festival Tasmania from Mar. 11-13, while Luis Palau of the Luis Palau Evangelistic Association will be hosting Festival Mendoza in Argentina from Mar. 11-12.
After more than 90 festivals in locations from Johannesburg, South Africa, to Tupelo, Miss., Franklin Graham and the BGEA will go Down Under for Festival Tasmania for “a massive step of unity and working together," according Matt Carswell, coordinator of Festival Tasmania.
Carswell noted that more than 1,300 people attended the first round of the Festival's Christian Life and Witness Classes, which help Christians to “live victoriously and to tell others of their faith in Jesus Christ.” Festival preparations also included an event called "Church Together," in which participating churches canceled their own evening services in order to meet at a single location for worship and prayer.
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"Festival Tasmania is providing not only a great means for Tasmanians to hear [the] Good News, but also for Christians to be empowered and trained to share the Good News with their friends and colleagues," said the Right Reverend John Harrower, bishop of Tasmania.
Meanwhile, in Mendoza, the LPEA will hold its fifth festival in Argentina. Following the success of Beachfest Argentina and other LPEA festivals in Argentina over the past four years, Festival Mendoza is aiming to be “a wide-open door of opportunity to shake Argentina for Jesus Christ.”
“We are thrilled to see God continue to open doors for us to proclaim the Good News throughout this hurting country,” the LPEA stated after the governor of the province invited the agency to return to Argentina for a festival in Mendoza. “We believe God has positioned Luis and our ministry to play a major role in the spiritual awakening taking place in Argentina today.”
According to the organization, tens of thousands of Argentines have committed their lives to Jesus Christ at past festivals. From Beachfest Argentina in 2004 with more than 310,000 in attendance to Buenos Aires Festival of Hope in 2003 with 1 million people, “the nation is showing its hunger for hope and a new beginning.”
“God is at work in Mendoza," the organization stated, "and we believe He will use the festival to bring thousands into His kingdom.”
The LPEA reported today that more than 780 women attended the first event of festival week, a women’s tea on Wednesday.
Also on Wednesday, Palau met with Governor Julio Cesar Cobos in the Governor's Palace and with the president of the senate. The governor appointed Palau "Guest of Honor" for the province of Mendoza and shared his gratitude for Luis' ministry.
