N. Ireland: Graham Fest Biggest Evangelistic Event in 50 Years

By Michelle A. Vu|Christian Post Reporter

E-mail
Print
RSS
digg Facebook Twitter Stumble Reddit del.ico.us Buzz Share
Text

American evangelist Franklin Graham held his first festival in Northern Ireland this past weekend, marking the largest evangelistic event in the area in nearly 50 years.

View Full Image
(Photo: BGEA)
American evangelist Franklin Graham speaking at his first festival in Northern Ireland on April 4-6, Belfast, Northern Ireland.

An estimated 32,783 people filled The Odyssey Arena in Belfast from April 4 to 6 to hear the Gospel message of hope as presented by Franklin Graham, who is president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. The event was the largest of its kind since Franklin Graham’s father, Billy Graham, held a similar event in the city in 1961.

“Not long ago, people thought Belfast was a hopeless city because of The Troubles,” said Lord Mayor of Belfast, Jim Rodgers, according to BGEA. “Now is the time for the Celebration of Hope, and this visit by Franklin Graham is an opportunity to change lives.”

Citizens of Belfast 10 years ago lived under a state of reoccurring violence and bombings due to a conflict between predominantly Protestant Unionists and predominantly Catholic Nationalists. The violence has popularly been known as The Troubles.

In general, Nationalists want Northern Ireland to be unified with the Republic of Ireland, while Unionists want to remain part of the United Kingdom. Even today, a high wall divides many Protestant and Catholic communities, and gates block off some neighborhoods at night.

“Many horrible things have been done in the name of religion,” Franklin Graham said in Belfast. “Religion is not the answer. Religion cannot save you. I’m here to talk about the peace that comes from having a relationship with God’s Son Jesus Christ.”

The Belfast Celebration of Hope event united 386 churches who helped organize the festival in hopes that true peace is possible for all their countrymen. By the end of the weekend, 2,445 people responded to the invitation to follow Jesus Christ.

Besides Graham’s message, the event also featured traditional Irish, hip-hop, and inspirational music by local and international artists. Special guests included 29th Chapter, Tree 63, Ian Hannah Band, Robin Mark, Keith & Kristyn Getty, the New Irish Orchestra, the Tommy Coomes Band, and guitarist Dennis Agajanian.

Local sports heroes Andrew Trimble from Irish Rugby and Northern Ireland International footballer Stuart Elliott shared personal stories about their faith and how athletic victories and fame could not fill a void in their lives.

On Saturday morning, 5,176 children filled the arena for KidzFest, a fun drama and a music presentation about God’s love.

During his visit to Belfast, Graham was also invited to meet with Dr. Ian Paisley, The First Minister of Northern Ireland.

The Belfast event was the first Franklin Graham Festival to be streamed live on the internet on the BGEA website. It was also the first Graham Fest in 2008.

Upcoming events will be held in Knoxville, Tenn. (April 25-27); Villahermosa, Mexico (June 6-8); Timisoara, Romania (July 4-6); Charleston, S.C. (Sept. 19-21); and Taipei, Taiwan (Oct. 30-Nov. 2).

Since 1989, Franklin Graham has held an average of seven festivals each year as an evangelist for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

Next Story : Evangelical Leaders Meet U.N. Chief

Most Popular

Viewed
Commented
Blogged

Sort by: Newest | Oldest | Agree | Disagree

All comments on this page are subject to our Terms of Use and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Christian Post or its staff.

Online4Him »

Sun Apr 20, 2008 2:45 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 1

The Roman Catholic Church really emerged during Constantine’s reign and cannot be traced prior to that, hence the name “Roman” Catholic Church. There never has been an “unbroken line of popes” as they claim. Christianity sprang out of Palestine, not Rome. When John wrote to the seven churches as mentioned in Revelation chapter’s two and three; there is no mention of the Rome.

There have been numerous times when multiple claimants to the papacy were seated in opposition one to another (antipopes). History reveals that this office had also been sold to the highest bidder. Only looking back with the benefit of hindsight does Rome now pick one of them as the 'true pope'. There have also been many times when there was no bishop of Rome for years at a time (e.g. 304-308, 638-640, 1085-86, 1241-43, 1269-71, 1292-94, 1314-16, and 1415-17).
truthandjustice1 »

Sun Apr 20, 2008 9:56 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

Sorry 50,000 + Protestant denominations not churches.
truthandjustice1 »

Sun Apr 20, 2008 9:54 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

msnchris,

I agree any Catholic who knows history and what Billy did for the Catholic Church will be a fan and the same is true for his son. Unfortunately, there are a lot of protestants who don't like what they have done - just do a search with their names and Catholic and you will understand.

Are Catholics born again?" is yes! Since all Catholics have been baptized, all Catholics have been born again. Catholics should ask Protestants, "Are you born again—the way the Bible understands that concept?" If the Evangelical has not been properly water baptized, he has not been born again "the Bible way," regardless of what he/she may think.

I like what the person mentioned about "genuine Christianity" of the 50,000+ protestant churches which one(s) have genuine Christianity? Hey Frank.....GO BHOYS!!!
Online4Him »

Fri Apr 18, 2008 1:19 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

appolus,

I agree; thanks for sharing.
appolus »

Thu Apr 17, 2008 3:29 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

MSNChris states "There are many Catholics and Protestants who equally love our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in N. Ireland. We may differ on a few things and still many work towards peace."

Genuine Christianity and the Catholic faith differ on so many things that it would be hard to know where to start. I was born and raised a Catholic in a working class Catholic community in Scotland. There is a vast difference between "A Catholic," and someone who is genuinly "born-again." Most Catholics in Scotland would even deny being a Christian and say "no, we are Catholics." What they would say if asked, is "yes we believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He came die on the cross for us." So, they would know who Jesus is, in much the same way as they would know who Napoleon was. They would not know Him personally nor would they claim to. If asked when they were born-again, they would say that they were not and not understand the question. Some of the more learned Catholics may answer to that question that they were born again when they were Baptized or when the made their first Holy Communion or when they were confirmed, something along those lines. If we differ on only a few things, then it the things of a fundamental nature, hence the reforamtion in the first place. I would ask any Catholic waht they belive Jesus meant when He said "Unless a man is born again, he cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven." That is a good starting point. Definition of terms is very important when reaching out to Catholics. ...................Frank
Online4Him »

Mon Apr 14, 2008 10:01 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

msnchris70,

I have friends/family members within Catholicism and yes, we debate these very same issues but we continue to love one another. I am passionately debating theology and nothing more.
msnchris70 »

Mon Apr 14, 2008 7:27 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

Online,

Amen!

May Christ continue to work in all our lives and may the Holy Spirt illuminate our hearts so that all Christians will focus on Jesus Christ. If our love for Him is great, then our Love for each other will be fruitful and maybe we won't be enemies, but work together as Christians irregardless of denomination and Spread the Gospel to those who are unsaved.
Online4Him »

Mon Apr 14, 2008 6:16 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

msn,

"Any killing of people or torture or trying to enforce your religion is not true to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We must plant a seed with charity, and then let the Holy Spirit do His work."

Well said, here is something that we both can agree upon. The sad reality is, history repeats itself, Lord keep us.
msnchris70 »

Mon Apr 14, 2008 12:23 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

I agree with ONline, what.....I am agreeing with Online? Yes, I am. Any killing of people or torture or trying to enforce your religion is not true to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We must plant a seed with charity, and then let the Holy Spirit do His work.

It is hard to look back at the Dark Ages though since there were no Protestants yet, that was later.

The Dark Ages were caused because of the black death virus that killed almost half of Europe combined with Atheistic and Pagan warriors of the Vikings, the Huns, the Goths and the Tatars who ransacked Churches everywhere and killed thousands of Christians. I will admit though that Catholics monarchs killed Protestant people in the 16 & 17th Centuries for heresy and demolished their churches, and I will also attest to the back lash and the Killing of Catholics by Protestant Monarchs & Leaders in Germany, England, France, the Netherlands and IN the Good ole USA.
Online4Him »

Sun Apr 13, 2008 2:14 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 0

The facts that you mentioned in the first paragraph are true and it was definitely wrong. However, this same scenario was performed by the Catholic Church throughout Europe towards Protestants during the dark ages. This was equally wrong.
msnchris70 »

Thu Apr 10, 2008 7:03 pm Agree: 5 Disagree: 2

There are many Catholics and Protestants who equally love our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in N. Ireland. We may differ on a few things and still many work towards peace. It wasn't religion that was the problem it was the fact the English conquered Ireland, killed their people and established Protestant Churches in a Catholic Country. This was wrong. These Protestants opened up factories and wouldn't hire Catholics and created a new type of Bigotry against Catholics. This is how religion came into it. It wasn't about beliefs, it was about branding. You are a Catholic or you are a Protestant, that title is what divided and not anything else. It was the Have's vs. the Have nots if you want to be specific.

Three major Churches of Ireland of the Traditional Anglican Communion have asked to be accepted into the Catholic Church because of the moral and theological relativism that has decayed many Protestant Churches in Ireland. With Catholics out producing children in Northern Ireland because of Protestants useage of contraception, Ireland will some day be united again as one country and kick the British out! Many English Catholics know it is wrong to be there too.

Did you know that up to 1930 ALL CHRISTIANS Denominations thought the use of contraception was a moral evil? The Anglicans were the first to be more lenient on this topic and after that all the Protestants including my former denominations of Reformed and Baptist began to fall down the line. The only Church that still maintains that Contraception is a moral evil is the Catholic Church.

Also, did anyone know how Billy Graham who never finished any formal theolgoical education receive a Doctorate? He was given an honorary doctorate by a Catholic University, from a Priest who was a good friend of Billy Graham. Billy Graham is truly a wondeful man of God! If there are to be more Protestant ministers then I pray they all be like Billy. Maybe the Catholic Church might make him a Saint in another 500 years or so. May God bless him and his family.
Online4Him »

Wed Apr 09, 2008 12:19 am Agree: 6 Disagree: 0

“Religion is not the answer. Religion cannot save you. I’m here to talk about the peace that comes from having a relationship with God’s Son Jesus Christ.”

Well said; well said!

Please help us to monitor our message boards by flagging comments that are unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, libelous, hateful, or racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable.
Contact Us if you have any questions, comments, or concerns.

Comment on this story