Franklin Graham Moldova Festival Begins Tonight

Franklin Graham, son of evangelist Billy Graham, will kick off his evangelistic festival in the nation of Moldova tonight, bringing the Gospel message to the region along with aid for underprivileged children.

“I’m looking forward to coming to Moldova, speaking to the people of Chisinau, and having the opportunity to help some children,” said Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. “I hope that anyone who has questions about life, has lost hope, or would like a new beginning will come to this Festival. Everyone is welcome.”

The three-day festival features messages from Franklin Graham, and worship music. Graham will speak each night of the weekend, July 8-10, at the National Stadium in Chisinau.

The Festival begins each day at 6:30 p.m. and is free of charge. Special guests will include Dennis Agajanian and John and Anne Barbour, other international artists from Moldova, Belarus, Ukraine, Italy, and Romania, and a local mass choir.

Graham, who is also president of the international relief organization Samaritan’s Purse, will distribute some 2,500 gift boxes to needy children as part of the relief organization’s annual project Operation Christmas Child. They will include such items as socks, toothbrushes, school items, and toys and candy.

Franklin Graham came to Moldova at the invitation of local pastors and church leaders, who have been working in an unprecedented show of unity.

The Reverend Viktor Hamm, Festival Director, says, "There is a new movement of the Spirit of God in the country, something I have not seen before."

Preparations for the Festival of Hope began over a year ago, and it will be the culmination of 15 years of the Billy Graham Evangelistic association ministry in Moldova. More than 26,000 Christians have attended the Christian Life and Witness Classes in churches throughout Schools of Evangelism, Associate Evangelist Festivals, The Hour of Decision radio program and other ministries by the BGEA.

In addition, as part of the preparations, a smaller-scale event for the youth was held and some 300 responded.

Since 1989, Franklin Graham has held an average of seven Festivals each year. Graham recently concluded Festivals in Australia, Paraguay, and Angola speaking to some 340,000 people. Graham is scheduled to hold two more U.S. Festivals this year, in Corpus Christi, Texas (Aug. 19-21) and Shreveport, La. (Nov. 11-13).