More than 14,000 Christians and non-believers packed into an arena in Belgium last weekend to take part in a ‘Festival of Hope’.
The free event was organised by 620 Belgian evangelical churches in collaboration with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) and saw its CEO Rev Franklin Graham preach a powerful message from the Bible. He told the crowds: “As I’ve walked through this city, I’ve been impressed with the number of young people who are here. People are here from everywhere—it’s a melting pot.
“Tonight, I want you to know that God loves you and that He sent his Son, Jesus Christ, from heaven to this earth to take your sins. This is why Jesus Christ came. He didn’t come to condemn us, he came to save us. Jesus Christ came for all, but you’ve got to come to him in faith.”
Following the message, Rev Graham invited those in attendance to put their faith in Jesus Christ. Large crowds came forward, especially many young people. One of them— 23-year-old Maria—had travelled to Brussels from Ghent. She had been to church many times before but said she didn’t have a personal relationship with God.
“I had thought in my head that he will not forgive me at all because of my sin.” With tears streaming down her face on Saturday night, Maria said she finally found the reassurance and hope that she had been looking for, “I want people to see that God is in me.”
A fleet of around 150 buses had transported people to the arena from across Belgium. A mother from Antwerp, Evelyn Wireko, said “I didn’t know there were so many believers in Belgium. The Church has been so divided but God has brought us together.”
David Vandeput, president of the Belgian Federal Synod of evangelical and Protestant churches said: “It’s a miracle in itself to have such large numbers of people showing up for something like this and to have Dutch and French churches working and collaborating together—it is completely unexpected.
“It’s a sign that God is on the move and something real is happening. This is a milestone that will be remembered by the evangelical church in Belgium, but it’s not about religion. It’s not about evangelicals. It’s about Jesus Christ! This is just the start—it’s the launching point—I believe there is much more to come.”