The Billy Graham Crusades impacted millions with the gospel message from the 1940s until Graham’s final crusade in 2005. Now 10 years later the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) is bringing the gospel message to Birmingham through a familiar format with the Greater Birmingham Festival of Hope with Franklin Graham, Billy Graham’s son and BGEA president and CEO.
Rod Barnett, director of the North American Festivals for BGEA, believes the country is ready for a movement of God.
“I think right now, in the state of our country and around the world … there’s a need for a message of hope,” he said, according to local news media.
And through Christian artists and additional prayer events, the Aug. 14–16 Festival of Hope will be sharing the gospel to bring people to Jesus and then plug them into a local church body for growth.
Newsboys, Kari Jobe, others
The Festival, sponsored by area businesses and churches, will be held at Bartow Arena and is free to the public. Each night Amena Brown and DJ Opdiggy will act as hosts.
Headliners include Kirk Franklin, Newsboys, Lacey, Flame, Kari Jobe, Michael W. Smith, Dae-Lee and Tasha Cobbs. The festival will start at 7 p.m. Friday night, 6 p.m. Saturday night and 5 p.m. Sunday night with Franklin Graham closing out each night with a gospel message. Doors will open 90 minutes before the festival begins each night.
For more than a year volunteers like David George, president of Woman’s Missionary Union Foundation, have been working to make this event a reality. George has been encouraging and working with organizations and individuals who want to support the festival, but his role hits home on a more personal level.
“The last time that Billy Graham came to Birmingham my dad, Tom, was on one of the planning committees. I remember we rode buses from Roebuck into downtown to attend the Crusade at Legion Field. So to be involved in the planning of this festival … was an honor I could not pass up.”
Prayer events also have been taking place in preparation for the festival. From a student prayer rally at Briarwood Presbyterian Church on Aug. 4 to a general prayer gathering at the Greater Birmingham Festival office Aug. 14, organizers are seeking to unify the community with the love of Christ.
For more information, visit greaterbirminghamfestival.org.
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