Dear Friend,
I have just returned from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital city, where we saw God move in amazing ways during the two-day Encountering God evangelistic outreach. The Crusade was held March 8–9, exactly 65 years after my father preached there.
In the nation’s largest outdoor public space, 117,000 people gathered the first night followed by 320,000 on the final evening—all to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We give God all the glory for the thousands who surrendered their lives to Him. We are “abounding through many thanksgivings to God” (2 Corinthians 9:12, NKJV) for what He did in the Horn of Africa, and I’m eager to share some of the stories with friends like you who made this possible.
Even before the first night, the Lord was calling men, women, and children to Himself. Tens of thousands of believers participated in our Christian Life and Witness Course (CLWC). One woman was inspired by the class to pray for a friend at work and her landlord, neither of whom knew Jesus Christ. She lifted them up in prayer and then used what she learned at CLWC to share His love with them. We praise God that each of these individuals decided to commit their lives to Him—and her story is just one of many!
My friend Skip Heitzig was with us in Ethiopia, and before the Crusade was held, he shared encouragement and training during the Preach the Word conference to help pastors in their ministry. More than 1,200 attended this powerful time of Biblical teaching, worship, prayer, and fellowship.
On the first day of the outreach, I told the crowd that without God, we are spiritually poor and blind—but He offers new life when we place our trust in “Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own” (Titus 2:13–14, NKJV).
Ayana* was among those who surrendered her life to Him. The 20-year-old wanted to ride a bus to the event but missed it, so she took a taxi with her older sister instead. When I gave the invitation, she responded by receiving Jesus Christ in repentance and faith. Long before the Crusade, she had been interested in the Gospel—but her parents were against it. When Ayana’s father said she could attend on Saturday, she was thrilled. She shared that she had struggled with anxiety but now was filled with joy at giving her burdens to the Lord. Before she left, we gave her a copy of the New Testament and discipleship materials to help her grow closer to the Lord.
The Holy Spirit also worked powerfully in Bilen.* The 17-year-old is living with relatives who are all believers, but she was not. She joined them at the event and followed along carefully with the Gospel message I shared. At the end of the service, she boldly walked forward and prayed to receive Jesus Christ in repentance and faith. She told us how happy she is now to follow the Lord.
On Sunday, a crowd stretched as far as I could see in Meskel Square—which translates to “The Cross” in Amharic—and thousands responded to the Gospel by publicly repenting of their sin and declaring their faith in Jesus Christ. The event was a major encouragement to local believers. Nagsi* took a 2 1/2-hour bus ride to get to Addis Ababa. The young man shared that he has only been a Christian for five years—and the Crusade reignited his passion for evangelism. “My dream is to tell people about Jesus,” he said. He told us he also listens to my father’s old sermons to help deepen his faith.
Please pray for our new brothers and sisters in Ethiopia. Ask God to strengthen these men and women, and make them bold witnesses for Him.
I am so grateful for the partnership of friends like you. You are vital to the eternally important work of proclaiming the Gospel.
May God richly bless you,
Franklin Graham
President & CEO
*Names and photos changed to protect privacy
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