Janet never thought she would see the day where a Christian crusade would be held in her home country of Vietnam. It gave her goosebumps.
This past weekend, however, Franklin Graham brought his team to the Spring Love Festival in Ho Chi Minh City, and the miraculous happened. Many surrendered their lives to Jesus, and it opened doors for multitudes to hear the gospel of Christ.
Vietnam is a communist country, and to see the gospel preached there gives people much-needed hope.
“Now, people have choices in my country (about faith). There are millions who have never heard the name of Jesus,” Janet told the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
Government officials granted permission for last weekend’s two-day evangelistic outreach at the Phu Tho Sports Stadium.
“I think it’s important that we pray for the government officials,” Franklin Graham said in Saturday’s crusade, one that drew an overflow crowd of tens of thousands. We stood and prayed together for those in authority as the Bible commands. “We must continue to pray that God will bless them, guide and direct them.”
The two-day event drew diverse crowds with young and old, families and children in attendance, and government officials “warmly” welcomed Graham to Vietnam earlier in the week.
“Many came forward at the invitation to turn from their sins and put their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior,” Graham said. “We give God the glory for each one whose life was changed for eternity. Join me in thanking God and and praying for them.”
Graham cited Romans 5:8, which reads, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Pastor Lam Thien Loc served as Graham’s interpreter during the outreach, allowing attendees to hear the gospel in their own language.
With revival happening around the world right now, why not in Vietnam?
“We do believe this is God’s timing for us to do a festival,” Loc said. “We thank God for the government, that they’re open to us, and give us permission to [hold the] Festival. God opened a way, so now we should focus on how to share God’s love with people.”
Graham said he wanted the people in Vietnam to know that God loves them.
“It was a privilege to proclaim that Good News tonight,” Graham said.
More than 300 churches helped get the word out about the festival and arranged for buses to bring people to the event, including those who didn’t know about Jesus.
A handful of students with their teacher came to the stage, eager to make Christ a part of their lives.
Someone asked the children, “are you happy you accepted Jesus into your heart?” To which they replied, “Yes, yes, yes!” in unison. {eoa}
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Shawn A. Akers is the online editor at Charisma Media.
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