The Radical Change of the Gospel






Of course, at the risk of being too overloaded with clichés and wise sayings, the more things change, the more they stay the same. As the author of Ecclesiastes once wrote, "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 1:9).

One thing that never changes is the hope for restoration and redemption through Jesus to our Lord and Father. After chatting with Franklin Graham this morning and then witnessing the dedication of the Festival this evening, this has become abundantly clear here in Taipei. There is a buzz in the air, as people anticipate a message of life that is at once timely and timeless.

Q/ So what's the plan here? Why are you in Taiwan?

A/ Franklin Graham: We're here in Taipei, Taiwan, and of course the economy is the number-one question here in Asia. That's the number one question that we have at home as well. Everyone's concern is what's going to happen? What's the answer? What's the way out?


Well we're here in Taipei not to talk about the economy, but to talk about the economy of a person's heart; and that is how they can have peace with God, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We need your prayers for Taiwan.

My father was here in '56, came back in '75, and now here we are today with an opportunity to preach the Gospel to this great nation and let the men and women know that God loves them, He cares for them and that Jesus died on a cross for their sins and that He rose again. He can come into their heart and into their life, and He can make a change in their life instantly, starting right now.
Q/ What's it like being here, after the work your father did in the past?

A/ Franklin Graham: When my father came to Taiwan in 1956 and again in '75, the world in which we were living was a lot different than it is today. This was the height of the Cold War. This nation, along with many nations around the world, was on the brink of war. Everybody was on a war footing.

Today, this has changed. There are other problems that we’re facing in the world today. Right now, the number-one problem in this country is the economy, just like it is at home or anywhere else. But we’re here, building on a process. When my father was here in '56 and '75, there were many tens of thousands of people who put their faith and trust in Christ.

Now many of those people are leaders in this country today: spiritual leaders, pastors, Sunday school teachers, etc. To be able to come back and build on a process that started back in 1956 is a great opportunity. We thank God for this privilege, and we pray that there will be many thousands of people this week who will come to know Christ and who will take the Gospel to another generation.

Q/ How can people help out, even if they're not here physically?

A/ Franklin Graham: Over the last several years, we have made in Asia a major commitment to take the Gospel to this part of the world. We need your prayers. We need your financial support. We're in Taipei, Taiwan, this week, and next year and the years following we're looking at going to India, Mongolia, and going back to the Philippines.

We have all these opportunities to preach the Gospel, but we need help. We need support and we need your prayers. This is a massive undertaking, and it takes men and women who are committed to the Gospel. We've got a great team, and we want to keep going and preaching as long as we've got the opportunity. Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for your support.

Q/ You just mentioned BGEA's commitment to Asia. You have been to Asia multiple times this year: North Korea, China, and now Taiwan. Is there something special that God has laid on your heart about this region?

A/ Franklin Graham: Well first of all, if you just take the Chinese people, one quarter of the world's population is Chinese. What a tremendous opportunity to bring the Gospel to Asia, especially to Chinese people! God loves China.

But we've got a great opportunity and the doors are opening all over Asia for the preaching of the Gospel. Doors that were closed just a few years ago are beginning to open, so I'm excited about this. And it's not just the Chinese people but all of Asia that we're wanting to take the Gospel too. We need people's prayer; we need their support financially for us to do this.


Q/ You mentioned spiritual warfare earlier in staff devotions. Is spiritual warfare at the forefront of people’s minds here in Taiwan?

A/ Franklin Graham: Listen, spiritual warfare is on the forefront worldwide. It's not just Taiwan; it's not just Asia. It's in the United States of America, it's in South America, it's Europe, it's Asia. Spiritual warfare is the name of the game. We're in a battle constantly against spiritual darkness. The devil and his legions and his angels and his emissaries are wanting to destroy each and every one of us. The Bible says he's like a roaring lion, prowling, seeking whom he may destroy.

So yes, we are in spiritual warfare. But I’ve read the last pages of history. I know what the final outcome is going to be. That’s when Jesus Christ returns to this earth and establishes His kingdom and His throne. I’m looking forward to that day, but till then, we have an opportunity to reach out and to save men and women from hell. That’s what we’re here to do. We’re here to preach the Gospel that saves men and women, and give men and women an opportunity to confess their sins, turn from their sins and by faith receive Jesus Christ into their hearts and their lives.


Q/ Taiwan is going through a lot upheaval lately, politically and economically. Do you have any special words of encouragement planned for this weekend?

A/ Franklin Graham: What I'm going to do in Taiwan is just preach the Gospel. The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation, to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and then also to the Greek. But the Gospel is the power of God, and that’s what this Festival is all about: to bring the Gospel to Taiwan, to give men and women a fighting chance between heaven or hell—to give them a fighting chance to receive Christ and to have their life turned upside down and radically changed.

That’s what the Gospel will do to a person. It will radically change them. We're here to preach the Gospel.


EVENING UPDATE:
True to his word, Franklin offered the challenge to come to Jesus tonight at the Festival dedication service. After a rousing cavalcade of musicians and performers, he took the stage and shared the story of Zacchaeus with the crowd that had gathered in Liberty Square. The Spirit of God is making Himself known in the hearts of the men and women here.

View photo gallery of Taipei Festival Dedication »

We’re excited to see what God will continue to do tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday. Come back then to learn more about it.