Billy Graham’s Call to America
My Hope with Billy Graham: An Outreach to U.S., Canada
July 30, 2012 - In November 2013, the biggest North American evangelistic event in more than 60 years of Billy Graham's ministry will take place—on the week of his 95th birthday. The event: My Hope with Billy Graham.
"He believes the Lord is going to let him live until he's 95. What an important time to do this, and what a culmination for his ministry of evangelism."
— Preston Parrish
by Trevor Freeze
"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden."
— Matthew 5:14
For Billy Graham, it's always been about one thing.
From his 1949 tent revival in Los Angeles, to the 16-week New York Crusade in 1957, to more than 200,000 flocking to Flushing Meadows, N.Y. in 2005 to hear him preach one last time—it's always been about the Gospel.
In November 2013, one event will attempt to send that message out to the United States and Canada at one singular time. It's the biggest evangelistic undertaking for North America in the 60-plus-year history of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
The name of this endeavor: My Hope with Billy Graham.
"It could be Billy Graham's final call to America to turn to God," explains Preston Parrish, BGEA Vice President for My Hope with Billy Graham.
The method will change, but the message will be the same.
And the stakes have never been higher.
On the week of Billy Graham's 95th birthday, Nov. 7, 2013 — Christians across the entire U.S., as well as Canada, will be invited to reach their nation like never before — one friend, one family member, one neighbor at a time.
Instead of filling a stadium or packing a park, My Hope with Billy Graham will take place in homes across America, where a 30-minute video presentation will be used as the catalyst to change hearts and lives.
Some have referred to My Hope as the "Living Room Crusade." Individuals, either on their own or through their local churches, are being asked now to begin making a list of non-believers to pray for, people who are in need of the eternal and lasting hope that can only be found in Jesus Christ.
They are also being asked to register as host "Matthews" on the My Hope with Billy Graham website. (In the Bible, Matthew invited his friends to his home to meet Jesus.)
The public centerpiece of My Hope has always been a 30-minute broadcast — filled with culturally relevant testimonies, music and Billy Graham preaching footage. But t's the training for evangelism and follow-up — along with months or sometimes years of prayer — that make the biggest impact.
Between now and next summer, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association will conduct training on how to share one's faith all North America.
The training for My Hope with Billy Graham will largely happen in one of two ways — online at the My Hope website or through pastors committed to the project. Many other logistics on how to involve 50 states are still being hammered out.
Then, during the week of Nov. 3 through 9, these "Matthews" will have the opportunity to invite family, friends and neighbors to their homes or other relaxed venues to watch a specially made 30-minute program with a clear Gospel presentation, and give an invitation to receive Christ.
This My Hope with Billy Graham program will be available via DVD, streaming video, and on other media platforms, as well as a nationally televised broadcast on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2013 — Mr. Graham's 95th birthday.
"He believes the Lord is going to let him live until he's 95," Parrish said. "What an important time to do this, and what a culmination for his ministry of evangelism."
My Hope is not a new evangelistic project at BGEA. For more than 10 years, 57 countries around the globe have hosted My Hope, leading to more than 10 million recorded decisions for Christ. Most recently, My Hope was used in the European countries of Portugal and Spain, along with the African country of Zambia.
"Every church that tried it saw results," said Bill Conard, director of My Hope with Billy Graham at BGEA.
Many key church and denomination leaders have already caught the My Hope with Billy Graham vision, even though the project's culmination is 16 months away.
"God is in this thing," Conard said. "There has been such a wide acceptance."
Both Parrish and Conard have been hearing one consistent message from pastors and denomination leaders nation-wide: Something drastic has to be done to save our country.
"Many people believe that if something is not done, three to five years from now, we will be living in a far different country," Parrish said. "There's an urgency about this. Come to God while you still can."
Please join in praying for, and supporting financially, this massive undertaking for the Gospel.
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