Rock the River Concert Series Jumps from Stage to Screen in New Television Program

National Airings for High-Energy Feature Begin September 20 on Christian Networks

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- As the Rock the River Tour traveled up the Mississippi River this summer, Christian rock bands and evangelist Franklin Graham offered a timeless message of hope to youth in the heartland of America. With a total of 112,798 in attendance – mostly young people – 2,871 responded to Graham’s invitation to trust in Jesus. Now, those who didn’t get to attend one of the events can experience the excitement of Rock the River with a half-hour premier television program to begin airing next week. The TV program, which begins airing on Sunday, September 20, features the dynamic people, energizing music and soul-stirring message of the Rock the River Tour. Air dates, times and networks will be listed at www.billygraham.org/tv beginning the afternoon of Friday, September 18. Throughout the program, viewers will be introduced to Race Terronez, a young Christian who served as a counselor at Rock the River, and Stacy Fox, a youth leader whose husband Victor passed away from cancer just two months before Rock the River in St. Paul. Victor had been so committed to Rock the River that he checked himself out of the hospital to be a part of a Rock the River community action project earlier in the summer. Viewers will also meet a pair of young people – Josh and Marla – who are part of a generation of young adults who are spiritually lost and have little to no purpose or hope in life. “I pretty much live down on the riverfront, drink, smoke, live my life to the fullest, because I sit right in the middle of not seeing my kids and going to jail. So it’s like, ‘why should I try anything?’” said Josh in the program. “I like doing what I do, how I do it, and I’ve never hurt anyone. Never done anything wrong.” Josh and Marla were invited to Rock the River, where they heard the Gospel proclaimed. The music of Fireflight, Skillet and Hawk Nelson is featured in the program, as is a message from Franklin Graham on sin and salvation. “You’ve had all of these experiences, but there’s an emptiness in your life and there’s nothing that you can do to fill it,” Graham told the young audience from the stage. “I’m here today to tell you that you can be filled with the Holy Spirit of God. Today you can have a new life!” For more information on Rock the River, including photos, video and audio from the tour, visit www.rocktherivertour.com. About BGEA The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) proclaims the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ throughout the world by every effective means available. From its headquarters in Charlotte, N.C., BGEA runs a wide range of domestic and international evangelism ministries, including: large-scale festivals led by evangelists Franklin Graham and Will Graham; Dare to Be a Daniel, a youth evangelism training project; My Hope World Evangelism Through Television; the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team, offering the hope of Jesus Christ in the midst of tragedy; and many others through print, television, telephone, radio and the Internet. For more information, please visit www.billygraham.org and http://twitter.com/BGEAMediaPR.