Will Graham, Grandson of Evangelist Billy Graham, to Host Celebration on the Jersey Shore

Jersey Shore Will Graham Celebration to Take Place May 20-22, 2011, at the Great Auditorium

LAKEWOOD, N.J., Nov. 11, 2010 – The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) has announced that Will Graham, along with local church and civic leaders, will hold the Jersey Shore Will Graham Celebration at the Great Auditorium in Ocean Grove, N.J., May 20-22, 2011.

Graham will be 36 when he preaches at the Great Auditorium, the same age of his famous grandfather when he spoke at the same venue on Sept. 4, 1955.

“I know God will do amazing things along the Jersey Shore over the coming months as the churches work together to bring about this event,” said Graham. “From my conversations with area leaders, it’s obvious that God is already at work here and that there is excitement for the proclamation of the Gospel.”

The Jersey Shore Will Graham Celebration is a not-for-profit corporation, operating under the direction of a Celebration General Committee led by Chairman John M. Taylor, M.D. Area volunteers representing churches and denominations across the region will participate in the preparation process, working toward a successful Celebration.

“We eagerly anticipate Will’s presentation of the Good News of Jesus Christ to the people of New Jersey,” said Dr. Taylor. “What an awesome opportunity to bring friends and family who desperately need to hear how God can turn their lives around forever!”

Pastor Wes Lindquist, senior pastor of Calvary Lighthouse in Lakewood, N.J., added, “I believe the Jersey Shore Will Graham Celebration will be a catalyst for our long awaited revival. Let's pray for a tremendous outpouring of God’s Spirit!”

All Celebration programs will be free and open to the public. BGEA Celebration Director Terry Wilken and a group of trained and experienced staff will help guide preparations. Additional staff will be hired locally.

Will is the third generation of Grahams to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ under the banner of the BGEA. Will is the grandson of Billy Graham and the oldest son of Franklin Graham. Since beginning his evangelistic ministry with youth-oriented, one-day events in Canada, Will has spoken to audiences across North America, Australia, India and other parts of Asia and South America.

Graham graduated from Liberty University in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Religion and in 2001 graduated from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree. He currently serves as assistant director of the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove in Asheville, N.C.

About BGEA
From its headquarters in Charlotte, N.C., the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association directs a wide range of domestic and international 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 of crisis-trained chaplains; and many others through print, television, telephone, radio and the Internet. For more information, please visit www.billygraham.org. Get BGEA news updates on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/BGEAMediaPR.

Media Contact:
Erik Ogren
704-577-2109
eogren@bgea.org