Franklin Graham, CEO and President of The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, is preparing for a festival in the nation of Moldova this weekend, July 8-10.

More than 700 churches from various denominations have come together with "unprecedented" unity in and around the capital of Moldova, Chisinau, where the festival will be held.

The Chairman of the Council of Reference, the Reverend Valeriu Ghiletchi, stated: "We have been spreading the seeds of the Gospel. Now it's time to reap. We expect great things from God!"

Preparations for the Festival of Hope began over a year ago, and it will be the culmination of 15 years of the Billy Graham Evangelistic association ministry in Moldova. More than 26,000 Christians have attended the Christian Life and Witness Classes in churches throughout Schools of Evangelism, Associate Evangelist Festivals, The Hour of Decision radio program and other ministries by the BGEA.

Just as with the elder Graham's crusades - Billy Graham has been known to say that the three most important ingredients for a successful crusade is "prayer, prayer, and prayer" - prayer is also a necessity for Franklin's festivals, where already hundreds of groups are actively praying for the festival.

In addition, as part of the preparations, a smaller-scale event for the youth was held and some 300 responded.

The Reverend Viktor Hamm, Festival Director, says, "There is a new movement of the Spirit of God in the country, something I have not seen before."

Moldova declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 and has experienced political, social and economic difficulties. With 4.6 million people, it is the only European country with a Communist government, albeit elected.

Yet, their openness to the Gospel encouraged leaders to use opportunities such as the Festival.

After Moldova, Franklin Graham will head back to America and hold festivals in Corpus Christi, Texas, Aug. 29-31 and Shreveport, Louisiana, Nov. 11-13.





Rhoda Tse
Christian Today Contributor