|PIC1|Leading U.S. evangelists, Billy Graham and his son Franklin Graham, were in New Orleans last weekend to bring messages of spiritual hope and renewal to a city still trying to find its future after it was ravaged by Hurricane Katrina last August.

More than 30,000 packed into the city’s Arena, next door to the still badly damaged Superdome, to hear the evangelists proclaim the love of Jesus Christ and the strength he brings amid life’s storms.

The Celebration of Hope was one of the first major public events to be held in the city since Katrina devastated the city last year. So many flocked to the Arena to listen to the evangelists that overflow crowds were forced to watch the Grahams preach on giant screens outside the Arena.

According to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, more than 1,360 people accepted Christ into their lives during the weekend event, which was supported by local churches.

The Celebration of Hope also saw the first public sermon by Billy Graham since his final crusade in New York City last June, the BGEA website reported.

|TOP|“God loves us with an everlasting love,” Graham said. “Christ endured physical and spiritual death so that we could be saved through faith in repentance in Him.”

On Saturday night, Franklin Graham recalled the scenes of countless victims being rescued from the deep flood waters that covered much of New Orleans: “No one will ever forget the scenes of these people standing on roof tops, waiting to be rescued,” he said.

“When God sent His Son to earth, it was a rescue mission to save us from our sins. God loves New Orleans, He loves Louisiana and Texas, Mississippi and Alabama. He has not abandoned you. Tonight we all can have the hope of heaven if we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ.”

Dr David Crosby of First Baptist Church of New Orleans, and Co-chairman of the Celebration of Hope committee, said the Celebration of Hope had laid the foundation for a new beginning in the community.

“This has surpassed all my expectations,” said Crosby, whose church now has about half of its pre-Katrina attendance back. “It’s really a moment filled with hope. It’s giving us direction and energy to know where we need to head, and empowering us to do it.”

He also praised the unity among the churches in New Orleans and its surrounding parishes that had arisen from the Celebration of Hope event.

“We don’t want to lose the unity,” he said. “We’re bringing down the walls between races and denominations. This is like the opening of a blossom that will continue to grow.”

The weekend celebrations gave many in the city the opportunity to testify that their faith was stronger than the storm and share that faith with others.

Jim Niemeyer, a 67-year-old local whose home was destroyed by the flood waters, was one of many who signed took part in the Celebration as a counsellor, receiving training through the Christian Life and Witness Course to share his faith with those who came forward at the event.

“People ask me where I see God in all this,” he said. “I tell them I see the Lord in all the faith-based organizations like the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan's Purse who are reaching out to help in Jesus name. Katrina has only served to strengthen my faith.”

|AD|Nathaniel Gaten is just one of hundreds living in the several hundred trailers provided by Samaritan’s Purse, after his east New Orleans home was flooded with 5 and a half feet of water.

“The Lord has provided for me in the midst of the storm,” he said. “God has allowed me to reach out and share with others how He has sustained me so others can know they’re not alone.”

Elsa Ravencraft, who is also staying in a Samaritan’s Purse trailer after she lost her home to the hurricane, volunteered at the Celebration.

She said: “God says we should serve Him all the time, not just when everything is wonderful. He says that we should be joyful in all circumstances.”

Many in the crowds gathered for the event came forward to testify their faith in Jesus Christ after the storm.

Ernest “Noonie” Bourgeois, Boothville/Venice Fire Chief, who lost his home, described Katrina as a like an “atomic bomb” going off. His wife said, however, that their faith has only been renewed. She said: “We go to bed every night thanking the Lord for the day we had, and we wake up every morning thanking Him for the day ahead. You have to look forward, you can’t look back.”

The Celebration of Hope event was joint-sponsored by the BGEA and Samaritan’s Purse. Franklin Graham’s U.S. tour will continue on to Angola, Louisiana on April 1.