103,400 Gather for Franklin Graham Festival in Argentina

Early Christmas Gifts Delivered to Underprivileged Children

ROSARIO, Argentina, Nov. 24, 2003—In the last year the people of Rosario, Argentina have been impacted by a struggling economy and the worst flood in four centuries. Many have had questions of where to find hope and security in circumstances like these. Franklin Graham told thousands that in these times, comfort can be found in God.

Crowds totaling 103,400 gathered for the three-day evangelistic Festival led by Graham Nov. 20-22 in Rosario. The event was a partnership with more than 500 local churches in the city of 1.3 million people. By the final night of the Festival, 15,242 people had responded to an invitation to put their faith in Jesus Christ.

Each night, crowds heard Graham’s straightforward message of hope, along with inspirational music by Spanish artist Marcos Vidal, local band Rescate, acoustic guitarist Dennis Agajanian, the Gutierrez Brothers, and the California-based Tommy Coomes Praise Band. In addition to the evening events, thousands of kids from the greater Rosario area gathered for a special children’s festival called Festininos.

During the week, Graham and teams from Samaritan’s Purse handed out thousands of gift-filled shoe boxes to underprivileged children in Argentina as part of the organization’s Operation Christmas Child project. Graham visited and distributed shoe box gifts to children living amidst one of the city’s most impoverished areas.  In this indigenous community of 300 families, most people work for an average of $1.50 a day by collecting salvageable items from garbage. For many of these children it was the only gift they have ever received.

Rosario, Argentina was the final Festival in 2003. Events held earlier in the year included, Roanoke, Va., (May 2-4); Tulsa, Okla., (Sept. 19-21); and Veracruz, Mexico (April 10-12).

In 2004 Festivals are already being planned for Durban, South Africa; Bakersfield, Cali.; and cities in Chile and Ecuador.

Franklin Graham is president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and international Christian relief organization Samaritan’s Purse. 

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