Franklin Graham and 648 Local Churches to Bring Festival to Baltimore

Evangelist Billy Graham to be a Part of Event at Oriole Park, July 7-9

BALTIMORE, May 15, 2006—Oriole Park at Camden Yards will heat up this summer when high-energy musical artists, 648 churches, and Franklin Graham come together for the Metro Maryland Festival, held Friday – Sunday, July 7-9. Evangelist Billy Graham is also planning to participate, health permitting.

“When leaders in the community asked me to join them in bringing this event to Maryland, I wanted to come and tell anyone that feels desperate and without hope that we all have a chance for a new start in life,” said Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and president of the international relief organization Samaritan’s Purse. “I know that Baltimore has also been on my father’s heart and he too wants to encourage this area.”

The Metro Maryland Festival will feature nightly messages by Franklin Graham and energetic and diverse music by award-winning artists, including American Idol finalist George Huff, Israel Houghton and New Breed, FFH, Andrae Crouch, Newsboys, Randy Travis, and long-time Billy Graham musicians George Beverly Shea and Cliff Barrows.

Although Billy Graham held his final Crusade event in New York City June 2005, it wasn’t the end of his personal ministry or his last opportunity to speak. Health permitting, the elder Graham hopes to support his son’s event and offer words of hope to the community.

KidzFest, a special event for children on Saturday morning, will feature the popular superhero Bibleman, bringing his fun action presentation of biblical truth.  During the live stage event, kids will be entertained by upbeat music and a high-tech special effects show while learning principles of honesty, integrity, and forgiveness.

The Metro Maryland Festival will be open to the public and free of charge. Main events start at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, July 7 and Saturday, July 8, and at 4:00 p.m.  Sunday, July 9. KidzFest will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 8.

The Metro Maryland Festival is a non-denominational effort organized through the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) and is supported and planned by local leaders and volunteers from more than 640 churches representing 45 denominations throughout the area.  Since 1989, Franklin Graham has held an average of seven Festivals a year as an evangelist for the BGEA.

Graham recently conducted Festivals in Manila, Philippines; New Orleans and Angola, La.; and Mobile, Ala. Other Festivals this year will include Winnipeg, Canada; Quito, Ecuador; and Okinawa, Japan.

MEDIA NOTE:
For information about Billy Graham, contact A. Larry Ross (972) 267-1111.