Franklin Graham Festival in Norfolk Draws Over 33,000

Five Hundred Area Churches Join Together for Community Effort

NORFOLK, Va., May 21, 2007—Inlets and rivers separate communities on the lower end of the Chesapeake Bay. Dozens of bridges, tunnels, and ferries provide the only physical way for this area to connect. This weekend, however, some 500 churches joined together in an unprecedented demonstration of unity to hold the Greater Hampton Roads Franklin Graham Festival.

“Tonight and throughout the weekend citizens of Hampton Roads have the chance to experience the healing power of spiritual renewal that Franklin Graham will share with us,” said Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim on the opening night of the event. “It is my hope that we leave here with our hearts renewed, spirits inspired, and minds refreshed.”

The Festival, held May 18-20 at Norfolk Scope Arena, drew 33,130 people. The event was organized by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and featured nightly messages from Franklin Graham, who challenged the audience to not wait to deal with the tough questions of life.

Drawing on the area’s recent high-profile news of the shootings at Virginia Tech and the death of Jerry Falwell, Graham said, “We never know if the next day will be our last day here. You may be young or you may be old, but the question is, ‘Are you ready?’ Each one of those students—like each one of us here—has a soul. Where will your soul spend eternity?” During the event 970 people responded to Graham’s invitation to commit their lives to Jesus Christ.

In addition to Graham’s messages, the Festival featured a diverse collection of special guests: 

• Award-winning musical artists Third Day, The Charlie Daniels Band, Martha Munizzi, Tree 63, Israel Houghton and New Breed, Nicole C. Mullen, George Huff, Dennis Agajanian, and The Tommy Coomes Band all delivered energetic performances.

• KidzFest—Saturday morning some 4,600 kids gathered to see the Lesha Campbell, Go Fish & Chaos on Wheels. Following the presentation, 200 children responded to the invitation to commit their lives to Jesus.

• Pat Robertson, whose international outreach is based in nearby Virginia Beach, greeted the audience Sunday night and thanked Franklin Graham for bringing the Festival and a message of hope to the community.

• Capt.  Scott Smiley shared his story of serving in Iraq, losing his eyesight from a suicide bomber, and how only through God he has had not only the strength to live, but a passion to serve Him in anyway he can.

• A 1,500-voice choir comprised of volunteers from many area churches of varying denominations in the area performed during the Festival.

Franklin Graham’s remaining Festivals this year will be in Binghamton, N.Y. (June 8-10); Kiev, Ukraine (July 6-8); Guayaquil, Ecuador (Aug. 23-25); Busan, Korea (Oct.  18-21); Tacoma, Wash. (Nov. 2-4); and Hong Kong, China (Nov. 29 – Dec 2). Graham is president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and the international relief organization Samaritan’s Purse.

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