Meskel Square in the capital of Ethiopia, once the site of Communist rallies, was transformed into a place of worship where more than 437,000 people heard a message of hope and God’s love during a historic two-day crusade.
More than 1,600 evangelical churches throughout Ethiopia worked with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association for the outreach. The free event featured a powerful Bible message from Franklin Graham, as well as live music from more than a dozen local musical groups and Christian artists from the United States. The historic outreach took place in Addis Ababa six decades after Graham’s father, Billy Graham, shared the gospel in the capital and was honored by Emperor Selassie at the Imperial Palace.
“I am so grateful for each and every one who has come,” Franklin Graham said. “My father, Billy Graham was here 65 years ago to this very day. He loved the people of Ethiopia. I first came in 1985, and this is my eleventh visit — I love Ethiopia.”
Recent religious tensions in Ethiopia have made this gathering particularly significant. Thousands of people made decisions for Christ during Encountering God Ethiopia. These new Christians now will be discipled by local churches that will help them grow in their faith.
“I have no words to express my heart,” said the Rev. Dereje Jemberu, general secretary of the Ethiopian Council of Gospel Believers Churches. “My eyes were full of tears to see so many people respond to the good news that was preached. This is what we wanted — we have been praying many years for a moment such as this.”
The historic significance of the Graham Ethiopia gathering cannot be understated. “I thank God for what he is doing in Ethiopia and what he has done this weekend. This has helped encourage and motivate evangelical churches to continue to work together to understand one another and to organize activities to reach as many people as possible with the hope of Jesus Christ.”
Ethiopia was one of the first countries that Samaritan’s Purse began working in internationally. In 1988, the organization started drilling water wells in Ethiopia, and over the past 37 years, it has helped dozens of partners in the country respond to emergency needs by providing food, medical care and clean water for millions of people affected by conflict, famine and other disasters.
–Alan Goforth
