Billy Graham
By Andrea Billups
Thousands of families and churches across North America are inviting friends and neighbors this week for food and conversation — and the chance to see the Rev. Billy Graham’s last crusade.
Graham and the leadership of his North Carolina-based evangelistic association are planning a massive North America event called My Hope America, where small groups of people will join for dinner in homes and churches to watch a videotaped program that celebrates Graham’s simple and powerful message of Christian salvation.
Over 25,000 churches are signed up to participate in the 30-minute broadcast event, which culminates a ministry that has traveled the globe for decades as Graham, who turns 95 years old on the first day of the Nov. 7-10 event, shared the gospel of Jesus Christ to the far corners of the world.
Eddie Cook, a pastor from Brighton, Colo., who is participating in “My Hope” with his church, told Newsmax that Graham’s message, which he has previewed, brought him to tears.
“It is very, very personal, and also a little bit different,” Cook said.
Cook and his wife will welcome a group of friends into their home and also at video-watching events at his church, which includes about 400 to 500 members. Cook said he believes the message they are set to hear will be transformative and modern.