Thousands left Esperanza Lima with Franklin Graham in Lima, Peru, transformed, having surrendered their hearts to God.
More than 90,000 attended the March 7-8 event, and nearly 10,000 came forward during the invitation—and over 20% were between ages 10 and 25.
On the first night at the National Stadium of Peru, Franklin preached the Gospel from Luke 15—the story of the Prodigal Son.
“Have you ever wanted to run away from your problems?” Franklin asked. “I think there’s some of you here tonight—you’ve been running. It’s time to come home to your Heavenly Father.”
Franklin, who preached in the same stadium in 1998, exactly 28 years earlier, emphasized that Jesus Christ is the only answer to overcoming sin and having it paid for.
“The entire world is infected with sin. Without Jesus you have no hope,” Franklin preached. “You cannot save yourself. You cannot forgive yourself. The church cannot save you. Religion cannot save you. Only the blood of Jesus can save you. He is the only way. He came from Heaven to this earth to take your sins. He died and shed His blood on the cross for you. Tonight, you can put your faith and trust in Him and be saved from your sins and have a new life.”
Over 40,000 people attended the first night, including Renzo Sanchez Ortiz, 23, and his cousin John Sanchez Huaman, 20.
After hearing the message of the Gospel, Renzo and John surrendered their lives to Jesus and received Spanish-language Bibles. The two men, who had ridden two hours to attend the event, said they felt closer to God and now desire to focus on their faith and remain on a straight path.
Miguel Ángel, 30, and his girlfriend came to the Festival—despite the fact that he’d distanced himself from God for about four years.
After hearing the Gospel message, Miguel and his girlfriend came forward to accept Christ as their Savior.
“It really struck me what he said about how we’re all called to repentance,” Miguel remarked after hearing the story of the Prodigal Son.
Now, he anticipates going to church and growing in faith through Biblical guidance, alongside other believers.
On the second night, after Franklin preached about the blind beggar Bartimaeus, who was healed by Jesus in Mark 10, more than 4,100 prayed with Franklin to receive Jesus as Lord.
Throughout the months of preparation, more than 2,300 Lima churches partnered with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association to pray, plan and enlist volunteers.
