Journalists from more than 30 Christian and secular media outlets in Argentina attended a press conference on Thursday as Franklin Graham prepares to share the Gospel in the capital city of Buenos Aires.
“I’ve come to share a message of hope,” Graham told the group. “Eternal life through Jesus Christ, God’s Son, who came from Heaven to Earth to take our sins. … There are not many ways to God. There is only one path, and it is through Jesus Christ. This is what I want Buenos Aires to know.”
Christian Hooft, president of the Christian Alliance of Evangelical Churches of the Argentine Republic, spoke about the spirit of unity that this Festival has stirred among local churches.
“The fact that 2,450 churches are involved in Esperanza Buenos Aires speaks of the influence [that the Festival] has had in the evangelical community,” he said. “I believe it’s an event that comes from God, in God’s timing. I believe this is a time for spiritual harvest in Argentina.”
With 12 million people in the metropolitan area, Hooft is confident that this weekend’s events will help draw many to God. “We have one message, the Gospel of hope we preach in Jesus’ Name.”
Joining Graham for the two-day outreach will be Christian artists Charity Gayle, Michael W. Smith, Redimi2, and local band Rescate.
Along with area churches, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has also arranged for 1,000 buses to transport people to the Festival on Friday and Saturday. Church members have invited friends and family who don’t have a relationship with Jesus Christ to join them and hear a message of God’s love.
During the press conference, Graham said if he could leave people with just one takeaway from Esperanza Buenos Aires, it’s that they can “have a personal relationship with Jesus … through faith.”
“We can’t save ourselves,” Graham said. “Only Jesus [can]. He is the One who took our sins to the cross. … He is alive. We don’t worship a dead Jesus. He is risen.”
