Franklin Graham preaches in Glasgow, launches latest fund to defend religious freedom within the UK

Over 7,000 got here to the OVO Hydro in Glasgow on Saturday night to listen to American evangelist Rev Franklin Graham preach the Gospel as he announced the creation of a latest fund to assist Christians within the UK “who could also be threatened into silence”.

Graham, who heads up the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) and Samaritan’s Purse, was within the UK this week for 2 more stops on his God Loves You tour.

“Maybe you are here tonight and also you’re wanting to know, who’s Jesus?” said Graham.

“Jesus Christ is God’s Son and He got here on a rescue mission to avoid wasting you out of your sins.

“The Bible tells us that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whosever believes in Him is not going to perish but have everlasting life.”

Hundreds of individuals later got here forward to offer their life to Jesus. 

Over 320 Scottish churches partnered with the BGEA within the lead-up to Saturday’s event, and can proceed to disciple those that made a commitment on the night. 

“Our church is in a really deprived area,” said Alex Gillies, pastor of Victory Christian Centre in Glasgow.

“We see depression, mental health problems, financial issues, we see all of it. And it is not just our church, it’s people throughout Scotland. Nothing goes to assist Scotland aside from Jesus.” 

Seeing so many individuals go forward to offer their lives to Jesus was an ideal source of hope for pastors and churches in Scotland, he said, “because in the midst of all this chaos, persons are in search of.”

“This gives us a whole lot of hope,” he said. 

Last weekend, Graham was in Birmingham where he preached before a crowd of over 8,000. He was joined at each events by guest worship artists Michael W Smith and Taya, formerly of Hillsong, and will return to the UK to evangelise again next 12 months in London. 

The tour was originally planned for 2020 but was delayed as a result of Covid and legal motion against seven venues that cancelled the BGEA’s event bookings. It was capable of go ahead after the cancellations were successfully challenged.

The BGEA has now announced the creation of the Billy Graham Defence Fund to support religious freedom within the UK after receiving over half one million kilos in payouts from its successful legal challenges. They include separate legal motion taken in 2018 over the illegal removal of bus adverts promoting an evangelistic event held by Graham that 12 months. 

Announcing the brand new fund, Graham said, “We took a stand for the Gospel and for freedom of faith within the UK. Now we will use these funds that got here from this battle against cancel culture to assist other Christians who could also be threatened into silence.

“There are so many problems in our society and persons are on the lookout for hope. We know that true hope can only be present in Jesus Christ, so we’d like to support each other in getting the Good News of Jesus Christ out, whatever it takes. It is my prayer that this may encourage Christians across the UK to maintain living out and sharing their faith freely and boldly.”