FIRST ON FOX: Rev. Franklin Graham and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Affiliation kicked off a 10-stop, 1,500-mile tour of America’s southern border this weekend, aiming to convey a “life-changing message of hope” to the struggling residents of border cities in Texas, Arizona and California.
The God Loves You Frontera Tour started in Brownsville, Texas, on Saturday, Fox Information Digital was instructed by way of unique statements and a press launch from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Affiliation late on Saturday.
Graham is president and CEO of the group. The Spanish phrase frontera means border.
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“We’re coming to the southern border as a result of it is likely one of the neediest areas of our nation at the moment, and folks want to listen to a message of hope,” mentioned Graham in feedback to Fox Information Digital.
The border space, he mentioned, “is overwhelmed.”
![Franklin Graham at podium](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/02/1200/675/frontera9.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1)
Franklin Graham mentioned the aim of his tour of America’s southern border is to “unfold hope” to those “overwhelmed” areas of america. He is seen right here at proper together with translator David Ruiz, left. (Billy Graham Evangelistic Affiliation)
“Everybody alongside the border is overwhelmed — the church buildings, the legislation enforcement companies, the residents, these there attempting to assist, in addition to the folks coming into our nation,” mentioned Graham.
“There are numerous hungry hearts and hurting folks, so I’m coming to the border to inform everybody about God’s Son, Jesus Christ, and the way He could make a distinction in our lives if we put our religion and our belief in Him.”
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Steve Dorman, pastor of First Baptist Church in Brownsville, mentioned his metropolis is likely one of the poorest in america.
Brownsville “is sort of transitory since it’s positioned on the Texas-Mexico border,” Dorman mentioned in an announcement shared with Fox Information Digital.
“We would like everybody on this neighborhood to know that God is at all times with them and loves them, and the Gospel is usually a stabilizing drive to assist them of their lives.”
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An estimated 3,800 folks attended the God Loves You Frontera Tour’s first occasion in Brownsville, Texas, on Saturday, Feb. 24. “We would like everybody on this neighborhood to know that God is at all times with them and loves them,” mentioned Pastor Steve Dorman of First Baptist Church in Brownsville. (Billy Graham Evangelistic Affiliation)
All through the tour, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Affiliation mentioned it should associate with over 1,000 church buildings in an effort to “attain their communities with a message of God’s love.”
The deliberate occasions will characteristic a message from Graham, plus stay music — and can serve to “supply hope to the hopeless, goal to the misplaced and redemption to the damaged,” mentioned Abraham Moreno, pastor of Calvary Chapel in McAllen in feedback shared with Fox Information Digital.
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McAllen is the second cease on Graham’s tour.
The message of the tour is one which “heals wounds, restores damaged lives and gives a manner for folks to expertise a private relationship with God’s Son, Jesus Christ,” mentioned Moreno.
“Tonight I need you to know that you would be able to have a private relationship with God by religion in His Son Jesus Christ.”
Talking on Saturday, Graham instructed the assembled crowd from the stage, “Tonight I need you to know that you would be able to have a private relationship with God by religion in His Son Jesus Christ.”
He additionally mentioned, “If you happen to don’t bear in mind anything, bear in mind this: God loves you.”
![Franklin Graham speaking at dais](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/02/1200/675/franklin-graham.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1)
Franklin Graham kicked off the “God Loves You Frontera Tour” on Saturday, February 24, in Brownsville, Texas. David Ruiz (left) translated the occasion into Spanish. (Billy Graham Evangelistic Affiliation)
Graham additionally instructed the gang, “The Bible says that God so cherished the world that He gave His solely Son, that whoever believes in Him won’t perish however have eternal life.”
He mentioned, “Jesus got here to save lots of sinners. He bled and died on a cross for you. He went to the grave. He took your sins to the grave, however on the third day, He rose to life,” Graham continued.
“Your sins might be forgiven tonight, you might be let out — however you’ve received to return His manner and that’s by Jesus Christ.”
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Graham addressed the hopelessness that many individuals really feel proper now.
“Perhaps you’re feeling hopeless tonight. Perhaps you’ve come right here hoping that one thing might occur that would change your life,” he mentioned.
![Marcos Witt holding a book and microphone](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/02/1200/675/Marcos-Witt.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1)
Marcos Witt on the Brownsville, Texas, cease of the God Loves You Frontera Tour with Rev. Franklin Graham, which simply kicked off on Saturday. Witt, an American Christian music singer and pastor, was born in San Antonio, Texas. (Billy Graham Evangelistic Affiliation)
He added, “There’s no hope besides Jesus Christ.”
The tour began on the Gulf of Mexico and can go all the best way to the Pacific, the place it should finish in Chula Vista, California, mentioned the group.
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In unique feedback to Fox Information Digital, Rev. Graham addressed the newest incident of migrant crime on this nation that has grabbed nationwide consideration.
Laken Riley, a university nursing scholar, was discovered lifeless a number of days in the past on the campus of the College of Georgia.
On Friday, 26-year-old Jose Antonio Ibarra was charged with homicide. Ibarra is a Venezuelan nationwide who crossed illegally into El Paso, Texas, in Sept. 2022 and was launched into the U.S. by way of parole, three ICE & DHS sources instructed Fox Information.
“My coronary heart and prayers exit to the household in Georgia who misplaced their daughter on this mindless killing.”
“Many tragic issues are taking place to the residents of our nation in addition to [to] the migrants alongside the border due to our flesh pressers’ failure to implement the legislation,” Graham instructed Fox Information Digital.
“My coronary heart and prayers exit to the household in Georgia who misplaced their daughter on this mindless killing.”
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Affiliation was based in 1950 by evangelist Billy Graham.
It really works to “share the Good Information of Jesus Christ world wide,” says its web site.
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Franklin Graham was appointed CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Affiliation in 2000. He was named its president the next yr.
He additionally runs Samaritan’s Purse, based in 1970. It helps “meet [the] wants of people who find themselves victims of battle, poverty, pure disasters, illness and famine with the aim of sharing God’s love by His Son, Jesus Christ,” as that group’s web site notes.
Fox Information Digital’s Audrey Conklin, Michael Ruiz and Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed reporting.
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