Overflow Crowds Flock to Franklin Graham’s ‘God Loves You Tour’ in London Amid Global Uncertainty
by Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Staff
(Worthy News) – More than 17,000 people flooded ExCeL London on Saturday night for the much-anticipated return of the God Loves You Tour, led by Rev. Franklin Graham, overwhelming the venue’s maximum capacity and prompting security to turn thousands away.
The evangelistic event, organized by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA), drew such massive interest that the venue, which had raised its limit to 15,000 attendees, was still unable to accommodate the throngs gathered. Despite the disappointment, those turned away stood outside in worship, singing and clapping in unity with those inside.
Graham, who serves as president and CEO of both BGEA and Samaritan’s Purse, began his message with heartfelt gratitude: “I’m so grateful to be back in London. I’ve been looking forward to this.” His appearance at ExCeL London marked his third stop at the venue and was held in partnership with more than 550 churches throughout the city.
Inside, the atmosphere was electric, featuring performances by Grammy-winning gospel artists CeCe Winans and Michael W. Smith, as well as Christian band The Afters. In the days leading up to the event, more than 2,000 young people had participated in Pursuit, BGEA’s outreach initiative designed to inspire youth across the U.K.
During his sermon, Graham addressed the current atmosphere of fear and global tension, pointing to conflicts in Ukraine, Israel, Sudan, and rising threats involving China and Taiwan. “Since I last preached here in London two years ago, the world seems to be one step closer to Armageddon,” he said. “Many people feel hopeless, and they’re asking, is the world running out of time? You can come to the One who can turn that around, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ — God’s Son.”
Graham concluded with a call to faith, quoting John 3:16. Hundreds responded to the invitation to follow Christ, including a 16-year-old girl who shared, “Everybody is hungry for God in my generation right now, and He is moving.”
The London event follows stops in Krakow, Glasgow, Naples, and Addis Ababa, where Graham reportedly preached to 440,000. Future tour dates include Brussels and Buenos Aires.
This U.K. outreach is part of a larger European focus for BGEA, which earlier this year convened the European Congress on Evangelism in Berlin, drawing over 1,000 leaders from 55 countries and territories.
Graham also oversees Samaritan’s Purse, a humanitarian organization actively serving in more than 100 nations. Since the outbreak of war in Ukraine, the ministry has delivered over 123,000 tonnes of food and operated multiple field hospitals and clinics to meet the urgent needs of civilians.
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