Greater Toronto Festival of Hope promotes Gospel

Frank King —

More than 300 churches so far, from a broad range of ethnic and denominational backgrounds, are training their congregations and reaching out to their communities with the Gospel through the Greater Toronto Festival of Hope, the latest large-scale evangelistic outreach by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association of Canada (BGEAC).

The Festival’s outreach weekend will take place September 12-14 at Air Canada Centre. These three consecutive nights will include moving testimonies and a powerful Gospel message from Franklin Graham.

Christian artists—including LeCrae, The Newsboys, Thousand Foot Crutch, Michael W. Smith, Kari Jobe, The City Harmonic and more—will perform for the thousands expected to attend.

“We aren’t talking about just an event,” said Alvin Nicholson, pastor of Agape Ministries in Toronto. “Way before and beyond this September, the Church will be connected together for the greater cause of sharing the Good News of Christ because of the Festival of Hope.”

The massive outreach is in full swing. In May, hundreds of Christians will participate in BGEAC’s evangelism training events (FM419 for students and young adults, and the Christian Life and Witness Course for people of all ages).

These phases will prepare Christians to share their faith in Christ and, if they choose, to be volunteer counselors at the Festival’s outreach weekend. And this summer, many will make a difference in their communities in Jesus’ Name through the Festival’s Community Action Projects.

For more information, to become involved in training or community outreach events, or to make a donation, please visit FestivalofHope.ca.

The Festival is one of many evangelistic outreaches that BGEAC has held during six decades of ministry, stretching from Newfoundland to British Columbia. Thousands of people who came to faith through these ministries have been connected with and discipled by partner churches. Some have become church leaders. For example, Matt Baker attended the Billy Graham Crusade in Toronto in 1995 and now is the youth pastor at Southside Worship Centre in Ajax:

“It’s so very special that I can now participate in the same ministry almost 20 years later and give back,” Matt told us.

About the BGEAC
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association of Canada partners with churches and Christian communities across Canada and worldwide to proclaim the Gospel in word and deed. Through relevant language and methods, we share the saving message of Jesus to spiritually searching people. To learn more, please visit BillyGraham.ca