69,000+ in Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico Place Faith in Jesus Through 'My Hope' Billy Graham Project
Results in from Churches, Christians Who Hosted Home Meetings to Share the Gospel
CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 13 /
Christian Newswire/ -- Equipped with evangelism training and filled with a passion for the Gospel, Christians across the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico this year opened their homes for meetings and witnessed a combined total of 69,188 make commitments to Jesus Christ. The gatherings were a part of
My Hope, a ministry of the Charlotte, N.C.-based Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA). The projects were the largest evangelism outreaches in the history of both the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.
"These faithful Christians took a bold step in inviting their friends and neighbors to their homes, and God truly worked through their efforts and prayers," said Bill Conard, vice president of international ministries for BGEA. "Projects like this show that evangelism is not only for pastors, but for anyone who longs for those around them to experience the hope and love found only in Jesus Christ."
After months of preparation, the programs culminated in a combined total of more than 59,000 home events in March and April, which included a TV program featuring a sermon from Billy or Franklin Graham and a personal testimony from the host. In the Dominican Republic, 55,391 people made commitments to Christ, with 13,797 doing so in Puerto Rico. Altogether more than 5,500 churches from across the evangelical spectrum were involved in the projects.
"Collecting results from all churches often takes weeks, and we just recently received the final numbers from Puerto Rico," said Conard. "During that time follow-up efforts were made to help new believers become involved in a local church body and thereby grow in their faith."
"We've been so encouraged by the stories we've heard," he continued. "One small, 70-member church in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, held 11 home meetings as part of My Hope. Of the 71 who attended the gatherings, 62 made commitments to Jesus Christ – most of them first-time decisions."
Since My Hope began in 2002, such projects have been implemented in 50 countries. Upcoming projects this year will take place in Malawi and four sensitive countries in Asia. Preparations are beginning for 2011, for potential My Hope outreaches in Portugal, Spain, Haiti and select African countries.
About BGEA
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA), which is celebrating 60 years of ministry in 2010, proclaims the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ throughout the world by every effective means available. From its headquarters in Charlotte, N.C., the BGEA directs a wide range of domestic and international ministries, including: large-scale festivals led by evangelists Franklin Graham and Will Graham; Dare to Be a Daniel, a youth evangelism training project; My Hope
World Evangelism Through Television; the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team of crisis-trained chaplains; and many others through print, television, telephone, radio and the Internet. For more information, please visit www.billygraham.org. Get BGEA news updates on Twitter @ Twitter.com/BGEAMediaPR.
