In Aug. 26, 2023, after Franklin Graham had given the invitation and was about to say goodbye to the more than 10,000 gathered at the Excel Center for the God Loves You Tour London, he looked out into the audience and asked: “Should we come back again next year?”
“The crowd gave a strong ovation,” says Festival Director Scott Lenning. They had just watched hundreds of their friends and family receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and they were ready for more. The Tour had been at the London Excel Center the previous year, where more than 7,500 attended, and hundreds received Christ. If a third event meant more people coming to Christ, the crowd was certainly up for it—and so was Franklin, even if it meant going back to the same place for a third time.
“Franklin has a burden for London and the U.K.,” said Viktor Hamm, BGEA’s vice president of Crusades. “Paul the apostle visited Galatia every time on his three missionary journeys.”
As it turned out, due to scheduling conflicts, the Tour wasn’t able to go to London in 2024, but it’s returning for its third visit to the Excel Center on June 21. And the churches have picked right up from where they left off in 2023, with over 1,300 joining the effort—more than in 2022 or 2023.
And as the event draws near, there’s a sense of urgency.
“The return visit of Franklin Graham is highly timely,” said Wes Richards, senior pastor of King’s Church International in Windsor and London. “Right now, there is considerable concern even amongst many outside of the church for the Christian identity of the U.K. to be preserved and promoted. Within the church we see that this is a new day of opportunity to clearly proclaim the simple Gospel, which is what the God Loves You Tour is all about.”
A recent Bible Society UK survey supports the sense that it’s a “new day” for evangelism. The study, called The Quiet Revival Survey, says the church in England and Wales is growing.
Attendance has risen by 50% over the last six years, the survey found, with the most dramatic growth being among young adults, particularly young men.
“That has really encouraged and excited the churches,” Lenning said. “There’s nothing in the survey that points to the God Loves You Tours, but I hope we are a part of that. It certainly includes the window of time that we’ve been here, so I hope we’re part of the nudge.”
The survey points to the fact that only God can solve the issues of loss, loneliness and sin.
All of the things people have attempted to do to bring them peace and happiness have not worked, Lenning says. “Things like social relationships, careers, financial success, entertainment; none of those can fill the gaps to make them happy, so many are turning to Christ through the church. So we see the church is becoming stronger in the midst of social issues.”