Evangelist Franklin Graham concluded his “God Loves You" Tidewater Tour on Sunday in North Carolina.
The six-day tour, which drew the attendance of more than 35,000 people, began in the small Maryland towns of La Plata, Timonium, Elkton and Salisbury in April before moving to Portsmouth, VA, and ending in Edenton, NC.
The final outreach in Edenton reportedly had about 7,600 in attendance.
"I have a heart for smaller cities. It is just as important to go to these communities as it is to preach in major cities. The Gospel has such a strong impact in these smaller places. Night after night we have seen hundreds and hundreds of people respond to the Good News of Jesus Christ," Graham told CBN News in a statement.
Graham and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) partnered with over 885 churches for the tour.
“Here in the Baltimore area, the hurt and pain is evident in many communities," Angel Núñez, a pastor in Timonium, MD, said. "Drugs, violence, human trafficking, and hopelessness reign. Many people are broken, and they have lost all hope," he continued.
"It is precisely at this moment in our lives that we need a touch from God and to hear of His great love for us," he concluded.
“Many people in our communities are struggling with isolation, depression, and anxiety," Wallace Phillips, senior pastor of Carpenter's Shop International Church in Hertford County, NC, explained. "This is why the God Loves You Tidewater Tour has come to Edenton with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ."
"This is the fresh start that so many people are looking for,” he continued.
Last fall, Graham wrapped up his 2022 God Loves You Tour in Minnesota. During the six-city tour, the Good News was preached to over 50,000 people.
"From Maryland to Virginia and North Carolina, we thank God for all He did on the God Loves You Tidewater Tour and give Him the glory for lives transformed by the Gospel," wrote Graham on Facebook.
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Drew Angerer/Staff
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.
