Central & The Festival

Compiled by John Sackett

• Fifteen people who made commitments at the Franklin Graham Festival listed Central as their church preference. Another ten people with no church preference and living near Central were designated to our care for nurture and follow-up. And beyond these walls, here are other stories of what happened:
• A 40-year old pilot from North Carolina had a layover in Baltimore and while walking the streets outside his hotel, heard the music coming from the ball park. Out of curiosity, he attended the Festival. Miles from home, he prayed to receive Christ.
• I had a small young child approach me during the invitation and ask, "Is this where I find Jesus?" The answer was "YES," right here on the outfield grass.
• I counseled a mother (84) and her two adult daughters who all heard about the Festival on television. All three came forward to receive Christ - Praise the Lord!
• I had never done anything like this before, but what an incredible experience! Counseling someone through the scriptures to receive Christ has to be the most significant moment in my Christian walk! I've been blessed!
• I spoke with an Ethiopian woman who was angry at God and felt as if He had forgotten her. She was having problems connecting with a church and bitterness had inched its way into her life. As we finished speaking, an Ethiopian pastor approached and invited her visit his church which happened to be around the corner from her house. She was elated and knew that God heard and right there answered her prayers. What a mighty God we serve!
• I counseled a 24-year old woman whose brother had been killed in a car accident on Mother's Day of this year. My own brother was killed last year in an accident. God brought us together on that field. Together we understood each other's pain and our need for comfort from our Heavenly Father.
• I spoke with a lady who prayed heavily for her family and her Muslim friend and her family. That night, her Muslim friend and three daughters came to know the Lord as well as her aunt. Does that encourage me to pray and look for opportunities to take lost loved ones to events where Christ will be shared? You bet! Sometimes family can be really hard to reach but events such as the Festival allow someone else to speak Truth to them and then they choose what they will do with it.
• I was like a sponge while participating in the Festival thinking how exciting heaven will be. No more denominational walls and a variety of worship representing ONE Body and ONE Spirit worshipping our Lord. It was a picture of the true Church. A glimpse of what is yet to come.
• I counseled a 43-year old who has been living the past 2 years in the basement of his pastor's home. After two years of living with this loving Christian family and attending their church, he was finally ready to commit his life to Jesus Christ. As this man lifted both of his tattooed arms, an expression of grateful worship and a peaceful look of joy appeared on his face.
• I spoke with a married couple (the husband already knew the Lord and his wife had recently come to accept Christ as her Savior). He was so excited, but the wife was very closed in her body language. As we spoke she began to loosen up and after we prayed together, she gave me a hug. As I walked away, her husband grabbed her in a tight embrace. As I walked out of the ball park, I turned to take one last look at the field where that couple was still holding each other tight. It was a precious sight.
• I need to relate what happened to us on our return home by Light Rail. The train we were on broke down, but instead of gripes and complaints from the passengers, members of the Festival Choir led us in a hymn. What a truly inspirational sight it was.

And now of the 1,906 first-time commitments made at the Festival, the Graham team is committed to connect 95% to good churches and Bible study groups before they leave Baltimore. Let's do our part and pray for them.