Franklin Graham Announces North Central Florida Festival 2002

Billy Graham Evangelistic Assn
Thursday, 30 August 2001

Gainesville Festival Will Be Held at the University of Florida's O'Connell Center, April 12-14, 2002

GAINESVILLE, Fla., Aug. 30, 2001 -- The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) announced today that Franklin Graham, along with local church and civic leaders, will hold the North Central Florida Festival 2002 in Gainesville at the O'Connell Center, on the University of Florida campus, April 12-14, 2002.

"I look forward to bringing God's message to Gainesville," said Graham, who recently accepted local church leaders' invitation to lead the festival. "People will hear high-energy music from award-winning artists, personal testimony, and most importantly, an opportunity to accept a challenge that will change their life."

More than 200 clergy and church leaders from the Greater Gainesville area attended the Festival 2002 announcement meeting, Thursday, August 30, at the Doubletree Hotel. Robert C. Edmunds was named chairman of the General Festival Committee and will oversee the nine-month festival preparation process.

"Positive change in Gainesville will come when the city's churches join hands and work together," said Dr. Arnold Lastinger, Pastor of Gainesville's First Assembly of God. "The Franklin Graham Festival is a giant step in that direction and our church is thankful to be a part of it."

The General Festival Committee, comprised of local volunteers from the Greater Gainesville area, will assist in the planning and operation of the North Central Florida Festival 2002. For the last several months, Florida pastors and church leaders have urged Franklin Graham to conduct a festival in their region.

All festival programs will be open to the public and free of charge.

Since 1989, Franklin Graham has volunteered 10 percent of his time as an evangelist for the BGEA. Last year, Graham was appointed CEO of the organization and continues to travel the world as president of the international Christian relief organization Samaritan's Purse.

Earlier this year, Graham, 49, conducted festivals in San Pedro Sula, Honduras; Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Tallahassee, Fla.; and Spartanburg, S.C. drawing crowds exceeding 370,000. Graham will hold a festival in Recife, Brazil, September 27-29, 2001.

For more information, or to contact Billy Graham Evangelistic Assn, see their website at: www.billygraham.org