Franklin Graham Announces Inland Northwest Festival 2002

Billy Graham Evangelistic Assn
Tuesday, 16 October 2001

Festival Will Be Held at Joe Albi Stadium in Spokane, August 23-25

SPOKANE, Wash., Oct. 16, 2001 -- The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) announced today that Franklin Graham, along with local church and civic leaders, will hold the Inland Northwest Festival 2002 in Spokane at Joe Albi Stadium, August 23-25, 2002.

"I look forward to bringing God's message to Spokane," said Graham, who recently accepted local church leaders' invitation to lead the Festival. "People will hear a lot of 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 Spokane area attended the Festival 2002 announcement meeting, Tuesday, October 16, at the Doubletree Hotel in Spokane. Mr. Phil Altmeyer, Executive Director of Union Gospel Mission Ministries, was named chairman of the General Festival Committee and will oversee the nine-month Festival preparation process.

Local pastors have agreed that the events of September 11 have underscored the tremendous need in our country for emotional healing and spiritual awakening. "Having Franklin Graham come to Spokane is an answer to prayer. We trust that God is going to use him in a tremendous way in these very strategic times, and we look forward to what God is going to do through him as he shares the Gospel of Jesus Christ," said Bob Smith, Senior Pastor of Spokane's Community Bible Chapel.

"We are all very excited about Franklin Graham coming to Spokane," said Doug Waggoner, Senior Pastor of Manito Presbyterian Church in Spokane. "And I am personally looking forward to the Spokane-area churches rallying around what we have in common: our desire to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to the community."

The General Festival Committee, comprised of local volunteers from the Greater Spokane area, will assist in the planning and operation of the Inland Northwest Festival 2002. For the last several months, Washington 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.; Spartanburg, S.C.; and Recife, Brazil.

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