What might happen at the Protestant "Festival of Hope", to which a preacher from the USA will come

Chyzhovka-Arena

Preacher Franklin Graham from the USA, one of the most famous evangelical leaders in the world, is coming to Minsk for the "Festival of Hope". He organizes multi-thousand-person Protestant festivals in Africa, Asia, and Europe, combining them with large-scale humanitarian projects. Graham prayed at the inauguration of US President Donald Trump. He is also friends with the family of John Kohle, the US President's special envoy to Belarus, Radio Svaboda reminds.

There is no detailed program for the "Festival of Hope" publicly available. They announce a choir of 1300 people, a symphony orchestra, international and Belarusian performers, "a message of love and peace from Franklin Graham, personal prayer, and support for everyone".

According to Andrey, a Baptist believer (name changed for the safety of the interlocutor), almost all Protestant churches in Belarus are participating in the preparation of the "Festival of Hope", but primarily Baptists and Pentecostals.

«The choir that is currently being advertised is a choir from various churches across Belarus. I don't remember such a choir gathering before. They are practicing in a Pentecostal church in Minsk. You can imagine how many resources were spent to gather people, bring them from different parts of Belarus, so they could rehearse even before the festival», — Andrey told Radio Svaboda.

He explains that such festivals usually have two parts: a musical one — with spiritual hymns and prayer, and a sermon delivered by the main speaker. They last for several hours.

«Perhaps there will be short testimonies from people who will tell why they are Christians», — adds the interlocutor.

«The central part will be a sermon by Franklin Graham. He will preach with translation. Apparently, for 30-40 minutes. At the end of the sermon, there will be an appeal for people to confess their sins, to entrust their lives to Christ», — Hleb reflects on what the festival might look like.

Admission to the festival is free. Who is funding the event is unknown. According to Andrey, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association might be the sponsor, as it has been in the past.

Chyzhovka-Arena accommodates about 10 thousand people. Believers expect it to be full. Potentially, only Minsk Protestants could fill the venue. However, not only Protestant believers are invited to the festival, but everyone interested.

«Perhaps the authorities will bring law enforcement officers and district executive committee officials there — well, let them listen about God, let them think about how to repent», — Pavel Seviarynets reflects.

Radio Svaboda's interlocutors do not recall such a large event for Protestants ever taking place in Belarus before.

However, other large events did take place, sometimes gathering thousands of people. «It used to be that huge tents were set up in cities — there was no need to rent premises — evangelization was conducted, people were invited to talk about God, about the meaning of life. Such events were held regularly. I remember more than a thousand people gathered at the Youth Congress near Kobryn in 2010», — Andrey recalls.

In Brest, the city festival "City of Light" was organized specifically by Protestants, Hleb recounts. Not only believers but all city residents came there. Both «cool musicians» and Christian preachers performed on stage.

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