After several months of planning and preparation, the Tri-Cities Region Will Graham Celebration begins this evening. The family-friendly event will feature free concerts from Christian artists and inspiring messages from evangelist Will Graham. Volunteers from approximately 235 area churches are working together to make the Celebration a success.
Graham is the third generation of Grahams to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ under the banner of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Will is the grandson of Billy Graham and the oldest son of Franklin Graham.
In addition to the Tri-Cities Region Will Graham Celebration, Will’s 2018 schedule includes international outreaches in Australia, Scotland, Canada and Thailand.
The services will be held at the Freedom Hall Civic Center, beginning at 7 p.m. this evening. Services will be held Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 4 p.m.
KidzFest will be held Saturday with activities beginning at 9 a.m.
Musical guests include:
• This evening: Aaron Shust, The Adoration Band, and the Moore Brothers
• Saturday: Kidzfest will feature The Greatest Journey and the Saturday evening Celebration service will feature Crowder and April Taylor Barnes
• Sunday: Ellie Holcolmb, Aaron Shust, and Jennifer Trent.
Admission is free of charge. No tickets are required. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
“To say God is moving in the Tri-Cities is an understatement. The level of enthusiasm we’re seeing for the Celebration is almost unprecedented,” said Bob Hickling, who is directing the effort on behalf of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. “We hope and pray that this is just the beginning of God doing something incredible in this area later this month and beyond.”
Though Graham has held evangelistic outreaches around the world for several years, this will be his first multi-day campaign since the passing of his grandfather, Billy Graham, in February. “I think all of them will be very emotional,” Graham said recently of his upcoming events, remarking that the Celebration in the Tri-Cities area will be the first time that he will not give an update on his grandfather’s health to his audience.