Reception in honor of Franklin Graham

The event was organized by the Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists in cooperation with the Christian Center "Revival". Graham's working visit to Russia took place in preparation for the Hope Festival, which is scheduled to take place in July 2022. The reception program was led by  Viktor Gamm  - Evangelist and Regional Director of the Billy Graham Evangelical Association for the CIS and the Baltic States, Vice President of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Evangelism Department, Chairman of the Board of the Christian Center "Revival" (Moscow).

The UECB President Peter Mitskevich addressed the participants with a welcoming speech, where he recalled the Beatitude Commandment from the Sermon on the Mount, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God" (Matthew 5: 9). "We are gathered here to talk about peace with God, about peace with each other!"

Mitskevich expressed satisfaction with the fact that despite the difficult economic and international situation, there was an opportunity for Christians and government officials, Russians and Americans to get together. This meeting allows us to speak and pray for peace between peoples on our Russian land.

In conclusion, Mitskevich thanked Dr. Franklin Graham for this visit to Russia and for his continued ministry. They also expressed gratitude to the Presidential Administration, and representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, representatives of the Evangelical community, as well as the Russian Orthodox Church. "The Lord will bless all of us to serve Him!"

Introductions were also made by:

• Eremin Vladimirovich  - Head of the Department for Interaction with Religious Organizations of the Office of the President of the Russian Federation.
• Archimandrite Filaret (Bulekov)  - Russian Orthodox Church President of External Church Relations.
• Sergei Ryakhovsky  - Chief Bishop of the Russian United Union of Christians of Evangelical Faith (Pentecostals), member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, member of the Council for Interaction with Religious Associations under the President of the Russian Federation.

Franklin Graham  began his speech by describing today's time with the phrase: "Who would have thought ..."

Most people admit that the world today is in trouble, but this opens up good opportunities for evangelism, because our hope is in God.

Speaking about relations between Russia and the United States, Franklin stressed that we have a lot in common, in particular, both our countries are built on Christian values. This year, Russia celebrates a beautiful date - the 1033th anniversary of Epiphany.

We need to work together to protect persecuted Christians around the world,

In this regard, Franklin thanked the Russian leadership for protecting Christians in Syria, without Russian intervention in this country there would be no Christian left.

Another U.S. guest noted the importance of supporting the biblical position in matters of family and marriage. Unfortunately, the United States has a policy of supporting the gay and lesbian movement today. But it's not right! This is evil! These people need repentance!

Franklin also said that the goal of the Samaritan mission is to help those in need in more than 100 of the poorest countries in the world. Mobile hospitals are being deployed to provide medical care, which is especially important during a pandemic.

In the most acute period of the pandemic in 2020, at the request of the authorities, a mobile hospital was deployed in Central Park in New York City, and everyone in need, including LGBT people, received help.

Finally, Franklin Graham encouraged the attendees to work and stand together in faith, after which, Graham met with the UECB leadership.

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Mitskevich’s commentary on the event:

Today the UECB held a reception for the Billy Graham Association President - Franklin Graham in cooperation with the Christian Center "Revival". This is a significant event for our country and all Christians. Because we all pray for revival in our country and around the world, so everyone would turn to the Lord, take care of our souls, and not only think about how to earn money and feed ourselves phyisically. Care must be taken to ensure that the soul of a person is saved. I am very glad that we are planning to hold a big Hope festival next year 2022. May the Lord bless in this. I think Franklin Graham unites people. He united Evangelical Christians and Orthodox Christians in this event. It is very gratifying when we can unite around the main goal of spreading the Gospel. May the Lord bless more such ambassadors of peace, messengers of the Gospel, so that they can be in Russia and reach the ends of the earth. Both America and Russia need the Gospel to be preached to every generation. So everyone can hear the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ. Please pray for upcoming meetings. The Year of the Evangelism is taking place this year and will continue into the next 2022. Go, teach, baptize, preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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UECB Vice President, Victor Ignatenkov’s commentary about the event:

We are very excited to speak with Franklin Graham and his team. We expressed mutual satisfaction and general gratitude for the fact that we can be on the same soil, face to face. Graham greatly appreciates opportunities that open up to engage in evangelism in Russia and together with the Russian UECB, major events are being organized. They are very grateful for this and appreciate the existing forward movement our Russian UECB is planning and experiencing. Here is where our common interests meet, and so we expressed gratitude for their work as well. The plans continue to host major events ... This is the main event in the summer - the "Hope" festival, where Franklin Graham will preach. We pray that it will be similar to the event when his father Billy Graham took part in Moscow at the Olympic Palace in 1992. And the School of Evangelism, which will be as preparation for this festival, will be held in January 2022. We have big plans. It is hoped that this is only the beginning of our major interaction. There will be various further activities. Both the Russian ECB Union and the leadership of Billy Graham's association are interested in this. Franklin Graham is ready for this cooperation in the future.

From my point of view, the arrival of Franklin Graham is a blessing for Russia, and highly appreciated by the government of the President, the State Duma, the Federation Council, and representatives of the Public Chamber. From our side, we also confirm that his visit deserves the highest praise. Many, many people, both officials and religious leaders, and ordinary Russians, who will hear and see information about this event through TV, will be drawn to his arrival in Russia, which gives us momentum to go further ...