LIHUE — In less than a month, the “Kauai Celebration with Will Graham” will officially begin in Lihue.
Volunteers from 64 churches representing 14 denominations across the island are working together to host the celebration, which will take place May 3-5 at Vidinha Stadium.
It will be free and will feature music from Christian artists and messages from Will Graham, grandson of famous evangelist Billy Graham, whose revivals held around the world drew millions. He died at age 99 on Feb. 21, 2018.
“We are very excited about the upcoming Kauai Celebration with Will Graham, anticipating a powerful word from Will and a huge response to his message,” said Pastor Nathan Hanohano of One Way Ministries, who is helping to lead the celebration process.
Will Graham visited Kauai in October and spoke to nearly 300 pastors and church leaders to launch planning for the celebration.
Graham said then the Kauai Celebration could ignite hearts and bring people to Christ. He spoke of a spiritual awakening on Kauai.
“Wouldn’t it be great to know there is a great revival taking place here on this island that could reach all the other islands?” he said. “It could start here.”
The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team, a ministry of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, deployed to Kauai last year, alongside Samaritan’s Purse, to help those who were affected by the April flooding. Franklin Graham, Billy Graham’s son, is president of both organizations.
From its headquarters in Charlotte, N.C., the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association directs a wide range of domestic and international ministries.
Several events are scheduled on Kauai before the celebration in May, including a 24-hour “Prayer &Praise Gathering,” which will take place one week before the celebration kicks off: 7 p.m. April 26 until 7 p.m. April 27 at Aloha Church off Kaumualii Highway near Kukui Grove Center. Participants are invited to come and go as their schedule allows.
“Prayer is the foundation of an evangelistic outreach like the Kauai Celebration,” said Bob Hickling, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s celebration director. “For this effort to be a success, we need to pray for the celebration, and for our friends and neighbors that we will be inviting and bringing to Vidinha Stadium in May.”
Celebration organizers recently completed a series of workshops designed to help local Christians share their beliefs with others. Those workshops were hosted by several area churches.
More than 800 individuals attended these weekly classes, including a special course specifically tailored to teens and youth workers.
