Hundreds of people responded to Franklin Graham’s Gospel message at the God Loves You Tour in Wales on Saturday night.

A third of those who made decisions for Christ were 18 or younger.

People streamed forward to the front of a packed International Convention Centre at Newport’s Celtic Manor Resort, to receive prayer following the US preacher’s invitation for them to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.

It was the first time the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association had held a crusade in Wales.

“This has been a long time coming,” said Franklin Graham. “It is good to be in Wales. This place is full of wonderful people.”

Franklin Graham took to the platform following music from guitarist Dennis Agajanian and The Newsboys.

Around 3,200 watched his first-ever message in Wales at the venue, with thousands more from 41 countries watching the event online.

Franklin Graham skilfully explained the Gospel and related the story of blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52) to the hopelessness many have felt since the pandemic.

“The only hope for any of us here is God,” he said.

Following his invitation for people to know Jesus, hundreds of people poured forward to the front of the venue to receive Christ, which was met with enthusiastic applause and shouts of “praise God” and “hallelujah” by some in attendance.

More than 300 people responded to the Gospel message at the opening event of the God Loves You tour in Liverpool last week.

The next event in the Tour is in Sheffield on Wednesday 25th May.