As the sun began to set over Medan, people gathered at Astaka Pancing Field for the Celebration of Love with Will Graham, an evangelistic outreach hosted by local churches.
The ground shook with the beat of drums as Indonesian worship bands, and later Christian artist Aaron Shust, led songs of praise to Jesus Christ at the opening of each of the two nights.
Congregations in the North Sumatra capital had invited Will Graham to their city to present the Good News of a relationship with Christ.
On the first night, Graham spoke about a man in the Bible named Barabbas.
“Barabbas was the worst of the worst—he was a murderer, a thief, a rebel—and he was sentenced to death,” Graham said. He explained that, according to the laws and customs at the time, Barabbas’ payment for his crimes was death, unless someone died in his place.
And that someone was Jesus Christ. Even though He had never sinned, He took the punishment Barabbas deserved and died on the cross (Matthew 27:15–26).
“My friends, Barabbas was a very bad man, but the truth is, you and I are just like Barabbas,” Graham said.
Desi,* who came with her sister and a friend from church, listened carefully.
“The Bible says that we have all sinned. We have all fallen short of God’s glory, and so, in the eyes of God, we are the same as Barabbas,” Graham continued, citing Romans 3:23.
“Jesus [was] willing to die for my sin and your sin,” he said. “Are you going to receive His free gift of salvation, or are you going to reject it?”
A few moments later, Desi joined hundreds of people at the front of the venue as Graham invited them forward to make that decision.
“I wanted to meet Jesus,” she said after praying with a volunteer who gave her materials to grow in her newfound faith.
Although she attends church, Desi came to the outreach feeling depressed.
“My heart felt ugly and messed up,” she said, adding that this was the first time she prayed to ask Jesus into her heart. “But now I feel calm, confident, and powerful. …
“I want to become diligent and read the Bible and pray. Jesus died for our sin, and whatever our sin, He will forgive—by the blood of Jesus,” she said.
The Best Kind of Miracle
Santi* and her little boy, Rudi,* took a church bus to the event on the first night, hoping for miraculous healing of his ear.
But as Santi listened to Graham’s message, she realized that she needed a miracle, too—in her heart. She heard Graham say that she could experience something deeper than physical healing.
“God will do a miracle and save you when you believe [in Jesus Christ],” she said, summarizing the message.
“My friends, Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven because He’s the only One who ever died for you,” Graham told the audience. “Surrender your pain, your hurts, your anger. Ask God to forgive your sin.”
Santi joined Graham as he led people across the field in a prayer of repentance and faith.
“I know that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins,” she said, repeating after Graham. “I invite you to come into my life. I ask you to be my Lord and Savior.”
Afterward, she spoke with a prayer volunteer who encouraged her to get involved in her church so she can grow stronger in her walk with Christ.
“I feel so much peace in my heart,” she shared.
Washed in God’s Forgiveness
Rani* and her father were among the thousands who heard Will Graham quote one of the most popular Bible verses—John 3:16—on the second night of the outreach.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life,” Graham shared. “Tonight, this is the greatest news that you could hear.”
Although she came to the event with her church, Rani made the three-hour trip feeling unsure of her relationship with God.
“I didn’t know if I would go to Heaven because of a lot of sin in my life,” the 17-year-old explained.
Graham spoke about the forgiveness available through a relationship with God’s Son, Jesus Christ.
“He wants to wash you clean, but you’ve got to be willing to repent of your sin,” Graham said. “Ask Jesus Christ to forgive you, and He will do it. …
“If you want to experience God’s forgiveness and His purpose and peace in life, I want you to come,” he continued, inviting guests to walk forward, despite the looming rain clouds overhead.
This was the only invitation Rani needed.
As a heavy rain fell, a prayer of confession flowed from Rani’s lips—and God’s grace poured into her heart.
“I feel very much peace and a release—because there’s assurance in Jesus,” Rani said later. “I can be sure I am forgiven now, and my life is totally changed.”
Will you pray that more people across Indonesia will come to know the love of Jesus Christ? Ask God to strengthen the church there and embolden them to joyfully proclaim His Name.
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