'My Hope' Billy Graham Evangelism Project Sweeping Across Southern African Nation

Contact: Graham Clark, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 704-401-2116, gclark@bgea.org

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 4 /Christian Newswire/ -- This week Christians all over the nation of Malawi, known as "the warm heart of Africa," will be sharing their faith with friends, neighbors and loved ones as part of My Hope Malawi, an evangelism project organized by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

Using their own testimonies, as well as custom-made TV broadcasts, and video and radio programs, thousands of trained Christians will open their homes and hold gatherings to introduce others to Jesus Christ. In some rural areas where electricity and TVs are not available, mini battery-powered projectors will be used to watch the programs in the coming weeks and months.

"Malawi is the first nation in sub-Saharan Africa in which My Hope has been implemented," said Hans Mannegren, director of international ministries at BGEA. "Malawi is a small country, but it has a very active church network that, as we have seen, is committed to reaching the nation with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are praying that many in the meetings over the next few days will respond in faith."

At the gatherings, guests will watch or listen to one of three evangelistic programs, which feature testimonies from Ethel Kamwendo Banda, a famous singer in Malawi; Kinnah Phiri, the coach of the Malawi Flames, the national soccer team; and others. The programs will also include sermons from Franklin Graham and Billy Graham.

After the program, the hosts will share their own stories of coming to faith and give guests the opportunity to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. On Sunday, churches across the country will celebrate with new and recommitted Christians and invite them to become a part of their fellowship. The full number of meetings and those who have made commitments won't be known for months, as other meetings are held and reports are filed.

Since My Hope launched in 2002, projects have been implemented in 50 countries. The outreach in Malawi follows two successful projects earlier this year in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, in which more than 69,000 people made commitments to Jesus Christ. BGEA is also beginning to prepare for 2011 outreaches in Haiti, Portugal and Spain.

For more information, please visit www.billygraham.org.