Franklin Graham announces a rescheduled ‘God Loves You’ tour date in Birmingham after overturning a prohibition on his right to speak at UK venues.
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) has announced its evangelical tour is set to visit Resorts World Arena in Birmingham on 15th June 2024.
The rescheduled date comes after the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) initially canceled his tour in June 2020 after various UK venues banned him from preaching over his stance on homosexuality which was labeled as homophobic.
Afterward, legal action was taken by BGEA on the basis of freedom of expression and freedom of religion. The association since then has successfully overturned six challenges by UK venues.
Speaking of the legal process Reuben Morley, director of the ‘God Loves You’ tour, disclosed to Premier Christian News that it was necessary to demonstrate a Christ-like approach throughout the proceedings.
“Sometimes when venues hold firm, we say there is a legal president here and we have to, from a freedom of speech issue, be allowed to preach a message that God loves humanity and sent his son to die upon the cross for the forgiveness of all,” he said
Franklin Graham said the rescheduled tour was not just a personal win but a win for the church: “The church can be bold and stand up and preach the truth. And if we’re challenged, knowing that we have the freedom to continue because we cannot allow just a few people to shut us down because they disagree,” he said to Premier Christian News.
“I don’t hate anyone, anybody. And my message is for everybody. I want gay people to come, I want Muslims to come I want people of different races to come and hear that God loves them and cares for them. And that Christ took their sins and died himself for our sins Himself on the cross. When he was nailed to that cross, he was nailed there for you and me, and for every human being,” he added.
The free event will also take place at OVO Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland, on 22nd June 2024.
The ‘God Loves You’ team will also assist in preparing churches and Christians outside of the event to bodily share the gospel with loved ones, work colleagues, and family members.
On Saturday, about 10,000 people gathered at the London ExCel as part of the ‘God Loves You’ UK tour. The gathering reportedly led to the commitment of about a thousand people to Christ.