Some 90,000 Peruvians packed a stadium in the nation’s capital this weekend to hear a life-changing message from evangelist Franklin Graham, who told the crowd that Jesus is the source of peace and the only way to salvation.

Esperanza Lima drew 41,000 on Saturday and 48,500 on Sunday at Lima’s National Stadium, a venue that is home to the country’s national soccer team but also a frequent concert site for global artists such as Paul McCartney and Ed Sheeran.

This weekend, though, it was a place of worship and proclamation.

“God made you. He created you. He loves you – but our sins separate us from God,” Graham told the crowd through a translator. “Jesus Christ came from heaven to this earth to save you. He took your sins to the cross and died and shed His blood on a cross for you – and then He took your sins to the grave. He was buried in the tomb. But on the third day, God raised His Son to life. He's not dead. He's alive.

“He's here in Lima tonight,” Graham added to applause. “He's here for you.”

Graham urged those in attendance to look beyond religion and put their faith in Jesus Christ.

“The Catholic Church cannot save you. Being a Baptist cannot save you. Being a Pentecostal cannot save you,” he said. “There's nothing you can do to save yourself. There's no one who can save you – only Jesus Christ.”

The two-night evangelistic event featured music from The Afters, Charity Gayle, Christine D’Clario, and Jahaziel Band.

Toward the end of Graham’s message each night, thousands of attendees walked to the field, ready to begin a new life. One of them was Oscar Nuñez, who said he boarded a bus to the stadium praying to God, “I’m looking for you.”

“I used to drink a lot; I used to sleep around; I lied a lot,” he said, according to a story on the Billy Graham Evangelist Association website. “God’s been working wonderfully in my life. I don’t drink anymore. I have a good life with my wife. I try to be on good terms with my family.”

He and his wife prayed to receive Christ.

“I feel like God has heard all of my prayers,” Karina Nuñez said. “I used to think that He didn’t forgive me, but today the message has been clear. [Jesus] is my Savior.”

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association held the event in partnership with area churches, which will now follow up with those who came forward for discipleship.

Source