"It's inappropriate for a minister to rely on AI for scripting their religious discourse"
In the heart of Spain, anticipation builds for the upcoming Festival of Hope in Madrid. This year, the event will see a special guest in Will Graham, the son of Franklin Graham and grandson of the legendary evangelist Billy Graham.
For Graham, Europe presents a diverse landscape, reflecting a mix of various backgrounds. He has previously led evangelistic experiences across the continent, with the majority of his work taking place in the UK, including Thurrock, Scotland, and Porto.
Graham's upcoming visit to Spain holds particular significance, as it marks his first time in the country and represents an opportunity to follow in his grandfather's footsteps. Interestingly, Billy Graham never visited Spain during his illustrious career, making this event even more historic.
Graham's father, Franklin, is also no stranger to Spain, having visited the country previously. The elder Graham's upcoming plans include large-scale evangelistic events in Brussels, Belgium, aiming to revive gospel outreach and see spiritual fruit among both youth and adults.
In a recent interview with Spanish news website Protestante Digital, Will Graham shared his vision for Europe and Spain. He emphasised the importance of using technology, including AI, wisely in ministry, acknowledging that it can be a double-edged sword in spreading the gospel, offering help but also posing risks. However, he stressed that the message of the gospel should never be replaced by technological advancements.
The need for bold, biblical proclamation evangelism, according to Graham, remains as crucial, if not more so, than it was in his grandfather's day. He also highlighted the importance of personal engagement with God's Word in sermon preparation, cautioning against relying too heavily on AI or other technologies.
The Festival of Hope in Madrid, due to take place next year, is being organised by local churches in collaboration with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA). The Congress, which recently held its Fourth European Congress of Evangelism in Berlin, brought together over a thousand evangelical leaders from more than 55 countries.
As the Festival of Hope in Madrid approaches, the BGEA and the participating churches are seeking support for their mission. Meanwhile, Evangelical Focus, an organisation dedicated to sustaining the evangelical movement in Europe, has a sustainability challenge ahead and is looking for backing to continue its work.
With the Festival of Hope in Madrid and other evangelistic efforts planned across Europe, the spirit of evangelism continues to thrive, echoing the legacy of Billy Graham and inspiring a new generation of evangelists like Will Graham.
