The environment in the national office of My Hope Puerto Rico is one of celebration. One year ago this small team of Christians began what has become the largest evangelistic outreach in the history of the island. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and 1804 local churches partnered together to train Christians to use a three night TV broadcast in April as a tool for personal evangelism. 19,068 Christians were trained, and reports and testimonies from those three days in April arrive to the office each day. Today’s totals show that with just 57% of the participating churches reporting so far, 10,093 people have reported making decisions for Christ.
Along the way the office has heard hundreds of inspiring stories. Below are just three.
20 year old Melito helps lead a weekly bible study called Solomon’s Porch in San Juan’s university area every Thursday night. Thursday, April 22nd was the first night of the My Hope Broadcast, so he and his friends invited anyone from the building to watch the program with them. Through the testimonies, music videos and Billy Graham’s message, four semi-professional wrestlers accepted Jesus Christ for the first time. After making that life changing decision, one of the wrestlers decided he wanted his fans and spectators to hear about Jesus too. He invited Melito and the other young adult leaders to his wrestling match to share Jesus during a break in the wrestling. Melito shared Jesus with the fans, and 10 more people made the life changing decision to except Jesus as their Savior.
Pastor Santana is the pastor of the Iglesia Casa de Adoracion Shalom (House of Adoration Shalom), a church of about 100 members in Humacao. Santana called the office to report the results of his church’s 10 Matthew homes this week. The first night of the broadcast there were 34 guests in the various homes that were participating. 21 people made first time decisions to follow Christ and four others rededicated their lives to him. The second night was equally amazing. Another 21 people made first time decisions to follow Christ. The final night there were 30 guests in the Matthew homes. After hearing the testimony of Yasmin Mejias, a well known Puerto Rican comedian, and a powerful message by Billy Graham, 25 people made decisions to follow Christ and three others rededicated their lives to Him. This small church saw 74 people make decisions to follow Christ, in just three days!
Pastor Fernando Ramos is the pastor of the Iglesia Cristiana Casa de Amor (Christian Church House of Love) in the city of Ponce. 17 families in the church opened their homes to be Matthews for the My Hope project. They hosted 86 guests, and were thrilled to have 32 first time salvation decisions, and 14 rededications. Pastor Ramos said that in one the of the Matthew homes, a guest brought her 27 years old cousin with her who had been diagnosed with cancer. After watching Franklin Graham’s message about the prodigal son, she accepted Christ into her heart. As if that wasn’t enough, before she left for the night, the family prayed for her healing from cancer. The following Tuesday she had an appointment with her doctor. The Doctor performed a few routine tests and then said, “What happened to your cancer? It’s gone!” Ramos says she has been faithfully attending church ever since the broadcast.
Along the way the office has heard hundreds of inspiring stories. Below are just three.
20 year old Melito helps lead a weekly bible study called Solomon’s Porch in San Juan’s university area every Thursday night. Thursday, April 22nd was the first night of the My Hope Broadcast, so he and his friends invited anyone from the building to watch the program with them. Through the testimonies, music videos and Billy Graham’s message, four semi-professional wrestlers accepted Jesus Christ for the first time. After making that life changing decision, one of the wrestlers decided he wanted his fans and spectators to hear about Jesus too. He invited Melito and the other young adult leaders to his wrestling match to share Jesus during a break in the wrestling. Melito shared Jesus with the fans, and 10 more people made the life changing decision to except Jesus as their Savior.
Pastor Santana is the pastor of the Iglesia Casa de Adoracion Shalom (House of Adoration Shalom), a church of about 100 members in Humacao. Santana called the office to report the results of his church’s 10 Matthew homes this week. The first night of the broadcast there were 34 guests in the various homes that were participating. 21 people made first time decisions to follow Christ and four others rededicated their lives to him. The second night was equally amazing. Another 21 people made first time decisions to follow Christ. The final night there were 30 guests in the Matthew homes. After hearing the testimony of Yasmin Mejias, a well known Puerto Rican comedian, and a powerful message by Billy Graham, 25 people made decisions to follow Christ and three others rededicated their lives to Him. This small church saw 74 people make decisions to follow Christ, in just three days!
Pastor Fernando Ramos is the pastor of the Iglesia Cristiana Casa de Amor (Christian Church House of Love) in the city of Ponce. 17 families in the church opened their homes to be Matthews for the My Hope project. They hosted 86 guests, and were thrilled to have 32 first time salvation decisions, and 14 rededications. Pastor Ramos said that in one the of the Matthew homes, a guest brought her 27 years old cousin with her who had been diagnosed with cancer. After watching Franklin Graham’s message about the prodigal son, she accepted Christ into her heart. As if that wasn’t enough, before she left for the night, the family prayed for her healing from cancer. The following Tuesday she had an appointment with her doctor. The Doctor performed a few routine tests and then said, “What happened to your cancer? It’s gone!” Ramos says she has been faithfully attending church ever since the broadcast.
