10,000 help Rev. Franklin Graham kick off 10-city ‘God Loves You’ border tour

McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) — More than 10,000 people from the Rio Grande Valley over the weekend participated in two mammoth religious services that are part of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s border tour.

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The “God Loves You Frontera Tour” kicked off with services in Brownsville and McAllen on Saturday and Sunday — the first two of 10 planned in mostly border cities from Texas to California.

“We are coming to the southern border because it is one of the neediest areas of our country at this time, and people need to hear a message of hope,” said Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the organization and son of the late Rev. Billy Graham. “Everyone along the border is overwhelmed — the churches, the law enforcement agencies, the residents, those there trying to help, as well as the people coming into our country. There are a lot of hungry hearts and hurting people, so I’m coming to the border to tell everyone about God’s Son, Jesus Christ, and how he can make a difference in our lives.”

On Sunday, a service was held at Payne Arena in Hidalgo, south of McAllen. Over 300 churches from the Rio Grande Valley participated in the event, organizers said.

“The message of the ‘God Loves You Frontera Tour’ will offer hope to the hopeless, purpose to the lost and redemption to the broken,” said Abraham Moreno, pastor of Calvary Chapel in McAllen. “This is a message that heals wounds, restores broken lives, and provides a way for people to experience a personal relationship with God’s son.”

The events are free and the next service is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 27, in Laredo, Texas.

Other border services scheduled include:

• Eagle Pass, Texas — Feb. 28 (Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Eagle Pass on Feb. 29.)

• Del Rio, Texas — Feb. 29

• Presidio, Texas — March 2

• El Paso, Texas — March 3

• Tucson, Arizona — March 5

• Yuma, Arizona — March 7

• Chula Vista, California — March 9

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“We want everyone in this community to know that God is always with them and loves them, and the Gospel can be a stabilizing force to help them in their lives,” said Steve Dorman, pastor of First Baptist Church in Brownsville.

More information can be found at the organization’s website GodLovesYouTour.com

Sandra Sanchez can be reached at SSanchez@BorderReport.com.

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