Evangelist Will Graham preached the gospel in Toronto, Canada—once known for having more churches per capita than any other place in the country—and about a hundred people responded to Jesus Christ.

A news announcement from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) said the outreach event, led by Graham, a grandson of Billy Graham, and titled “Night of Hope,” took place at Church on the Queensway last month.

Attendees began responding even before Graham invited them to make a commitment, according to the BGEA. The association noted that Toronto’s skyline is still dotted with church steeples and that the city was once known as the “City of Churches” and even referred to as the “evangelical center of the new world.”

“That was then. This is now,” BGEA added. “Church attendance in Toronto has dropped significantly amid a rising tide of secularism, with many places of worship shutting their doors. Sadly, some reports put the number of evangelical Christians in the region at three percent of the population.

“At the same time, the melting pot of the Greater Toronto Area includes Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs, along with a high Jewish population. Of course, there are many who claim no religion at all.”

Many Christians across the region have prayed and “longed for revival,” the BGEA said, “sensing God at work in the sprawling world-class city.” 

The evangelistic event involved worship led by The Afters and TAYA. Graham then shared a personal story with the 2,695 people in attendance. 

Graham recalled how he once was late for a meeting and certain he was going the right direction down a main road, even though his GPS was telling him to turn around. By the time he realized he was on the wrong road, it was too late.

“I had to choose to get off the road and go a different direction if I wanted to reach my destination. I had to admit I was wrong,” said Graham at the event. “Tonight, I’m going to give you a chance to go a new direction in life […]. You’ll have to choose to get off the path you’re on and get on God’s path.”

Graham then shared the parable of the Prodigal Son from Luke 15 about how the young man in the story told by Jesus took his inheritance and squandered it, partying with his friends.

“Sin is fun, but then the fun is gone. It never fulfills you. It makes you miserable, and you’ve lost something you’ll never get back,” said Graham.

Eventually, the Prodigal was abandoned by his friends and was stuck feeding pigs for a living. In desperation, he returned home to his father, who embraced him with open arms.

Similarly, Graham encouraged the audience to “get out of your pigpen” and return home to the heavenly Father.

“God formed you. He knows everything about you. And He wants you to come home to Him tonight. Are you willing to do that?”

People began responding to Jesus Christ even before the evangelist finished speaking. 

“All across the church, they made their way forward,” recalled the BGEA announcement. “Some knelt on the ground. Others cried. Many came together as families.”

Churches in the Toronto will follow up with those who responded, encouraging them to grow in their relationship with God. 

“And thousands will keep praying, asking God to bring revival so that Toronto will once again be known as the City of Churches,” added the BGEA announcement. 

Will Graham is heading to Europe on his next evangelistic endeavour and plans to preach the gospel in Tallinn, Estonia, Oct. 18–19. 

The BGEA requested prayer for this event that God will open hearts to the message and draw many to faith in Jesus Christ in this Baltic nation.