The Tauron arena, in Krakow, witnessed on 13 April a large event organised by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) in partnership with evangelical churches from across Poland.

As it happened in other European countries in recent years, the US evangelistic organisation led by Franklin Graham prepared the event alongside local churches.

Poland is a traditionally Roman Catholic country where less there are less than 1% of evangelical Christians.

Michael W. Smith, Taya, and a Polish worship band sang during the Bóg Cię Kocha (in English, God Loves You) event.

Over 13,000 filled the arena, after 420 churches from 15 evangelical denominations in the country mobilised them.

Luke 15

According to the BGEA website, Franklin Graham preached from Luke 15, “about the prodigal son running from his father, only to return later and ask for forgiveness. His father was overjoyed and immediately forgave his son, just as God does for those who come to Him”.

The evangelist told the audience that God “will come into your heart and life if you invite Him (…) but you have to confess your sins, repent, and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ”. Graham’s message was translated into Polish, Ukrainian (there are thousands of refugees in Poland), and sign language.

Over 700 people specifically expressed their decision to follow Jesus Christ and start a journey as new Christians.

“Growing evangelical cooperation” in Poland

After the event, Andrzej Bajenski, bishop of the Churches of Christ in Poland, told the news website Christian Daily International that, in a country where evangelicals are often overseen, an event with “several thousand participants cannot go unnoticed”.

“For smaller everyday communities, large events are important because, thanks to them, we realize that there are more and more of us, and we can create a ‘big mouthpiece’ for the gospel message.”

Bajenski hoped that such efforts to proclaim the Gospel together will help evangelical denominations in Poland to “learn to grow in cooperation despite our differences”.