On 21 June 2025, a large crowd came together at ExCeL London to attend the much-anticipated “God Loves You” tour event led by Reverend Franklin Graham. The venue, expanded to hold 15,000 people, reached full capacity well before the service began, with an estimated 2,000 more eager attendees unable to enter and remaining outside.
Despite being turned away, those outside joined in worship and singing, creating a powerful atmosphere of unity and faith beyond the building itself. The packed event featured performances by renowned gospel artists including Grammy winners CeCe Winans and Michael W. Smith, as well as the band The Afters.
Rev. Graham addressed the crowd with a message of hope amid the uncertainties of the world. Reflecting on global conflicts in Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, he said, “Since I last preached here in London two years ago, the world seems to be one step closer to Armageddon… Many people feel hopeless.” He urged attendees to find true hope in Jesus Christ, declaring, “You can come to the One who can turn that around, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ—God’s Son.”
The invitation to accept Christ was met with a warm response, including hundreds making personal commitments of faith. Among them was a 16-year-old girl who observed, “Everybody is hungry for God in my generation right now, and He is moving.”
The event was supported by over 550 local churches, demonstrating strong community involvement. In the weeks leading up to the gathering, more than 2,000 young people participated in “Pursuit” events aimed at encouraging faith and spiritual growth among youth. Rebecca Pretorius, a youth leader from Freedom Church in Colchester, shared that 14 young people committed their lives to Christ during their Pursuit event and brought friends along to the London service. She described the movement as “fire… catching light.”
The success of the London event marks a significant moment in evangelical outreach in the UK, with plans to continue the “God Loves You” tour in other cities soon.
