The Franklin Graham Festival of Hope is due to start tomorrow at the Republican in Chisinau, Moldova, nearly a year after preparations began.

The Festival is being held to celebrate 15 years of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association ministry in the country. The most important ministries run under the auspices of the Association include Schools of Evangelism, Associate Evangelist Festivals, The Hour of Decision radio program.

The preparations for the Festival have seen more than 700 churches from Christian denominations right across the spectrum put differences aside in order to work together, with sizeable results. More than 26,000 Christians have attended the Christian Life and Witness Classes in churches throughout Moldova and a recent rally saw the Gospel brought to over 300 youths.

Moldova continues to be unstable, with over one third of all workers having left the country because of high unemployment. The weak economy continues to be reliant predominantly on agriculture and wine production and the country is plagued by its huge human trafficking problem.

The Reverend Viktor Hamm is optimistic in spite of these problems, saying, "There is a new movement of the Spirit of God in the country, something I have not seen before."

The Chairman of the Council of Reference, the Reverend Valeriu Ghiletchi, shares in this optimism, stating, "We have been spreading the seeds of the Gospel. Now it’s time to reap. We expect great things from God!"

The Festival takes place from July 8–10. Two more festivals are scheduled for later this year, in Corpus Christi, Texas, 19-21 August, and Schreveport, Louisiana, November 11-13.