For a few moments, the scene looks more like a concert than a religious gathering. Thousands of people sing, raise their hands and follow the event from the stands of Madrid’s Palacio Vistalegre. On stage appears Franklin Graham, son of the historic evangelist Billy Graham, president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and a close ally of US President Donald Trump.
The Festival of Hope (source in Spanish), held on 30 and 31 May, brought together thousands of attendees and once again highlighted a reality that is increasingly visible in Spain: the rise of evangelical churches.
"Spain needs hope, and that hope is found in Jesus Christ," Graham told those present. The preacher said he could see a renewed interest in the Christian faith in various European countries and expressed his wish for Spain to experience a new spiritual awakening.
According to the “Trump pastor”, 12,600 people attended the festival’s first day and around 2,000 more were left outside the venue for lack of space. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association later put total weekend attendance at 18,700 people.
The gathering was prepared over 18 months and mobilised around 840 churches in the Madrid region belonging to different evangelical denominations. According to the organisers, close to 9,800 people also took part in training and evangelisation activities held in the preceding months.
