Why Ads for Graham's Festival was Banned

Evangelist Franklin Graham says his
Festival of Hope will go on in the United
Kingdom despite backlash and a local bus
company banning ads for the event.
The Festival of Hope is scheduled to take
place Sept. 21-23 in Lancashire and
feature a Gospel message from Graham
along with music from The Afters, Rend
Collective and Michael W. Smith.
Earlier this month, Blackpool Transport –
which runs buses in the area – announced
it was removing ads for the festival
following a social media protest that
highlighted some of Graham’s pasts
statements about homosexuality and
other issues.
Jane Cole of Blackpool Transport told
local media that the removal was the
“result of us listening and acting on
customer and public feedback.”
“Blackpool Transport is a proud ongoing
supporter of the Pride and LGBT+
communities and in no way did we intend
to cause any distress or upset,” she said.
“All buses carrying the advert will remain
off the road until they have been
removed.”
Graham, on his Facebook page, said the
festival is directed at people who are
looking for hope.
“Sex, drugs, money, even religion -- none
of these are the answer,” he wrote . “I’m
coming to share with everyone in
Blackpool, Lancashire, and across North
West England that there is One who can
give you hope. Hope for today, hope for
tomorrow, and hope for eternity. His name
is Jesus Christ!”
The Festival of Hope website noted that
nearly 200 Lancashire churches are
involved in the festival and more than
1,300 church members participated in the
Christian Life & Witness training course in
preparation for the festival.
“The Festival will be a positive event, and
the largest ecumenical Christian event in
Lancashire for a generation,” the website
said. “There is a great deal of excitement
amongst large parts of Lancashire’s
Christian community as we prepare to
share the hope of Jesus Christ.”