Seven things Jesus did in 2023 through the Look Up Tour with Will Graham
· Jesus reminded His church of His mission to seek and save the lost and that He makes His disciples fishers of men.
· Jesus answered prayers for salvation of the lost throughout the region (see notes 1 & 5).
· Jesus brought 110 churches in SE Idaho and Western Wyoming together to work with each other for the sake of the gospel (see notes 2 & 6).
· Jesus prepared and encouraged more than 1300 people to share their faith (see note 3).
· Jesus brought thousands of people to the three meetings in Idaho Falls to hear the gospel (see notes 4 & 6).
· Jesus displayed the unity of the body of Christ in and around Idaho Falls by pastors and other leaders working together before, during and after the meetings September 23 & 24.
· Jesus saved hundreds of people (see notes 5 & 6).
Notes and sources
(1) Monthly prayer meetings were held at different churches in Idaho Falls and in other cities starting in November, 2022. Weekly prayer meetings were held on the 1st, 3rd 4th and 5th Tuesdays at noon each month from January through October.
(2) Rett Nelson, East Idaho News, Sept. 22, 2023, Billy Graham’s grandson inviting locals to ‘Look Up’ in eastern Idaho this weekend; https://www.eastidahonews.com/2023/09/billy-grahams-grandson-inviting-locals-to-look-up-in-eastern-idaho-this-weekend/.
(3) Kali Zakariasen, Will Graham Event Energizing Churches Ahead of This Weekend’s Idaho Falls Outreach; September 22, 2023; https://billygraham.org/story/will-graham-event-energizing-churches-in-idaho-falls-region.
(4) Total attendance at the
three meetings was 5,630 as per email from Todd Wood Sept. 27, 2023. See also
(5) As per Todd Wood’s email of
Sept. 27, 2023, 612 decisions for God were made. Out of those 612 decisions, 437 were connected to first time trusting in Jesus for salvation. An
additional 249 responses were received from online viewers, as per the same
email. Also, an unknown number of people
were saved prior to and after the September meetings through personal evangelism of the
1300 people who attended the Christian Life and Witness Class.
(6) Trevor Freeze, Finding a New Identity in Idaho, September 25, 2023;
Addition 10/16/2025:
Two Years After Idaho Outreach, God’s Work Continues
Local churches see lasting impact following Look Up Tour with Will Graham in Idaho Falls
https://billygraham.org/articles/two-years-after-idaho-outreach-god-s-work-continues
Two years ago, more than 5,500 people filled the Mountain America Center in Idaho Falls for the Look Up Tour. As Will Graham shared the life-changing Gospel message over the course of the event—held Sept. 23–24, 2023—it was a weekend that became a turning point for many in the community.
“Many people feel separated from God,” Graham told the crowd. “God doesn’t leave His people, but sin separates us from Him. That is why we need a Savior.”
The moment the evangelist extended the invitation for people to come forward and make a decision for Jesus Christ, Pastor Sam Villalta’s 5-year-old daughter, Selah, tugged on his hand and whispered, “Dad, I want to go.”
“I was in tears, and her mom was in tears. It was such a powerful moment as parents to watch her make that choice for herself,” recalled Villalta. “We’d always raised her to know the Gospel, but that night she said, ‘I want to respond.’ That’s something I’ll never forget.”
Selah now plans to get baptized in a few months.
Uniting Churches in Hard Soil
More than 500 people made a decision for Christ during the Look Up Tour. Villalta said it was an incredible thing to witness, especially in a region where a small fraction of the population belong to a Bible-believing church.
Another local pastor, Todd Wood, was struck with awe over what God had done: “When have we ever experienced hundreds of people responding to Jesus in Idaho in a single day? I don’t think that has ever happened in our history.”
Villalta knew that Idaho Falls was difficult ground for ministry, so when God called him to lead The Falls Church, he understood the challenges. “We were not welcomed with open arms. We were welcomed with, ‘What are you doing here?’” he said.
“One of the biggest criticisms in this area is that churches aren’t unified,” Villalta added. “I told pastors, ‘I’m not here for your sheep. I’m here for those who don’t have a shepherd.’”
But the event changed things for the Christian community in Idaho Falls.
“I feel like the Look Up Tour gave everybody an excuse to get together in the same room,” Villalta said. “You want to share the Gospel and see people saved—how can you argue with that?”
Through the months of preparation, local pastors and congregations who had rarely connected began praying and working side by side. Barriers came down to make way for a new spirit of unity within the local church.
Ongoing Fruit
Two years later, the community can see the ripple effects. Churches are now working together on local outreach events, and Villalta said that believers have been emboldened to share their faith after realizing that “there are more of us than we think.”
For him, the Look Up Tour was more than a two-day event. “Some people dismiss big evangelistic events, but why wouldn’t you do it?” Villalta said. “It’s one more stoke in the fire of evangelism and discipleship. And here, it reminded us that the Gospel is alive in Idaho Falls.”
Comments
Post a Comment