It hardly seemed possible to rival the jubilance that accompanied Ecuador's qualification last spring for soccer's World Cup 2006. But it happened when tens of thousands gathered at a major soccer stadium in Quito for the Festival de Esperanza (Festival of Hope) Friday-Saturday, Sept. 22-23.

The champion was Jesus Christ in an event that featured Franklin Graham as evangelist who invited people to trust Jesus as the one who offers hope.

Ecuadorians showed their devotion to Christ through song, applause, cheers and more. On Friday night the crowd's energy mounted during performances by musical groups with styles as diverse as folkloric, rap and choral to Spanish flamenco, country, metal and Christian contemporary.

Among the extensive talent lineup was Tony Tamayo, a singer and radio program host in Quito. Upon taking the stage amid a driving musical theme he immediately began clapping his hands in exaggerated motion, with people soon on their feet and moving with the music.

With live coverage of the event aired on 23 stations affiliated with ALAS, HCJB World Radio's Latin American radio network, musician Marcos Vidal of Spain continued adding electricity by encouraging "the wave" by crowds in the stands. Next Marcos Witt, the son of missionaries to Mexico, charged ahead with a song that had many joining in on the chorus.

When Witt slowed the tempo in "Dios Ha Sido Bueno" (God Has Been Good), the crowd reciprocated, becoming more contemplative before Graham's message. Women voiced the lyrics as tears ran down their cheeks, with men singing with as much gusto, vibrancy and conviction as Witt did onstage.

The music led to Graham's delivery of a message about the New Testament account of Jesus' invitation to Zacchaeus to make his way through crowds of people and become His disciple.

Graham began with brief remarks revealing his delight at being warmly welcomed to Quito. Earlier that evening, the mayor's representative had presented him with the "Illustrious Guest" honor and an evangelical indigenous woman had draped a colorful poncho on him as he'd stooped to greet her.

Not long into his sermon Graham was onto his favorite themes-heaven and hell, grace overcoming the penalty of sin, and the enduring love of a gracious and compassionate God for those who need Him but may not recognize that need.

"This is what the Bible tells us-that God sent His son to this earth to save your soul," Graham said, his message translated phrase by phrase into Spanish.

Several times he spelled out the need to turn away from sin and turn to God. He invited his listeners to a designated area on the soccer field where volunteers were to join them in prayer and instruction about following Christ. "Tonight you can leave this stadium forgiven, cleansed of your sins!" he said.

As the song, "Mi Esperanza" (My Hope), was played, an orderly procession of thousands of seekers, friends, and then festival volunteers filed out of the stands and onto the field. Other songs followed for about 15 minutes as people streamed forward to pray a prayer of salvation led by Graham. An estimated 13,600 people filled out response cards that were distributed to volunteers for purposes of follow-up by local evangelical churches.

"I'm going to start attending (church)" said Yomara, a mother of three who had attended her first festival and had prayed to receive Christ. She'd been invited by a neighbor in La Colmena, a tough neighborhood near historic, central Quito.

Saturday's events even surpassed that, beginning in the morning as an estimated 48,000 young people filling Atahualpa Olympic Stadium for the Festiniáos (KidzFest) after being bused in from different areas. They enjoyed an upbeat program while learning principles of faith and forgiveness. Following the presentation, more than 6,600 children responded to the invitation to commit their lives to Christ.

People again filled the stadium for the closing program that began Saturday afternoon, an event broadcast live by HCJB-FM and emceed by Quito Pastor José "Chema" Reinoso. He signaled for "the wave" to begin to his right behind the stage. This was followed by eight consecutive waves sweeping the stadium, leading to an eruption of laughter from the crowds.

Graham then delivered another simple, straightforward message from the Bible in a style reminiscent of his father, Rev. Billy Graham, who preached in Quito in early 1962 as part of evangelistic campaigns in five South American countries. By later that year he had preached in nine countries on the continent.

The elder Graham had been interviewed by the mission's television ministry, and Franklin was presented with a black-and-white photograph of the occasion. In a lighter moment at Radio Station HCJB, he smiled upon receiving the picture. "Look at Cliff [Barrows]," he said. "He's thinking, 'I just wish Billy would keep his answers short!'"

The evangelist, who heads both the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan's Purse, spoke briefly on the live radio program, "Hola Familia" (Hello Family), which also airs on the ALAS network. Near the building where the Grahams' "Hour of Decision" and "Decision Minute" are produced in Spanish ("Momentos de Decisión" and "Minuto Decisivo"), he posed with people for photos.

Then he visited the mission's nearby Hospital Vozandes-Quito, touring the facility. At a nurse's station, missionary physician Dick Douce greeted him with, "I received the Lord with your dad. So welcome!"

Sources: HCJB World Radio, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association