Franklin Graham, alongside more than 215 churches, will hold a Celebration of Hope event at the New Orleans Arena, this weekend (March 11-12), to provide hope for people affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Billy Graham, health permitting, is planning to visit the area, participate in the event and encourage the community by bringing a message of hope.

Franklin Graham has visited the Gulf Coast five times since Katrina with his relief work. International relief organization Samaritan's Purse, led by Franklin Graham, has organized and equipped 5,000 volunteers in the Gulf Coast region and aided more than 7,000 families and homes. Volunteers are cleaning out hundreds of flood-damaged houses in the hard-hit St. Bernard Parish so they can be repaired. Franklin and Billy Graham were scheduled to visit St. Bernard yesterday, attend a special prayer service for New Orleans pastors today, meet with families who received donated mobile homes from Samaritan's Purse tomorrow and dedicate a newly built playground Saturday morning,

The Celebration of Hope event will be held in the New Orleans Arena Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon. The event is open to the public and free of charge. In addition to a message of hope from the Grahams, each night will feature music by artists George Beverly Shea, Cliff Barrows, Dennis Agajanian, the Tommy Coomes Band and a New Orleans gospel choir. On Saturday, Point of Grace and American Idol finalist and New Orleans native George Huff will perform. Sunday night will feature special music by Ricky Skaggs and Nicole C. Mullen.

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