As Russia’s war with Ukraine falters, reports suggest that Vladimir Putin is pressuring his ally, Belarus president, Alexander Lukashenko, to become involved in the conflict.

While this is happening on the political front, something else is taking place spiritually inside Belarus.

Recently, US Evangelist Franklin Graham was allowed to hold a two day rally in the country, CBN reports.

Called the Festival of Hope, it’s being described as the largest evangelistic rally in the country’s history. Some went a step further and called it a ‘miracle.’

On the final night, over 15,000 people filled the Chizhovka Arena in the Belarus’ capital city, Minsk.

So many people showed up, that organizers were forced to use an overflow area. But even that wasn’t sufficient, as many had to stand outside to listen to the crusade.

Organizers handed out over 2,000 Bibles to the hundreds who responded to Graham’s Gospel presentation over the two day event.

Belarus Christians fasted and prayed for the festival that was sponsored by nearly 700 churches across the country.

Graham even met with President Lukashenko, the day before the event started. In a subsequent news release, the president’s press office added that Lukashenko had jokingly told Graham “When you’re talking with the Lord about sins, don’t forget about mine either.”

Lukashenko was elected in 1994, during the country’s only free presidential election. Since then he has modelled his rule after the authoritarian leadership of the old Soviet Union.

Belarus borders both Russia and the Ukraine. It was once part of the old Soviet bloc. It gained its freedom in 1991, after the breakup of the Soviet Union.

Evangelical Christians only make up 2% of the country’s population of nine million. But as one Festival of Hope organizer noted something has changed.

“We’ve never had something like this. We used to maybe be allowed to have 1,000 people come for something. But to have more than 10,000? No, we’ve had nothing like this,” said event cooridnator Leonid Mikhovich. “The status of this arena is also important. It’s one of the largest hockey arenas in the country. We could never ever dream to even rent such a building.”