Jonathan Lotz says he'll talk about Jesus- Grandson of Billy Graham leading upcoming revival services at Florence Baptist.

A grandson of the late Dr. Billy Graham will be in Rutherford County Sunday, Nov. 5 until Wednesday, Nov. 8 to preach revival messages at Florence Baptist Church in Forest City. All services will be in the sanctuary with the Sunday worship at 11 a.m. Evening services, Sunday-Wednesday, will be at 6 p.m.

Jonathan Lotz, the son of Anne Graham Lotz and the late Danny Lotz, said during a telephone interview recently, he wants folks in Rutherford County to come and hear how Jesus changed his life "and how Jesus can change theirs."

"I am an itinerant preacher," Lotz said. He described himself as an itinerant preacher, an evangelist who preaches the basic Christian redemption message when traveling around to different groups of people.

Florence Baptist is just one of several churches where Lotz has been called to revival services this fall.

"I've never emailed anyone, called anyone or asked anyone if I could come do a revival," Lotz said. "I leave that up to the Lord" and then he preaches where he's called.

"I've been preaching a long time," he said.

"On January 25, 1990, God called me to preach but I've been doing it longer than that," he said.

Lotz, a member of the most well known evangelistic family in the country, hopes people aren't going to come to the services in Forest City to hear 'Jonathan Lotz' preach.

"I want them to come to hear from Jesus," he said. He will preach the Bible and "we'll talk about Jesus."

Lotz came to know Jesus personally as an eight-year-old child watching a Billy Graham Crusade on television. He said he probably heard the gospel "a hundred times a day" growing up, but it was at that time watching the crusade, he heard from Jesus.

"I heard that Jesus loved me and I knew I was separated from God. He invited me to him. I know the difference that Jesus has made," Lotz said.

During one period in his life Lotz worked in Dr. Graham's evangelistic association. He recalled the time they were in Atlanta for a series of meetings. Dr. Graham invited his grandson to his hotel for lunch. While there, Lotz said Dr. Graham called Ted Turner and introduced himself and told him about the revival services in Atlanta and invited him.

"He never assumed anyone knew him. He was a humble man," Lotz said.

To Lotz and the Graham family, Dr. Graham was "Daddy Bill" who taught the foundation of Jesus Christ not only to his family, but to the world.

"To the world he was a man in a suit and tie. To us he was the same man, in bluejeans and a ball cap," Lotz said.

Lotz said although 220 million people across the world heard the gospel preached by Dr. Graham, he always had a concern for the individual soul.

Lotz said he will tell the people of Rutherford County, "Jesus is the answer."

He believes the world is in great chaos today because, "we've told God to get out of our schools, business, Bible reading, the government and even church. God is doing that."

"We are adhering to relative truth...but, Jesus is the way, the truth and the life," he said.

Lotz will share the hope of Jesus Christ, believing "without Jesus there is chaos, We will never experience peace without Jesus. There is no peace absent from God," he said.

Lotz says a real relationship with Jesus changes lives. Jesus calls people as individuals and each must have a real relationship with Jesus in order to change Rutherford County, Forest City, the state and nation, he said.

The news of war in Israel today is leading to the truth that Jesus is coming back to earth.

"Jesus is coming soon. It may be today or maybe a thousand years from now, but it's imminent, Jesus is coming," he said.

Lotz said he loves it that God called him to Rutherford County. "He opened the doors in Forest City," he said.

"We will talk about John 14:6,' I am the way, the truth and the life' and we'll talk about Romans 5:9," ...'While we were yet sinners, he died for us," Lotz continued.

"Christ is our only Hope," he said.

Lotz lives in Garner, and is the director of Johnathan Lotz Ministries.

He and Florence pastor Daniel Selman have a mutual friend who connected them regarding the revival services.

Lotz has traveled across the nation and internationally to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a world in need of hope. Lotz has served on staff with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association; the Fellowship of Christian Athletes; Build the Village, a missions organization in East Africa; and Park Cities Presbyterian Church (PCA).