Thousands of people gathered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana for Franklin Graham's "Decision America Tour," where the prominent evangelist urged U.S. citizens to pray for our nation, as he has "zero hope" in political parties.
According to the Baptist Message, Graham, who is both the president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan's Purse, told the crowd that America as a nation "is in trouble."
"We're here today because we see that our nation is in trouble - that's the state of the union," Graham said. "We are in trouble spiritually, racially, economically, and we're in trouble politically. No political party is going to be able to turn this thing around - only God can fix it."
"I have zero hope in the Democratic Party," Billy Graham's son continued, "but before you Republicans start high-fiving each other, I have zero hope in the Republican Party - or any other political parties. The only hope for our nation is the Almighty God."
To conclude the event, Graham urged attendees to participate in a three-part prayer, charging that "The most important thing we can do is pray."
First, the audience prayed for the sins of the country, then they prayed for their personal sins, and lastly they prayed for the "sins of our fathers."
The famed evangelist later took to Facebook to thank participants and reiterate the call to prayer.
"God's Word says, 'For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them' (Matthew 18:20)," Graham wrote. "Well today it was a privilege to be with 4,200 people who gathered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to call out to God on behalf of our nation! Today was the 3rd stop on the Decision America Tour-47 more to go! I hope you'll be praying and stand with us when I come to your capital. We're asking God to turn this country around."
As reported by The Gospel Herald, Graham declared that he was leaving the GOP last month.
He explained: "Some fear I might be leading an exodus out of the Republican Party. That's not my goal at all. I'm not here to hurt the Republican Party or the Democratic Party-I want to help our nation. I want to stand on Capitol steps and lead this nation state by state in praying for America."
He added, "We'll be praying for our leaders and praying that God would give us politicians who will stand for Biblical values. I want to challenge Christians to get involved in the Democratic Party, the Republican Party and all others to make a difference; to get engaged at every level and to vote. The Bible calls us to be salt and light to this world-- it's time we got off the sidelines and got actively involved in actively working and praying to stop the moral decline of this great nation. I sure hope you will be there with me to stand in your state."
The purpose of the Decision America Tour, as explained on the organization's website, is to bring Americans back to Christian values and bring about true revival.
"America is at a crossroads, and I believe we should take every opportunity to stand up for the things of God and His Word," Graham is quoted as saying on the tour website.
The website adds that the tour's purpose is "to preach the Gospel, and to challenge believers to take a stand and take action."
"[Graham will] be urging Christians to vote, to live out their faith in every part of their lives, and to pray for our nation just as Nehemiah cried out to God to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and restore hope to His people," the website adds.
