Dear Friend,
On June 26, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriage is legal in all 50 states. This is a defining moment for our nation.
Long before our government came into existence, marriage was created by Almighty God—the One who created man and woman. He is clear about the definition of marriage in His Holy Word: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24, ESV).
In the New Testament, Jesus reiterated God’s definition of marriage: “From the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife’” (Mark 10:6–7). The court did not define marriage, and therefore it is not entitled to redefine it.
We read in the Scriptures how God judged Israel when they did not follow His laws. As a nation we have arrogantly turned our back on God, and I believe God’s judgment will come against our country. I don’t know any country on earth that has been more blessed than America, but it seems as though immorality not only reigns but is now celebrated.
There is no hope for this nation from any political party: Republican, Democrat, tea party, independent, or any other. The only hope for America is God, and that’s why I’m going to be holding Crusades in Oklahoma City and Birmingham in the next few weeks, to preach the truth of the Gospel that can bring real change in hearts and lives, not just now but for all eternity. And that’s why I’ll be going to all 50 states in 2016—to declare the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to call on the church to take a stand, to urge Christians to vote and to run for public office at every level, and to call the people of our nation to prayer and repentance.
We’re calling this the Decision America Tour, and we need your prayers and support as we put the 2016 schedule together. It is a huge undertaking to go to all 50 states in one year. We know we will have opposition, demonstrations, hecklers, and possibly threats. But this will not discourage or deter us from doing what God has called us to do. Start praying now, and I will give you more details as they develop.
Let me also share with you what God has just done in Ukraine and in the Faroe Islands. Ukraine continues to be on the verge of a war with Russia. Tensions are high. Russia has already annexed large portions of Ukraine—people on both sides are living in fear. Everyone I spoke with asked me to remind people to please pray for their country. I had received an invitation from the churches to come to the city of Lviv, located in Western Ukraine.
They were so thrilled when we accepted, and after much prayer, the time finally came for us to be there. The stadium was packed—standing room only. The mayor of the city and his wife were among the thousands who came. When the invitation was given, almost 1,700 people stepped forward to repent of their sins and accept Christ as their Savior. The mayor’s wife was one of them, making her way down to the front from the stadium’s skybox and accepting Christ as Savior. The local media recognized her and quickly gathered around to take pictures and ask her questions. She immediately began to share with them what Christ had done for her! That’s the power of the Gospel at work, and it was a joy to see.
From there we went to the Faroe Islands, a group of small, rocky islands that jut up out of the Atlantic Ocean halfway between Scotland and Iceland. The total population is only 49,000, and the night of our Crusade, nearly 5,000 people attended—that’s 10 percent of the population! We were grateful that the mayor, the speaker of Parliament, and the prime minister all came. The local TV station as well as a radio station carried our evangelistic message live to the entire Faroe Islands.
Our government has made a choice that directly contradicts God’s laws and standards. This will have a significant impact on the future of our nation. Pray for America. The only solution is a change in human hearts, and that comes from the power of the Gospel. We ask you to join us now—through your prayers and gifts—as we use every effective means to proclaim the life-changing message of repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.
May God richly bless you,
Franklin Graham
President
