Two hours before the event, cars were lined up outside the venue. An estimated 4,600 came out to Liberty Park in Clarksville, Tennessee, to hear Franklin Graham and sing along with Jeremy Camp. Thursday marked the second stop on Franklin Graham’s four-city Decision America Tennessee Tour as he urges people to repent of their sins and lead godly lives.
The Bible tells the story of Bartimaeus, a blind beggar who cried out to God, asking for God's mercy on him. Bartimaeus probably had other needs—like a bath and haircut—Franklin Graham said, "but one need surpassed them all." Have you asked for God’s mercy?
"Many Christians in today's churches are in a spiritual fog," Franklin Graham said. They often trust feelings more than what God's Word says, he continued. He urged the crowd to set God's Word as their foundation for living.
"The same power that rose Jesus from the grave, the same power that commands the dead to wake lives in us," Jeremy Camp sang.
No one is beyond God's forgiveness if they earnestly seek Him. Franklin Graham read from Psalm 103:8: "The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love."
Dennis Agajanian warmed up the crowd with some old hymn favorites.
As the sun went down behind the stage, just a short distance from the Cumberland River, Franklin Graham talked about a different kind of light—the light of Christ, which should shine through those who follow Him.
Pride can plague us all and destroys us from the inside, Franklin Graham said, but Christ followers should be different—seeking godliness in everything they do.
Thousands joined hands in the outdoor amphitheatre, praying to God to forgive their sins, the sins of our nation and for those in all levels of government. Franklin Graham was in Chattanooga Monday and will be in Jackson and Memphis, Tennessee, this weekend as the Decision America Tour continues.
Many may doubt that God can forgive them, Franklin Graham said, but "that's exactly why God sent Jesus Christ to earth," to offer forgiveness and life. Franklin Graham offered 1 John 1:9 as proof of God's mercy: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Losing his first wife to cancer "shook me to my core," Jeremy Camp said, but added that God's presence also became more real to him during that time. He shared with the crowd about a God who identifies with our suffering and comforts us in the hard times.
Fireworks ended the night as children squealed with joy and adults were captivated by the lit up sky.
