Some look at an 88-degree March day in Arizona and shrug their shoulders. It’s a dry heat, the locals claim, holding off a smile.
But this weekend, there’s nothing “dry” about the political process in this desert swing state. All four of the top U.S. presidential contenders are swooping in for rallies over a four-day period.
You can’t turn on a TV or radio, buy a newspaper or answer your phone without being inundated.
But none of that was a concern to Franklin Graham, who gave a different sort of stump speech in front of an estimated 6,700 on the Arizona State Capitol lawn.
“I’m running a campaign for God,” he told a boisterous, flag-waving crowd, many supporting umbrellas to shield themselves from the noon sun. “Let’s get Him back on the front pages where He belongs.”
Welcome to stop No. 10 on the Decision America Tour, which has drawn more than 40,000 people to state capitols, including 13,000-plus this week in Colorado, New Mexico and on Friday in Phoenix, Arizona.
Franklin Graham has a burden for the direction of our nation and is holding prayer rallies at all 50 state capitols around the country with a simple message: “America is being stripped of its Christian heritage.”
Amen, says Ginette of Scottsdale: “We’ve been stepped on all over the place. We have to stand firm for the Lord.”
Ginette’s friend, Loretta, couldn’t agree more. As a counselor and choir member at the 1986 Billy Graham Crusade in Paris, she was all in when it came to a gathering of Christians praying for the nation.
“I think it’s great,” said Loretta, also of Scottsdale. “Especially if it encourages people to pray together in small groups and in their churches. We don’t pray enough in our churches.”
Corporate prayer was front and center Friday. Franklin Graham strongly emboldened the crowd to confess their sins as well as the sins of the nation and their forefathers before asking for God’s favor to continue to wash over the country.
“I think America has been too blessed, if you ask me,” Loretta said. “Our faith is strengthened by going through trials and we’ve had it too easy.”
Reasons for coming out to the lunch-hour prayer rally varied, but a common link was Christians wanting desperately to “do something” about the direction our country is spiraling.
Franklin Graham delivered: “You ask yourself, ‘What can we do? Does my vote count? Does it make a difference?’”
He didn’t let that question linger long.
“I want you to vote.”
And the Decision America Tour—if anyone in Arizona has had their doubts—was largely about every race but the presidential one.
“Let’s get Christians in office,” Franklin Graham said. “Can you imagine if the majority of people on the city council or the school board were men and women of God what an impact it would have on the nation?”
Many nodded their heads in agreement or voiced an affirmation.
Nancy Storms of nearby Chandler, Arizona, would love nothing more. That’s why she volunteered her time to help on the tour stop. “I love America. And I appreciate the ministry of Franklin and his family through the years,” said the pastor’s wife.
“One person can’t do it by themselves but you get a lot of one persons together and a lot can be accomplished.”
Or as Corwin Vega said, “I think people were stirred up today.”
The 30-year-old from Scottsdale was moved by all the Christians uniting together, even hand-in-hand at one point: “We need more revival for our people.”
Franklin Graham took the opportunity of such a large gathering to preach the Gospel and give an invitation to respond to the Good News, which many did via text: “Jesus Christ is not dead,” he said. “He’s alive here at the State Capitol.”
With the crowd quickly dispersing after, renewed with hope for America, Scottsdale’s Renee Cruz took a moment to take everything in. “It was awesome,” she said. “I didn’t know how many people to expect, but when they were just flocking in I said, ‘Thank you, Jesus.’
“There were also a lot of people here who were just walking by and curious. And the spirit of God just drew them in.”
