Franklin Graham: Do Not Surrender, and Do Not Pivot!

Dear Friend,

As I write to you this month, the U.S. Senate is discussing a very dangerous piece of legislation—the Equality Act.

If it passes the Senate like it did in the House, this bill would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlaws discrimination of individuals based on race, sex, and religion. The act would add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to that list. It would override the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act and similar state laws that aim to protect our religious freedom and convictions.

>>Contact your senators and ask them to vote no on the Equality Act

The message to the church from certain influential, high-level people in government is loud and clear: Fully embrace the sexual revolution and redefine marriage and gender—or else! The Equality Act is moving our nation in a direction that elevates government above God. They want to make the moral decisions, usurping His authority.

Under its broad reach, the Equality Act will:

• Force schools, churches, and hospitals to accept the government’s beliefs and mandates about sexual orientation and gender identity. It could threaten everyday speech, and people can be fined or lose their jobs for using the wrong name or pronouns.
• Allow boys in girls’ sports, boys in girls’ locker rooms, men in women’s shelters, and men in women’s prisons. It will force teachers and students to publicly pretend that a biological male is a female, making biological sex (and science) a relic of the past.
• Strip Christian and other religious ministries of their right to hire people of shared faith to pursue a shared mission. Can you imagine a Christian organization being forced to hire people hostile to its deeply held beliefs?
• Force many doctors and medical professionals to violate their conscience and engage in gender transition treatments such as hormone blocking.
• Threaten accreditation to religious colleges and universities if they do not apply sexual orientation and gender identity to dorms, sports, places of privacy, and even teachings.

This legislation would massively change our moral landscape and silence people of faith who do not agree with the secular values of the Left. But more than muzzling us, they want to force us to pivot—to change direction—instead of trusting God and standing on His Word. If we begin compromising on basic Biblical truths, it will lead to the end of Christianity in this country. We cannot surrender on our watch. We must not remain silent.

What can you do? First and foremost, please pray fervently for God to intervene in this matter. We can only move forward on our knees, dependent upon Almighty God. I am so thankful the Bible promises “the Lord hears when I call to Him” (Psalm 4:3, ESV). He hears and answers the prayers of His people.

By the time you read this, if the Senate is still debating the bill, call your senators immediately and ask them to vote NO with conviction to the Equality Act. Write to the White House to express your concerns. This is not about politics—it’s about Biblical truth and religious freedom, and if we don’t act now, we could see persecution like American Christians have never experienced.

My friend Dr. Albert Mohler, president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, wrote an article called, “Pivoting to Surrender: A Warning for All Christians.” Please read every word of it, and pass it on to your pastor and friends. You can also read it and share it online at DecisionMagazine.com. It’s a sobering and urgent call for such a time as this, and I think every Christian should read it.

The Apostle Paul faced significant opposition and criticism while he ministered in the city of Corinth. The resistance could not stop him, however, and he continued sharing the Word of God. The Bible says many Corinthians heard the Gospel, believed, and were baptized. During that time, the Lord spoke to him, saying, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you” (Acts 18:9–10, ESV).

In difficult days, we must remember God promised He would always be with His people—those who believe in Him, according to the Scriptures, repent of their sins, receive Him into their lives, and follow Him in obedience. As our country continues to turn further away from God and the Bible, followers of Jesus must work to preserve His truth for future generations.

We are building a new facility at our headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Billy Graham Archive and Research Center will house a wealth of historical records, sermon manuscripts, correspondence, photos, audio and video collections, and unique memorabilia from eight decades of my father’s global ministry. We plan to preserve this historical material for one purpose: to inform, inspire, and equip future generations of preachers, evangelists, pastors, and students for the work of evangelism. In our culture that is “tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting” (Ephesians 4:14, NKJV), we will proclaim the unchanging truths of God’s Word.

The Lord calls us to take that message into the whole world—especially into challenging and painful situations. The Apostle Paul challenged Timothy, “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2, ESV).

Many people in our nation recently experienced great difficulty as a result of massive winter storms. Your prayers and gifts helped Billy Graham Rapid Response Team chaplains deploy to Salem, Oregon, after one of the worst ice storms in the state’s history.

One way our chaplains minister in these situations is to knock on doors and check on local residents. Chaplains are happy to listen, talk, and pray with anyone in need—and they look for opportunities to share the Good News of Christ. They also take time to care for first responders who work tirelessly in the aftermath of disasters.

While caring for people in the area, chaplains met a homeowner who told them of her past struggles with alcohol and drugs. She was currently battling PTSD issues following the death of her husband of 32 years and broke down in tears. On top of that, she said she fears she will be evicted soon from her home and does not know where to go. The chaplains began talking to her about spiritual matters, and they shared the booklet “Steps to Peace With God,” which explains what the Bible says about salvation. She admitted that although she was baptized as a child, she had been walking far from God. After hearing the Gospel, she said she wanted to surrender control to the Lord, and she prayed to repent of her sins and follow Him. Please pray for her and others like her who have recently made decisions for Jesus Christ.

Teams of our chaplains also went to Austin, Texas, after extreme winter storms left millions without power for days in record cold temperatures. The blizzard-like conditions resulted in more than 70 deaths and extensive damage to homes.

Thank you for your continued partnership in this ministry. Your prayers and support are taking the Good News of Jesus Christ around the world. Together, we will keep standing on Biblical truth and offering God’s message everywhere He opens the door.

You have my word: The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association will stand firmly and faithfully on God’s truth. We will not waver, and I challenge you and your church with every ounce of strength in me: Do not pivot!

May God richly bless you,

Franklin Graham
President

Will You Please Pray for America?

1. Pray for people to humble themselves before God, repenting of their sins (2 Chronicles 7:14).
2. Ask the Lord to preserve religious liberty and freedom of speech in this country (2 Corinthians 3:17).
3. Pray that God will strengthen His church with courage, boldness, and discernment (Joshua 1:6–9).