“Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.”
— Abraham Lincoln, answering a question during the Civil War
The irony was thick in Springfield, Illinois.
Almost as thick as the suffocating humidity that turned an already scorching summer afternoon into a 100-degree “feels-like” temperature at the Illinois Statehouse.
But as Franklin Graham took the podium before a raucous crowd—estimated by local officials as 5,800—he did so directly below a 10-foot, 6-inch bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln. But it was hard not to wonder if the 16th President of the United States, peering over this crowd, would even recognize today’s America.
It’s been over 150 years since Lincoln’s famous quote during the Civil War era: “My greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.”
But just how to return this country to God’s side? Or is it too late?
The country has been through a lot in recent years—and even in recent days. Franklin Graham began Tuesday’s Decision America Tour prayer rally with a different tone, praying for the families affected by the horrific Orlando mass shooting over the weekend.
He then asked the nearly 6,000 jammed into the Statehouse grounds to humbly and audibly confess to the Heavenly Father the sins of our nation.
“May God have mercy on this country,” said Chris Amaka, a Nigerian native, who moved to Springfield in 2007. “It’s in trouble.”
Crowds like the one on Tuesday, braving extreme heat conditions for several hours, underscore the concern Americans have for their country. And why the 50-state Decision America Tour is resonating so loudly.
A chance to come together with fellow believers and pray for the nation to turn back to God? Well, that’s worth a glistening face and a wet shirt.
“You can endure anything for a little while,” said Brad Snowden, pastor of a church in Newton, Illinois, 110 miles south of Springfield. “America needs revival. And we’re trying to teach our children that God is still on the throne.
“Our only hope is prayer right now.”
It’s a theme Franklin Graham has outlined in 27 states now, speaking to more than 125,000 around State Capitol steps and lawns. “There’s no political party who can turn this country around. The only hope for the United States of America is Almighty God.”
That hope is what drew Alicia Wright, a 25-year-old from Eureka, Illinois, to Springfield’s South 2nd Street.
“I love that the focus is on prayer,” she said. “I think our only hope is coming together in unity and prayer. It’s like God sees us when we gather together to pray.”
Alicia’s mother, Cheryl Wright, fully agrees: “Instead of putting our hope in politicians, we need to put our hope in God,” she said. “I really appreciate that they’re organizing all these prayer rallies because it gives people hope.”
Franklin Graham encouraged the thousands in attendance to begin community prayer groups, to vote for candidates who stand for biblical values and prayerfully consider running for office. Or find someone in your circle who will.
“Look for people in your community you can get behind,” Franklin Graham said. “Encourage them to run for school board. Encourage them to run for city council. Encourage them to run for judge.
“Let’s become political activists for God.”
Chris Amaka is all in: “We need Christians in the Capitol. And particularly in school.”
Cheryl Wright is, too: “I agree with 100 percent of what (Franklin) said. “It has to start with you.”
