‘Bold for Christ.’
Many of us have likely heard a pastor preach those words, but how many of us actually get out of our comfort zones and tell the world—or even our friends—about Jesus?
In Lansing, Michigan, Tuesday at Franklin Graham’s 45th Decision America Tour stop, Michiganders showed a lot of boldness.
A whopping estimated 8,100 people crowded outside the Wolverine State’s Capitol—tying Austin, Texas, for the third largest crowd to attend a Decision America prayer rally. The largest gathering so far was in May in Nashville, Tennessee, with an estimated 8,700 people.
With just five states remaining on the 50-state tour that Franklin Graham calls a “campaign for God,” the evangelist is in the homestretch and finishing strong.
He continues to urge people to stand up for God in their communities or even consider running for office themselves.
“We need Christians at every level of government,” Franklin Graham said. “Get involved in your community. Start a prayer group. Begin to pray for your community.”
Milling through the crowd, Ron Squires wasn’t afraid to show his boldness for Christ. Decked out in a cowboy hat and long tan coat with the words “Cowboy Chaplain” and “Cowboys for Christ,” Ron’s life is a witness for his strong faith in God.
He and his wife, Claire, are involved in the Heavenly Hoofbeats Chapter of “Cowboys for Christ,” an outreach ministry for the livestock industry, and also attend a cowboy church.
As ordained chaplains—and cowboys and cowgirls—Ron and Claire engage people with the Gospel at rodeos—through prayer and a listening ear.
People share their struggles and the couple shares God’s love right in front of the bull riders.
Besides watching the action, Ron gets to pray for the rough stock riders before they hit the ring. “That’s one of the great benefits and blessings of it,” he says.
Ron quoted 2 Chronicles 7:14 word for word and said this promise from God is why he came to the rally.
“We need to unite all the Christians. The enemy’s crowds get together all the time and go against stuff. We need to be one body.”
And that’s what Franklin Graham told the crowd—”We need a Christian revolution in our nation, and it begins in our communities. It begins in our own homes and we take it to our state capitals … and then we can get Washington.”
Scott Burgess is doing his part to stand up for God’s moral standards—or perhaps sit upright on his horse may be a better description. As a lover of God, America and horses, he stood out as he rode up to the rally on a white horse, carrying a large American flag.
”Carrying a flag, usually, no one pays attention. Carrying a flag riding a horse, everyone pays attention, so [I’m] ultimately trying to get people to think, trying to inspire, much like the message today—not telling anyone what to think or how to vote.”
Scott has proudly ridden his horse to a Michigan State University football game and through the massive campus, trying to get people to think about patriotism and how far our country has strayed from God’s plan and provision.
“I love this country and hate to see what’s happened to it,” he said. “People are failing God. And I hope that people would start to honor God and honor our country. … We need to get out and vote and change things.”
Scott’s message echoes one of Franklin Graham’s urgent pleas on the Decision America Tour—to get Christians to vote so they won’t lose religious liberties.
“Our forefathers gave us the freedom of religion,” the evangelist said. “Freedom of religion means you can live your faith 24/7. You can live it out in the public.”
And that is exactly what believers like Ron and Claire Squires and Scott Burgess do—display their faith and hope for all to see—and hopefully point others to a relationship with Jesus Christ.
