A few weeks ago, my home state of North Carolina held a critical vote on whether to amend the state constitution to define marriage as only between a man and a woman. My father was quoted in a newspaper ad placed across the state supporting the amendment, and I did radio and television spots to remind people of God’s definition of marriage and the importance of this issue.
The world we are living in has changed so much. My father said, “Watching the moral decline of our country causes me great concern. I believe the home and marriage is the foundation of our society and must be protected. At 93, I never thought we would have to debate the definition of marriage. The Bible is clear—God’s definition of marriage is between a man and a woman” (see Matthew 19:4–6).
We were thankful that the amendment passed, but it was not without considerable opposition. One pastor told us that he had hesitated to take a public stand on the issue, but when he saw that Billy Graham was speaking out, it gave him the courage to do so as well.
On the day after the vote, President Obama gave an interview in which he stated, firmly and publicly for the first time, that he favors same-sex marriage. It grieves me that our president has now openly defied God’s definition of marriage and advocates a lifestyle the Bible calls sinful. It is a sad day for America. Pray for our country.
At BGEA, we’re committed to preaching the truth as revealed in the Bible, and we proclaim the Gospel that changes hearts and saves souls for eternity. We need your prayers and support as we go to Hungary and the Baltic region of Europe in the next few weeks—and then to the Great Lakes area of North America—to hold evangelistic Crusades.
In Hungary today, less than half the people believe God even exists and only 6 percent attend church. Millions need to hear the Gospel. Pray for me, that the Holy Spirit will enable me to preach clearly “about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance” (Acts 28:31, ESV).
Latvia is a small Baltic nation that suffered under Russian domination for many decades until gaining its freedom in 1990. Two years ago, I preached at Latvia’s first large-scale evangelistic outreach since it gained independence, and there was so much excitement and response to the preaching of the Gospel that they asked us to come back. This Crusade event in June is youth-focused and is the first time Latvian churches have united together specifically to reach youth.
Churches in the neighboring nations of Estonia and Lithuania are also participating, bringing in bus loads of young people. We’ll be going 12 hours strong—from noon to midnight. We will have a live music concert for several hours, then I will get up and preach and give an invitation. After more music, I will preach again and give an invitation. Then there will be some more music, and I will preach and give another invitation. Pray for a great outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit on the Baltics.
From there I will be going straight to Rochester, N.Y., one of several cities around the Great Lakes where we are holding evangelistic outreaches. The first Rock the Lakes event was in Milwaukee last year, and after Rochester this June, we will be going to Green Bay, Buffalo, and then Ottawa, holding a two-day Crusade in each city, with Saturday focusing on the youth and all day Sunday for entire families. The Great Lakes region is home to at least 40 million people, many of whom are without hope and without God.
It is frightening that the majority of young people in the world today know little or nothing about God and His Word and rarely, if ever, attend church. They don’t know that God created them, loves them, and sent His Son to die for their sins. Unless God moves in a mighty way among our youth, this will be a lost generation. I don’t know how much longer we will have—time is short. Please be a part of reaching them with the truth of the Gospel.
Our finances are especially tight right now, and we need your prayers and support to respond to the many opportunities God has given. Will you pray about how God might use you to help make sure as many people as possible hear the Gospel? There is no better investment, no more urgent need.
Thank you and God bless you,
Franklin Graham
President
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