Church leaders including Franklin Graham & Alveda King are urging America to turn to prayer
Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA), has requested that churches across America pray for the nation tomorrow on Pentecost Sunday. Graham has reacted strongly to the death of George Floyd, a man who died in police custody, and the ensuing violent protests that have erupted nationwide.
He shared the following in a Facebook post:
As our nation convulses with pain, anger, and hatred, this is a moment for Christians to shine for our Lord
“As our nation convulses with pain, anger, and hatred, this is a moment for Christians to shine for our Lord, who is the Prince of Peace. The Bible says, “Do not let the sun go down on your anger” (Ephesians 4:26, ESV), yet each sundown is bringing with it the darkness of more violence and destruction in more cities. Scripture also tells us, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). This means doing what we personally can do to right wrongs and help the hurting. It also means praying fervently to our Heavenly Father for Him to change hearts and heal our land. The One “who is in you” — Christ — “is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).”
Graham is calling on all churches across our nation to make Sunday, May 31 a time for special intercession for our nation in their Sunday morning services, whether in person or online. He is asking believers to pray and to share this article with their pastors
“We need to pray for PEACE, because “the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:20).”
“Pray for PERSPECTIVE, because “the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere” (James 3:17).”
“Pray for PATIENCE, because of God’s “kindness and forbearance and patience” toward us all (Romans 2:4). And pray for an OUTPOURING of His wisdom and direction for our leaders and officials who are dealing with this crisis. Ask God to change hearts and heal this divide in our nation.”
Graham reminds Christians that tomorrow is Pentecost Sunday, which marks the day the Holy Spirit filled Christ’s followers after He ascended back to the Father. “There is no better time for us to seek a fresh visitation from God upon our lives, homes, churches, communities and country.”
Evangelist Alveda King is also asking Americans to pray and to stop the looting and the shooting following the senseless death of George Floyd, a man with a history of violence who was needlessly killed while he was being charged with passing counterfeit bills and resisting arrest..
“With my heart heavily grieved and moved by the cruel murder of George Floyd, who was a man of God, and other related events, an urgent cry arose in my heart,” King says. “Pray for an end of the looting and shooting. Unite in prayer as One Blood!”
“And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.'” – Acts 17:26-28 NKJV
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King says she is “saddened, yet undaunted” that a quote from her uncle Martin Luther King, Jr., is being taken out of context: “violence is the language of the unheard.” —Martin Luther King Jr.
“Martin Luther King spoke those words in defense of non-violence; he refused to promote violence as a solution to the ills of society,” states King. “As we are in ‘the eye of the storm,’ the solution remains: PEACE BE STILL.”
“As the world is captivated by fear and frustration, people everywhere need to be captivated by Jesus Christ,” says Will Graham Vice President of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, inviting people to hear a message of hope via a Facebook event. “Through the storms of life, we need His Holy Spirit to give us peace and to fill us with His love for the lost and for each other.”
The staff at Christian Activities joins Franklin Graham and Alveda King in both our dismay over the shocking death of George Floyd and in asking the church to pray instead of becoming more divided, to pray instead of turning to violent anger.
Let’s make Pentecost Sunday a day for special intercession for our nation in our Sunday morning services, whether in person or online. As Franklin Graham stated, “There is no better time for us to seek a fresh visitation from God upon our lives, homes, churches, communities and country.”
