Key Highlights
- Rev. Franklin Graham calls for a “time of prayer and repentance” amid political unrest.
- Graham warns that the country is in trouble due to hate, crime, drugs, and hopelessness.
- The call comes after protests following the shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent.
- Graham asserts that some protesters are being used as “pawns” by the radical socialist left.
Rev. Franklin Graham’s Call to Prayer and Repentance
The nation is in a state of crisis, according to evangelical leader Rev. Franklin Graham. In a social media post on Monday, Graham, the CEO of Samaritan’s Purse and son of legendary evangelist Billy Graham, urged Americans to join him in a “time of prayer and repentance” scheduled for Wednesday at noon ET.
“If you think our nation is in trouble now, just wait,” Graham asked. “As our streets boil over with hate, anger, crime, drugs, and just sheer hopelessness, is there something we can do?” He continued, “You bet there is.
As a nation, our sins are so great. We have increasingly turned our backs on God and His commands, embracing godless secularism. We need to ask His forgiveness and seek His face.”
Background of the Call for Prayer
Graham’s call comes in the wake of recent protests across the country against immigration law enforcement operations. The most notable incident was the shooting of Renee Good, a 26-year-old woman from Minneapolis, Minnesota, by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent last Wednesday. While the Trump administration maintains that the shooting was justified self-defense, critics contend that it was an unnecessary use of force.
In response to these events, Graham urged Americans to “pray for our leaders” and for God to bring calm to the streets. He also warned against those who he believes are seeking to destroy the United States: “There are many who would like to stir things up—there are even those who would like to destroy this great country,” he stated.
Protests and Criticism
Graham’s comments came as protests continued in Minneapolis, where Good was shot. The Evangelical leader decried the protesters’ chants of “Save a life, kill ICE!” or calling for the hanging of Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. He warned that such actions are indicative of a larger issue: “Lying, stealing, cheating—nothing is out of bounds in order to grab power,” he said.
He also criticized those joining the protests as being used by the radical socialist left, whose goal is to make the United States like Venezuela. Graham stated, “Unfortunately, many people joining these protests have no clue that they are just being used as pawns.”
Graham’s Response to Good Shooting
In a statement published Thursday, Graham weighed in on the shooting of Renee Good. He wrote, “It is tragic that Renee Good was killed in Minneapolis yesterday. Pray for her family and loved ones.” He continued by advising people to obey law enforcement: “This incident serves as a strong reminder that everyone needs to obey law enforcement.
If they tell you to raise your hands, raise your hands; if they tell you to get out of the car, get out of the car. Argue with them in court and let a judge decide who is right or wrong, but you should not take a chance of getting hurt.”
Franklin Graham’s call for a nationwide “time of prayer and repentance” comes at a volatile time for American politics, reflecting deep divisions within the country on issues such as immigration, law enforcement, and social justice. His message is clear: in times of crisis, faith and unity are essential.