A large crowd gathered at lunchtime Feb. 9 on the lawn of the State House in Columbia to hear Franklin Graham speak as part of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s “Decision America Tour.”
Columbia was the fifth stop on a tour that will eventually take Graham to all 50 state capitols with the message that Christians should pray, vote and engage. The rally came just weeks before the South Carolina primary elections.
Graham said he had no hope in any political party and that the “only hope for this country is Almighty God.” He said every vote counts, and Christians have a moral obligation to vote. He cited statistics suggesting 20-30 million evangelicals stayed home in the last election.
Graham encouraged Christians to consider running for office at all levels of government. He challenged those in attendance to sign a pledge (by sending a text message) to honor God in the home, in public, and with their vote.