Letter to the Editor

April 5, 2016

Dear Editor:

I want to make sure people in your area know that Franklin Graham's Decision America Tour Prayer Rally will be in Jefferson City, Missouri, at noon on May 17.

I'm very concerned about this visit by Franklin Graham. The more I ask people if they know about it, the more I hear people say they have never heard of the event. I've also spoken with those at a well-known Christian bookstore and at Christian radio stations.

It seems as though Missourians along the I-70 corridor from St. Louis to Kansas City and the I-44 corridor from Springfield to St. Louis are well on the way to making sure Missouri supports this event. However, I want to know if Southeast Missouri will be represented??

Graham, Billy Graham's eldest son, is committed to holding a prayer rally for our nation on the Capitol steps of each state capital this year. He has already been to 13 states with over 40,000 people in attendance!

Graham is urging Christians to pray for the nation, to vote for candidates that stand for Biblical values, and to engage in their community. He also presents the Gospel message to the crowds. He is concerned that America is being "stripped of its Christian heritage."

While Graham emphasizes the importance of the upcoming election, he does not support any candidate or any political party at his rallies.

As the political candidates are traveling across the country, Graham insists he is giving a different sort of stump speech. In Phoenix he told his audience, "I'm running a campaign for God. Let's get Him back on the front pages where He belongs."

People interested in attending the Missouri Rally are encouraged to start within their churches. The Decision America team suggests that people organize ahead of time to pray for the Missouri Rally. Transportation could be arranged for those who can attend on May 17.

For those who cannot be in Jefferson City, churches in a community can come together to pray in a central location or within their own churches at noon as the Missouri Prayer Rally takes place May 17.

There is a large amount of information available for churches on the official website--https://decisionamericatour.com/tour/Missouri.

On the "take action" link, I would encourage your readers to get involved according to their own interests: committing to sign Graham's pledge, volunteering at the MO rally or in your community, registering to vote, and signing up for our state's prayer team on Facebook at "MO Decision America Prayer Group."

We often hear the Christian community described as the "silent majority." Unfortunately, we know that 20-30 million professing Christians did not vote in the last presidential election.

We can not sit back when a prayer rally event like this, which is already having profound effects in states where Graham has been, comes to our own backyard. There is no excuse with the words, "I don't know what I as one person can do" to impact this world for our children and grandchildren.

I would ask your readers to GET INVOLVED! You can make a difference by making a commitment for only the next 6 weeks within your own church and community!

See you in Jefferson City on May 17!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Donna Shell

Marble Hill, MO