Roe v. Wade ruled unconstitutional
On June 24, the United States Supreme Court announced its historic ruling: Roe v. Wade is unconstitutional. This means individual states will be responsible for creating laws that could ban or restrict abortions.
Just minutes after the Supreme Court’s announcement, Franklin Graham posted the following response on Facebook:
“The United States Supreme Court just announced one of the most significant rulings in my lifetime—officially voting to overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision because it was ‘egregiously wrong from the start,’ as stated by Justice Samuel Alito. The radical left is calling for a ‘night of rage,’ pregnancy centers are already being vandalized and attacked, and our U.S. Supreme Court justices are being targeted with threats and intimidation. Roe v. Wade, passed 49 years ago, has resulted in the deaths of over 63 million innocent children in this country. Sadly, this decision is not an end to abortion—it pushes the battle back to the states. My prayer is that every state will enact protections for children in the womb and that our nation will value life and recognize the rights of our most vulnerable.”
On her Fearless podcast, Cissie Graham Lynch and Todd Chasteen, vice president of public policy and general counsel for Samaritan’s Purse, discussed the implications this ruling has for the pro-life community. “Roe is DEAD. As pro-lifers, this is a huge victory. We give God all the glory,” said Lynch, who prayed during the March for Life in Washington, D.C., this past January.
“Now the decision is in the hands of our state lawmakers. We have hard work ahead of us still.” To listen to the podcast, visit Fearless with Cissie Graham Lynch.
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Franklin Graham shares message of God’s love in Rio
Despite the rain, more than 68,000 people came out to Copacabana Beach to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ during Esperanca Rio in Brazil on Saturday, June 11. Forty-eight years after Billy Graham preached in Rio de Janeiro, Franklin Graham shared the message of God’s love – a message that led thousands of people to respond when asked to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. “God loves you,” said Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. “He’s patient. He doesn’t want you to perish. He wants you to be with Him in heaven. But the only way is through faith in Jesus Christ.”
While Graham has preached in other Brazilian cities, this was his first trip to Rio. More than 4,000 local churches worked together to make the event happen.
Graham’s next evangelistic outreach is in London on July 16. For more information about the God Loves You Tour UK, visit GodLovesYouTour.org.uk.
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Evangelist Will Graham shares “the God of second chances” in Fredericksburg
A total of 5,195 people attended the one-day Rappahannock Area Celebration with Will Graham in Fredericksburg, Virginia, on Saturday, June 25. Volunteers representing more than 170 churches and 41 denominations across the region participated in the evangelistic outreach, which was held at the Fredericksburg Expo & Conference Center.
“Are you looking for a second chance in life? You can get a second chance tonight. Our God is the God of second chances,” said Will Graham during his evening message. Graham shared the Old Testament story of King Manasseh of Judah—a wicked ruler who repented and was returned to the throne by God. “Jesus can change your life. He can forgive your sin and restore you.”
More than 250 responded to the invitation to make a decision for Jesus during the event, and will be followed up with by local churches.
In July, Graham will travel to South Dakota to hold the Native Peoples Tour on the Pine Ridge and Rosebud reservations.
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Billy Graham Rapid Response Team deploys to Indiana and New Mexico
Chaplains with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) deployed to Mora, New Mexico, in June after a massive wildfire destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands of evacuations. Amid the Hermits Peak Fire, the largest wildfire in New Mexico’s history, crisis-trained chaplains from the BG-RRT have offered a listening ear and comfort to rattled residents in the small city about 60 miles east of Santa Fe.
Meanwhile, chaplains were also deployed to Fort Wayne, Indiana, after a severe storm swept through the area. The National Weather Service reported winds gusting up to 98 mph – the strongest winds recorded in Fort Wayne’s history.
For more information on the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team, visit BillyGraham.org/RRT.
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If you would like more information about these, or other, updates from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, please contact media@billygraham.org. Complete press releases from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association are available at media.billygraham.org.