Good News - January 2020

COVER STORY www.goodnewsfl.org 25 JANUARY 2020 See Pg. 8 And there is power in that message. Also I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God unto salvation. There is no other message for salvation other than the cross, and so it preaches in Cambodia and it preaches in South Florida. SP– The people of Florida are probably a little different from the people inCambodia. FG – Chuckled – No, they are sinners just like the people in Cambodia, and they need a savior. SP – So I understand you have 4 children and 12 grandchildren. We’re headed into the Christmas season. What does Christmas look like at the Graham house- hold? FG – Well, last night I had a hard time sleeping, so I got up and my wife was not in bed. We have a little room off our bedroom, and she was in there frantically wrap- ping presents at midnight. So right now Christmas at the Graham home is lots of wrapping paper and stuff strewn everywhere. But we’ve got some of our grandchil- dren coming, and we’re looking forward to it. But normally Christmas we try to get some of the family together between Thanksgiving and Christmas. My wife’s birthday is Christmas Eve, so we have to have two celebrations, and so the family usually shows up either Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve or on Christmas Day, so we’ll see everyone before the New Year. LF – The message that you want to get across, I know we touched on it at the beginning of the interview, and I’m taken aback at your willingness to be a very, very,very outspoken leader, some would say controversial. Does that come naturally to you or do you feel it’s a responsibility? FG – I don’t know if… I think it may just be the home that I was raised in, the things I had during life. Paul says, “let your yes be yes and your no, no.” And I think it’s important that we lead today, and for myself to speak the truth. I’m not for compromise. We live in a world where politicians are always compromising. But you cannot compromise on what the Word of God says. You can’t say something different from what the Bible teaches. So, I’m just trying to hold to the truth of the Scripture, and if somebody can open up the Scripture and point me wrong, I’ll be glad to look at it and review it. But until then I’m going to keep speaking what the Bible says. It’s not what Franklin Graham says. It’s what God says, and I think that’s what people need to remember: It’s what God says. I say a lot of things where I’m sure I wish I had said it differently. I think we all do that. But when it comes to Scripture, you cannot compromise on what the Word of God teaches. LF – You have a lot of family in Florida. Your sister Gigi is here and she’s a sup- porter of our efforts. Anything you want to say to her for Christmas? FG – Well first of all I love my family and my sister, and I’ve got a brother on the West Coast, but all of us, we only have so many years left in life. So I think it’s impor- tant for our family and for the people who read this to just make the most of the days that we have left. And let’s make them count for God. LF – We want to wish you the happiest of holidays and Merry Christmas to you and the Graham family. And what you’re doing with Samaritan’s Purse is beyond awesome. I just wish the public had the opportunity to see a documentary to see the operation of Samaritan’s Purse and the installation in Boone, NC. It’s incredible. And from the bottom of our hearts we thank you for all that you do. FG – Well thank you, and a Merry Christmas to you all and a Happy New Year. I look forward to being in Florida in just a couple of weeks. Shelly Pond, Good News Editor, contributed to this story. Visit DecisionAmerica.com for more details on the DecisionAmerica Sunshine State Tour, coming to Boca Raton on January 18. Franklin Graham is taking the Decision America Tour to six Florida cities in January: Jacksonville Beach, Plant City, Panama City Beach, Key West, Boca Raton and Fort Myers. Appearing in Boca Raton at the Sunset Cove Amphithe- ater on January 18 at 4 p.m., Graham will proclaim the Gospel and join believers in praying for our nation, our communities and the lost. The festival style events are free and will feature live music from Jeremy Camp and Dennis Agajanian with a powerful message of hope. “We need an awakening across this nation,” Grahamdeclares, and he invites all to bring their family and friends to pray and hear the Good News. “The greatest decision that any of us have to make is what we’re going to do with Jesus Christ and whether we are going to accept his sacrificial death on the cross for our sins… but also I want the church to know - I’m talking to be- lievers now, not the unsaved, but believers - the greatest decision before us is the direction our nation is going.” Graham encourages Christians to vote. “I don’t tell them who to vote for, but vote for the candidate that is going to support biblical values, conservative judges, traditional American values. Those are important. Not every candidate out there is going to necessarily believe in God, but they may support the values that are Christian-based that this nation was built on.” Aministry of the Billy GrahamEvangelisticAssociation, the DecisionAmerican Tour was launched in 2016 when Graham travelled to all 50 U.S. capitals chal- lenging Christians to pray for the United States and its leaders, and to live and promote biblical principles at home, in public and in the ballot box. In 2017 he took Decision America to cities throughout Tennessee and Texas. An estimated 120,000 people experienced the tour throughout California, Washington and Oregon in 2018 with thousands making life-changing decisions for Jesus Christ and many more inspired to boldly stand for His truth. And close to 100,000 heard the gospel through DecisionAmerica Tours in North Carolina and the Northeast- ern United States in 2019. Get Involved The Decision America Tour welcomes church and individual involvement in Florida. You can get involved by inviting your friends and neighbors to an event, joining the Promotional Team as they go out in the community with posters and flyers, serving on site or providing financial support. Specific event times and locations follow. All events are free and no tickets are needed. For more details, visit DecisionAmerica.com. The Sunshine State Tour Locations and Dates • Jacksonville Beach, January 11, 4 p.m. at Seawalk Pavilion • Plant City, January 12, 4 p.m. at Florida Strawberry Festival Soundstage • Panama City Beach, January 14, 7 p.m. at Aaron Bessant Amphitheater • Key West, January 16, 7 p.m. at Coffee Butler Key West Amphitheatre • Boca Raton, January 18, 4 p.m. at Sunset CoveAmphitheater • Fort Myers, January 19, 4 p.m. at HertzArena Franklin Graham Brings Decision America Tour to the Sunshine State Shelly Pond Photo Credit: Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.