As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, Will Graham is taking the gospel back to the places where the nation began.
The grandson of legendary evangelist Billy Graham has launched his "Declaration of Dependence Tour," an evangelistic journey through America's 13 original colonies. The tour carries a pointed message for a country that proudly celebrates independence: America still needs to depend upon God.
The first outreaches have already taken Graham through Plymouth, Massachusetts; Manchester, New Hampshire; Providence, Rhode Island; and New Haven, Connecticut. He will continue traveling down the East Coast, preaching the gospel and calling Americans to place their hope in Jesus Christ.
"As America is celebrating its 250 years, we're traveling to the 13 original colonies to declare our dependence on the Lord Jesus Christ, to give the hope of Jesus Christ to everyone who will listen," Will Graham explained.
His father, evangelist Franklin Graham, connected the tour's message with the spiritual convictions of America's earliest settlers.
"When the Pilgrims landed there in 1620, they made a covenant 'in the Name of God' to build a new home where they could worship in freedom-and they prayed together," Franklin wrote. "I can't think of anything more important for our nation today than to recognize our need for the Lord Jesus Christ."
Franklin added that the campaign comes at a time when many Americans are carrying private pain beneath the country's public celebrations.
"So many people are hurting and need the hope of Jesus Christ," he said.
Will Graham serves as executive vice president and evangelist with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. He represents the third generation of the Graham family to proclaim the gospel through large-scale evangelistic outreaches, following the ministries of his grandfather Billy Graham and his father Franklin Graham.
The tour's title deliberately turns one of America's foundational ideas on its head. Rather than celebrating complete self-reliance, Graham is urging the nation to acknowledge its dependence upon Jesus Christ for forgiveness, direction and hope.
Christians are being encouraged to pray for Graham, the ministry teams supporting the tour and the people who will hear the gospel as the journey continues through the original colonies.
