U.S. Vice President Mike Pence speaks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, May 10, 2017. JOSHUA ROBERTS | REUTERS
ishtartv.com - cbn.com
Stephen Little, 05-12-2017
The
Trump administration's commitment to defend persecuted Christians is a
"breath of fresh air from God," Rev. Franklin Graham told CBN News at
his World Summit for the Defense of Persecuted Christians.
"No
question it's a breath of fresh air, I think it's a breath of fresh air from
God, because they are listening to God's people and we didn't see that under
President Obama," Graham told CBN's George Thomas in a one-on-one
interview.
Unlike
the former president, Graham said, President Trump is not afraid to acknowledge
Islamic terrorism.
"You
have now a president who isn't afraid to use that word and calls it as it is,
truly is. And he's willing to stand up for Christians and we've already seen
that if he says something he means it," he said.
"I
thank God that we have an administration that is finally listening to the voice
of the suffering Church around the world."
Graham's
experience leading a Christian humanitarian agency has given him decades of
experience in the Middle East where he has witnessed the growing violence
against Christianity in countries like Lebanon, Sudan, Syria and Iraq.
Preaching
an Easter Sunday service to Iraqi Christian refugees from Mosul reinforced his
commitment to taking action on behalf of suffering Christians.
"They
had to flee for their lives and they were given 30 minutes to leave the city or
they'd be killed. So all they left with was the money in their pocket and the
clothes on their back and many of them did not escape," he said.
"I've
just seen that this is something that should be done not later, but we should
have done it sooner."
Graham
decided to hold a summit to bring persecuted countries from across the globe together
with those from the free world so they could tell their stories, find support
and encouragement, and work to find solutions to help suffering believers
endure until the persecution ends.
The
three-day event in the U.S. capital goes through May 13; it brought together
600 believers from 130 nations.
"We
brought it here to Washington so we could put a spotlight, we wanted to have
the administration, we wanted to have people on the Hill, the State Department
to be exposed to the these Christians and the suffering that is taking
place," Graham said.
The
event received a big boost when Vice President Mike Pence addressed the crowd
Thursday morning. Pence told the audience that he was humbled to be in their
presence, that the persecuted are in his prayers and the prayers of the
president, and that the administration is committed to protecting and promoting
religious freedom.
"Any
time you have the White House take time to give attention to what you're
saying, it is extremely beneficial," Graham said.
"Donald
Trump, is very supportive of defending Christians and he said this during his
campaign, that he was going to defend Christianity and he's not ashamed of
saying that and Vice-President Pence is not ashamed of that, but they're going
to do what they can to not only to protect Christians here at home, but
Christians around the world."
|