Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse, led prayer at a White House Easter Prayer Dinner hosted by President Donald Trump last night. Franklin was also invited to share an Easter message today at the Holy Thursday staff worship service in the White House.

Before he prayed, Franklin expressed his thanks to Trump for his Palm Sunday message, which acknowledged Easter as a day to celebrate Christ’s resurrection.

“There’s been a spiritual drought in this city for the past few years,” Franklin said, “and so I’m very grateful for the Easter declaration you put out.”

Trump’s Easter presidential message announced that he and first lady Melania Trump were “celebrating the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ—the living Son of God.” The White House Faith Office planned events throughout the week to observe Easter, including the Wednesday night event.

Franklin’s prayer focused on salvation through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and His victory over death.

“Our Father and our God, we come tonight to say thank You. Thank You for sending Your Son Jesus Christ to this Earth to take our sins,” Franklin prayed, “that He died on the cross, shedding His own blood for each and everyone buried in a tomb of sin; but on the third day, You raised Him to life. And Father we know that if we confess our sins and repent and believe on the Name of Your Son the Lord Jesus Christ, we shall be saved. And Father, it’s my prayer tonight that many people this Easter would turn from their sins and by faith believe on the Name of your Son. And it’s in His Name that we pray. Amen.”

Following Franklin’s prayer, Trump remarked on Christ’s death and thanked Franklin and other faith leaders in his life.

“Nearly 2,000 years ago, during this sacred week, the living Son of God entered Jerusalem in triumph,” Trump said. “Soon after, the Savior of mankind who brought truth and light into the world was betrayed, arrested, and tried, beaten, and nailed to a cross and crucified. For our sake, He gave up His life and as the very great Rev. Billy Graham once said ‘God proved His love on the cross. When Christ hung, and bled, and died, it was God saying to the world ‘I love you.’”

Trump referred to a memory he had attending a Billy Graham evangelistic Crusade with his father at the Yankee Stadium before speaking on Christ’s resurrection. 

“Three days later, Christ-followers found the empty tomb,” Trump said. “Jesus had defeated darkness and death and promised new life to all of humankind, and that’s what we celebrate each year at Easter as we joyfully proclaim on Sunday: ‘He is Risen!’ The death and resurrection of Jesus are the essence of the Christian faith whether rich or poor, healthy or sick, young or old, or in times of peace and war.”

While Franklin was invited to preach in today’s Holy Thursday staff worship service, pastor and evangelist Greg Laurie was invited to pray and read Scripture. The White House also planned a time of communion, and Liberty University students were invited to lead worship music.

Photo: The White House Facebook