Franklin Graham praised a Virginia pastor for having the bravery to pray for unborn babies in front of pro-abortion state lawmakers earlier this week.
“Democrats in the Virginia House of Delegates treated this African American pastor with contempt. Rev. Dr. Robert M. Grant, Jr., was invited to pray and he took a stand for life, marriage, and biblical principles,” Graham wrote Friday on Facebook.
Grant, a pastor who serves The Father’s Way Church in Warrenton, Virginia and runs a charity to help orphans in Africa, was invited to give the opening prayer before the Virginia House on Tuesday. Democrats control the Virginia House and Senate, and they have been working to dismantle basically all of the pro-life laws in the state.
Rather than shy away from the controversial topic, Grant took a stand, praying that the lawmakers’ eyes would be opened to the plight of unborn babies.
“I pray that you may understand that all life is precious and worthy of a chance to be born,” Grant said. “God is the giver of life and people have no right or authority to take life. The unborn have rights and those rights need to be protected. They should never be denied the right to exist, the right to develop or the right to have a family.”
Many Democrat lawmakers walked out during his prayer, and one shouted at him. The scene drew national news attention, and Graham, a prominent evangelical leader and pro-life advocate, responded Friday by praising the Virginia pastor.
“Here’s a guy who’s got guts for Jesus,” Graham wrote. “They didn’t want to hear the truth. But what Pastor Grant said was truth. He’s right—these are crucial times. He urged lawmakers to honor God’s laws and be aware of His judgment.”
LifeNews depends on the support of readers like you to combat the pro-abortion media. Please donate now.
Since taking over the Virginia legislature in January, pro-abortion Democrats have been pushing a number of radical pro-abortion bills that would strip away protections for both women and children.
Two weeks ago, the Virginia House passed a bill to repeal common-sense abortion restrictions, including a requirement that doctors perform abortions and another that ensure women are fully informed prior to going through with the abortion. Other legislation making its way through the legislature would repeal the state parental consent requirement for minors seeking abortions, National Review reports.
Grant told the lawmakers Tuesday that God was warning them: “Woe to anyone who harms an innocent child.”
“Every one of you sitting here today can guarantee these rights to these little innocent children of Virginia,” he said. “Please do not ignore their little voices. I pray for a heart change today, and may the Lord God have mercy upon this leadership.”
