Jack Graham to participate in National Prayer Service for Trump inauguration

PLANO—Jack Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, has been invited to participate in the National Prayer Service for the 58th Presidential Inauguration. The prayer service will take place at Washington National Cathedral on Saturday, Jan. 21, a day after the inauguration of Donald J. Trump as the nation’s 45th president.

Graham, who served as honorary chairman of the 2015 National Day of Prayer, expressed gratitude for the invitation in a statement released Jan. 17.

“There is truly no greater honor than to serve one’s country on such a special occasion,” Graham said. “As a Christian, I’m compelled by my faith to pray for the leaders of our nation and to ask God’s blessing on them, for they cannot succeed outside his providence and without his guiding hand.”

During the presidential campaign last year, Graham was asked to be part of Trump’s 25-member Religious Advisory Council. Responding to criticism from evangelicals for his participation on the advisory council, Graham issued a statement in October acknowledging concerns over Trump’s character and qualifications for president but noted that he could vote for the Republican ticket without endorsing Trump’s behavior.

In his Jan. 17 statement, Graham concluded his comments with a word of hope.

“This is a time of change for America and the world. At moments, it has felt as if so much hangs in the balance. Yet, I believe we can approach this new era of our nation’s history with hope, for one thing hasn’t changed—we remain ‘One Nation Under God.’ May we as a people lean upon the same faith in God that has given us purpose and strength for over two-and-a-half centuries.”