Franklin Graham joins thousands in prayer rally for Orlando shooting victims

Evangelical leader Franklin Graham prayed with thousands of others for the victims of the Orlando shooting during his Decision America Tour stop Tuesday, June 14 in Springfield, Illinois.

"Even though the temperatures were sweltering, more than 5,800 people came to the capitol in Springfield, Illinois, today for the Decision America Tour prayer rally," Graham announced on his Facebook page.

"We began by standing together in prayer for the‪ #‎OrlandoShooting victims, the medical teams caring for them, and those who are grieving lost loved ones after this horrific attack," he said.

The post included photos of the thousands who gathered at the capitol in Springfield with hands linked together and eyes closed as they prayed for the victims. The Orlando mass shooting incident that took place Sunday, June 12 took 49 lives and injured more than 50 others when a gunman attacked the Pulse gay nightclub.

"We prayed for our country's brokenness and we asked God to heal our nation," the reverend shared about Tuesday's prayer rally.

The CEO of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association embarked on a tour he dubbed as Decision America. His purpose is not just to lead prayer rallies and preach the Gospel but also to invoke Christians to take part in the upcoming presidential election. Grahama encouraged believers to vote for other believers or to run for office positions.

The organization founded by his father, the Rev. Billy Graham, deployed their crisis-trained chaplains of the Rapid Response Team (RRT) to Orlando the day after the attack to minister emotional and spiritual care to those affected by the tragedy. The RRT chaplains have been deployed five times in less than a year to shooting or terror attacks domestic and abroad, according to the website.

Graham denounced the attack as a senseless shooting while RRT International Director Jack Munday called it a horrific attack.

"People felt safe, and now that security is shattered. We'll be there to offer hope and comfort as the community adjusts to a new normal," Munday said in a statement.