Recently, the Minnesota Christian Chronicle got a chance to talk with Mr. Graham and ask about his vision for the event and the state of America’s youth.

MCC: Why did you decide to do an event specifically for youth?

Franklin Graham: We’ve done this for years. We’ve had kind of a dedicated youth night at our normal crusades, but still it’s not really totally for the youth and it’s really not totally for the adults. And you try to mix the two, and I’m just thinking: “I want to go all out this summer just for kids.” And I want to try to create an atmosphere that the kids want to come to. And if the kids want to come, the kids will bring the adults.

By creating an atmosphere that the kids will want to come to, we really worked hard to make sure that the bands and people who are on stage are people who love the Lord and live for the Lord. A big concern of me and our team is that we bring groups before these kids who will be examples, and who will help me in evangelizing the kids who come. Because that’s what this is all about—it’s evangelism.

We’re going to have about seven hours of music. And I hope to preach at least three times and give an invitation. And I think you’ll find kids who will get saved early who will text friends, and their friends will come and get saved. We just trust in the Lord that He will bless this effort.

MCC: What gave you the idea to follow the four cities up the Mississippi River (Baton Rouge, St. Louis, Quad Cities, and Minneapolis-St. Paul)?

Franklin Graham: It’s not that the Lord talks to me where I hear Him speak, but I think sometimes we just have impressions on our heart. Last fall our guys were sitting around talking about—to be honest with you—it was kind of the same old, same old. And I just said, “Guys, listen, we’ve got to get out and do something that’s new and different that’s going to attract these kids and get them excited where they want to come.”

And it just kind of rolled off my tongue: “Why don’t we just go up the Mississippi?” I don’t take credit for it. If anything, if this turns out good, then it’s going to be of the Lord. If it turns out bad, then that was my idea.

MCC: Are kids of today facing more challenges than previous generations?

Franklin Graham: My generation—and I’m 57 years old—you’re talking about the Baby Boomers of World War II. When we went off to college, the liberal professors tried to destroy the faith of my generation. And basically did. Now you have the kids of my generation, and now their children who have no faith, because their parents didn’t have faith. They’ve grown up in a society where anything goes. If it pleases you, if it makes you happy, then you can do it.

So you have kids today who are exposed to sex at a much earlier age, and no one is there to say, “You can’t do that.” What they do is say, “Well, make sure you protect yourself—and use a condom or whatever.” That’s the kind of parental guidance they’re getting. Kids today are not only engaged in sex early, they are involved in drugs and alcohol at a much earlier age.

How do you reach them? We’ve just got to do something. Schools have taken God out of society. Our government has taken God out of society. The financial mess that we’re in as a nation is just the result of the moral mess that we’ve found ourselves in. We are in moral meltdown. And you know what, I’m not going to give up; I’m going to keep fighting. How do you do it? I do it by preaching the Gospel. Jesus Christ can change a person’s life.

MCC: Does it break God’s heart to look at America today?

Franklin Graham: Sin always breaks God’s heart. And He rejoices when a sinner repents. Not only do these individuals need to repent, kids need to repent, our nation needs to repent.

MCC: How has the cooperation been with the churches in each of the four cities?

Franklin Graham: It has been fantastic. We weren’t really sure when we started this—would the churches even embrace it. Is this going to be too radical for them? Maybe there are other programs they are doing this summer and they just would be busy.

I have just been overwhelmed by the excitement, the enthusiasm, the support that we have received in every city. We really thought the Quad Cities would be one of our toughest cities. It was the slowest one to get started, but it’s on fire. Minneapolis-St. Paul is fantastic. We couldn’t ask for better cooperation than we’re getting. And it seems like the closer we get to these Rock the River dates, the more steam this thing is building.

MCC: How is your father doing?

Franklin Graham: He’s doing well. I try to have lunch with him every Sunday. At 91 this year (in November), his mind is extremely clear. And when I say clear, I’m talking about razor sharp clear. The only difficulty he has is he has a hard time seeing. It’s not that he is blind; he’s just not able to read anymore. He really misses being able to read the Scriptures. His hearing—it’s really difficult for him to hear. His advice to me is, “Don’t get old.”

MCC: Any final thoughts?

Franklin Graham: I would just like to request for people to pray, because this is a battle for the souls of our youth. And the devil wants them. And he wants to put them in the bondage of sin, and he wants to drag them right through the gates of hell. And we’re going to fight this summer to save them.


ACTION BOX: For more information on Rock the River, visit www.rocktherivertour.com.