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Rogue Valley’s faithful flocked by the thousands Wednesday to hear one of the nation’s leading evangelists kick off his seven-city tour in Southern Oregon. More than 8,000 people filled the Jackson County Expo for an evening of inspiration with Franklin Graham, who’s followed in the footsteps of his father, the late Billy Graham, and a message looking past party lines asking evangelical Christians to pray for a spiritual transformation in the country. Graham began his two-jumbotron 21st century tent revival by asking the thousands in his audience to pray for all leaders at the state and federal level. Next to his Decision America tour bus behind the Bi-Mart Amphitheater, Graham, who described himself as “not a politician” and involved with neither political parties, said healing the country’s political divide is a problem beyond mere mortals. “Only God can fix it,” Graham said. “The Republican party’s not going to fix the problems of this country, or the state, neither are the Democrats — they’re not going to do it.” “We are so divided, and it’s about power and it’s about money, and it’s about their own selfish interests. ... I believe that if the churches would pray, then God would heal our land — but it’s going to take God to do that.” Graham said that he champions ideas he likes from both sides of the aisle, but otherwise stays out of the fray as an independent. “If a Democrat says something that’s good that’s going to help this country, I’ll say amen,” Graham said. “If a Republican says something good I’m gonna say amen.” Graham touched on the wildfires in Oregon and northern California, and the all-hands on deck mentality fighting them, as an example of how the country can work together to bridge the political divide. Wildfire burns Republicans’ and Democrats’ houses alike, but people come together to help in times of crisis. “That’s what we need in this country, we need to come together,” Graham said. “Let’s build this nation and help this nation.” “If Donald Trump succeeds, we all succeed. And if the next president comes down the road and does a good job, we all benefit.” The crowd totaled 8,750, according to Decision America spokesman Todd Shearer. Among the attendees was Set Free Christian Fellowship pastor Chad McComas, who said the packed audience didn’t represent all of Christianity, touching on Franklin Graham’s conservative leanings in the past. “Christians have so many beliefs,” McComas said prior to the event, adding, “A lot of ’em are gonna be here.” Among those sitting near the front of the amphitheater were Jim and Marguerite Barmore, among eight people representing Trail Creek Community Church, described by another member as “a little tiny church” in Trail. Holding his “absolutely free” T-shirt from a man named Jack, Jim Barmore said the choice seats were there for the taking as of 6:30 p.m. “We just walked right in,” Barmore said. “You ever heard of the Lord? I think that had somethin’ to do with it.” Reach Mail Tribune reporter Nick Morgan at 541-776-4471 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at @ MTCrimeBeat .