Tate, who also called Graham a friend, told WYFF4 that Graham was baptized at the church and “professed Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.”

When they got news of the senator’s death, Tate said it was a “shock.”

“It was just a shock,” the pastor said. “So, he was fine. And then he just felt bad. And then things began to progress from not feeling well to — to this.”

Graham’s office announced early Sunday morning that he died on Saturday evening at the age of 71, from “a brief and sudden illness” at his home in Washington, D.C.

The late senator’s office further told the Washington Post that preliminary findings from the D.C. medical examiner’s office show that he suffered from an aortic dissection, in which a tear occurs in the inner layer of the main artery. The condition was triggered by arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, which usually occurs when there is high blood pressure.

An official death certificate remains pending until toxicological and microscopic tests are complete.

“At that point the death certificate will be updated to reflect the cause of death and appropriately classify the manner of death,” the statement said.

In one of his last public appearances, Graham greeted the audience at First Baptist Church of Columbia on July 3 for their “Carolina Celebration of Liberty” event.

“Here's my commitment to you, to the people of South Carolina, and to the people of America and to the world,” Graham promised. “America is not going to lose her freedom on our watch.”

Shortly after that, Graham flew to Ukraine, where he made his final public appearance before returning to the U.S.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a statement Sunday that Graham was a “champion of freedom.”

“Deeply saddened by the news of the death of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham. Lindsey was a true champion of freedom and the values that make our world safer,” Zelenskyy said.

“He visited Ukraine ten times during the years of Russia's full-scale invasion and was here, alongside our people, when it was needed most. We were in constant dialogue, which I will sorely miss. Just last week, we met twice. Actively promoting bipartisan and bicameral support for Ukraine, in recent weeks he worked on important initiatives that could help bring peace closer, including strengthening sanctions against Russia,” he explained.

“We will always be especially grateful for his words of respect for our people and for the courage of Ukraine's defenders. America and the world have lost a resolute leader.”

Pastor Tate, who said he had planned to go on a fishing trip with Graham, said he called the late senator’s sister Darlene early Sunday to offer support.

“God’s grace abounds, and His grace is sufficient,” Tate said. “And it will be for her, his family and our nation.”

The South Carolina pastor said whenever Graham wasn’t working, he would often pray with him.

“There’s so many voices out there and so many ways to get swayed in different directions,” the pastor said. “And so I would just pray that God would speak to his heart.”

“He loved his job, and he loved America,” Tate added. “And so, you know, we would talk about other things, but it always went back to America.”

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