William Franklin Graham the third was born July 14, 1952. He is the fourth of five children born to evangelist Billy Graham and his wife, Ruth Bell Graham. Outside Asheville, North Carolina in the Appalachian Mountains, Franklin was raised in a log home. He was born into a heritage rich Christian ministery, by the time Franklini was born Billy had already made himself known around the world as a spiritual leader. But there was also another spiritual giant in the family, Franklin's maternal grandfather, Lemuel Nelson Bell, was a medical missionary to China for more than 20 years. He was a respected moderator of his demonination, the Presbyterian Church in the United States, and co-founder and executive editor of Christianity Today ("Franklin Graham-Biography").
Now Franklin serves as president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and the international relief and evangelism organization Sammaritan's Purse. He has met privately with five U.S.. Presidents as well as world leaders from Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Franklin uses traditional and social media and speaking opportunities. He regularly speaks to current moral and social issues, challenging Christians to go out and make a difference in the world. When giving his speaks he refers to the Bible, to support himself and bring God into the situations. Franklin has been intrumental in helping people impacted by crises including 9-11 terriost attacks, civil war in Sudan, and natural disasters from the tsunami in South Asia to the massive earthquakes in China, Haiti, and Japan ("Franklin Graham, Christian Leader").
Franklin conducted his first evangelistic event in 1989 and now conducts Franklin Graham Festivals around the world for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. These festivals are made to strengthen churches and families; to impact your entire community with the Good News of Gospel; and empower Christians to share their faith so that the investment we have made in your community will continue long after the final service ends ("What Is A Festival"). Franklin has preached to more than 7 million people in the cities from Johannesburg, South Africa to Tupelo, Mississippi. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association appointed Franklin CEO in 2000 and president of the organization in 2001 ("Franklin Graham, Evangelistic").
"I've been called to the slums of the streets and the ditches of the world." said Franklin Graham. When Franklin was in his early twenties, Dr. Bob Pierce, founder of Samaritan's Purse, invited Franklin to join him on a six-week mission to Asia. During that time Franklin felt a calling to work with hurting people in areas of the world affected by war, famine, disease, poverty and natural disaster. Franklin was elected to the Board of Samaritan's Purse in 1978, and one year later, following the death of Dr. Pierce, he was elected president of the organization ("Franklin Graham, International Relief Worker").
Now Franklin serves as president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and the international relief and evangelism organization Sammaritan's Purse. He has met privately with five U.S.. Presidents as well as world leaders from Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Franklin uses traditional and social media and speaking opportunities. He regularly speaks to current moral and social issues, challenging Christians to go out and make a difference in the world. When giving his speaks he refers to the Bible, to support himself and bring God into the situations. Franklin has been intrumental in helping people impacted by crises including 9-11 terriost attacks, civil war in Sudan, and natural disasters from the tsunami in South Asia to the massive earthquakes in China, Haiti, and Japan ("Franklin Graham, Christian Leader").
Franklin conducted his first evangelistic event in 1989 and now conducts Franklin Graham Festivals around the world for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. These festivals are made to strengthen churches and families; to impact your entire community with the Good News of Gospel; and empower Christians to share their faith so that the investment we have made in your community will continue long after the final service ends ("What Is A Festival"). Franklin has preached to more than 7 million people in the cities from Johannesburg, South Africa to Tupelo, Mississippi. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association appointed Franklin CEO in 2000 and president of the organization in 2001 ("Franklin Graham, Evangelistic").
"I've been called to the slums of the streets and the ditches of the world." said Franklin Graham. When Franklin was in his early twenties, Dr. Bob Pierce, founder of Samaritan's Purse, invited Franklin to join him on a six-week mission to Asia. During that time Franklin felt a calling to work with hurting people in areas of the world affected by war, famine, disease, poverty and natural disaster. Franklin was elected to the Board of Samaritan's Purse in 1978, and one year later, following the death of Dr. Pierce, he was elected president of the organization ("Franklin Graham, International Relief Worker").