Franklin Graham is the president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse. He was born July 14, 1952 as the fourth of five children of the late evangelist Billy Graham and his wife, Ruth Bell Graham. Franklin grew up in a log home in the Appalachian Mountains outside of Asheville, North Carolina. Today, Franklin lives in Boone, North Carolina with his wife, Jane. They have four children and twelve grandchildren.
Franklin felt called to do more with his life and to commit himself to God. At age 22, while alone in a hotel room in Jerusalem, he committed his life to Jesus Christ. Soon after, Bob Pierce who founded Samaritan’s Purse, invited Franklin on a six-week mission to Asia. While on the mission, Franklin felt compelled to help hurting people who were affected by war, famine, disease, poverty, and natural disaster. “I’ve been called to the slums of the streets and ditches of the world,” he said.
In 1978, Franklin was elected to the board of Samaritan’s Purse and became president following Pierce’s death a year later. Franklin currently serves as the president and CEO of the international relief and evangelism organization that is headquartered in Boone, North Carolina. Samaritan’s Purse’s mission is to work in the name of Jesus Christ, providing relief and assistance in over 100 countries. The organization has affiliate offices in Canada, the UK, Australia, and Germany with field offices in 17 countries, and ministry partners in over 100 countries.
His first evangelistic event occurred in 1989 and he now conducts Festivals around the world for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. He has proclaimed the Gospel in 52 countries and all 50 states. In 2016, he started the Decision America Tour, visiting all 50 state capitals to hold prayer rallies. The purpose of the rallies was to challenge Christians to pray for our country and leaders, and to live and promote biblical principles at home, in public, and when voting.
Franklin is a speaker and author regularly addressing current moral and social issues, challenging Christians to promote biblical values and make a difference in the world. He brings biblical context and application to national and world events. He has met with five U.S. presidents and many world leaders. Franklin has authored 13 books including his latest, Through My Father’s Eyes: Sowing Truth in a Time of Lies. He is editor-in-chief of Decision magazine that features biblical teaching, and issues and events in the world today from a biblical viewpoint.
Learn more about Franklin Graham and Samaritan’s Purse at samaritanspurse.org.
==> Also read Samaritan’s Purse Touches Lives in NYC.
==> And read Dr. Peter Colon: Sharing Bible Truths About Israel and Messiah.