Profile

Franklin Graham
President and CEO, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

Franklin Graham, Evangelist

Franklin conducted his first evangelistic event in 1989 and now conducts Crusades, called Festivals, around the world for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA). He has proclaimed the Gospel message at more than 325 outreaches in 50 U.S. states and territories, and in more than 55 countries.

Most recently, Graham shared the Gospel in Mexico City, Mexico; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; London, England; Seoul, Korea; Essen, Germany; Rome, Italy; and six cities along the East Coast of the U.S. Hundreds of thousands of people attended these events where they heard the message of God’s love and forgiveness available through His Son, Jesus Christ.

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association appointed Franklin Graham CEO in 2000 and president of the organization in 2001.

Franklin Graham, Christian Leader

As a speaker and author, Graham regularly addresses current moral and social issues, calling Christians to stand for Biblical values and challenging them to make a difference in the world for the sake of the Gospel. He is editor-in-chief of BGEA’s Decision magazine, the “Evangelical Voice for Today,” which features solid Scriptural teaching as well as timely articles with a Biblical worldview about issues and events in today’s culture, including many topics that affect the freedom of believers to live out their faith. He also offers Biblical context and application to current national and world events.

He has met privately with six U.S. presidents as well as world leaders from Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Franklin Graham, International Relief Worker

When Graham was in his early twenties, Dr. Bob Pierce, founder of Samaritan’s Purse, invited him to join him on a six-week mission to Asia. It was during that time that Graham felt a calling to work with hurting people in areas of the world affected by war, famine, disease, poverty and natural disaster.

Graham 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. Today, he serves as president and CEO of the international relief and evangelism organization headquartered in Boone, N.C. Samaritan’s Purse works in the Name of Jesus Christ to provide relief and assistance in more than 170 countries and territories. It has affiliate offices in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and South Korea, as well as field offices in 17 developing countries.

Through his work with Samaritan’s Purse, Graham has been instrumental in helping people impacted by major crises for more than 40 years, including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, 9/11 terrorist attacks, wars, and natural disasters across the globe ranging from catastrophic hurricanes to devastating wildfires to massive earthquakes.

Growing Up Graham

William Franklin Graham III, born July 14, 1952, is the fourth of five children of evangelist Billy Graham and his wife, the late Ruth Bell Graham. Raised in a log home in the Appalachian Mountains outside Asheville, N.C., he now lives in Boone, N.C.

In his autobiography, Rebel with a Cause, Graham explained that “just being the son of Billy Graham won’t get me into heaven.” He knew that he was being called to do more with his life and to make a real commitment to God. So at age 22, after a period of rebellion and traveling the world, he committed his life to Jesus Christ while alone in a hotel room in Jerusalem.

Graham and his wife, Jane Austin, have four children, Will, Roy, Edward and Cissie, and 13 grandchildren.

Biography

Born

William Franklin Graham, III
July 14, 1952
Asheville, North Carolina

Parents

William Franklin “Billy” Graham, Jr., and the late Ruth Bell Graham

Married

Jane Austin Cunningham Graham, 1974

Children

William Franklin “Will” Graham, IV, 1975
Roy Austin Graham, 1977
Edward Bell Graham, 1979
Jane Austin “Cissie” Graham Lynch, 1986

Grandchildren

Thirteen

Residence

Boone, North Carolina

Education

Montreat College (A.S.), 1974
Appalachian State University (B.A.), 1978

Ordained

Grace Community Church, Tempe, Arizona, 1982

Ministries

President and CEO, Samaritan’s Purse (international relief organization)
President and CEO, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

Boards of Directors

Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
Samaritan’s Purse

Published

  • 1983: Bob Pierce: This One Thing I Do (Word)
  • 1995: Miracle in a Shoe Box (Thomas Nelson)
  • 1995: Rebel With a Cause: Finally Comfortable Being Graham (autobiography, Thomas Nelson)
  • 1998: Living Beyond the Limits: A Life in Sync With God (Thomas Nelson)
  • 2002: The Name (Thomas Nelson)
  • 2003: Kids Praying For Kids (Thomas Nelson)
  • 2003: All For Jesus (coauthored with Ross Rhoads, Thomas Nelson)
  • 2005: A Wing and a Prayer (Thomas Nelson)
  • 2011: Billy Graham in Quotes (Thomas Nelson)
  • 2012: The Sower: Finding Yourself in the Parables of Jesus (Worthy)
  • 2013: Operation Christmas Child: A Story of Simple Gifts (B&H Publishing)
  • 2016: Rocks, Dirty Birds, and Briars (Worthy Inspired)
  • 2018: Through My Father’s Eyes (Thomas Nelson)

Honors

  • Honorary Chairman, 2010 National Day of Prayer
  • William Booth Award, presented by The Salvation Army
  • Whitworth College, honorary doctorate
  • Toccoa Falls College, honorary doctorate
  • LeTourneau University, honorary doctorate
  • Lees­McRae College, honorary doctorate
  • National University, honorary doctorate
  • Liberty University, honorary doctorate
  • 1999 “Tar Heel of the Year” by The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.)
  • 2002 “Daniel of the Year” by WORLD magazine
  • 2014 “Watchman Award” by Family Research Council
  • Hall of Faith, Southern Baptist Convention Evangelists