Following his father and grandfather's footsteps, Will Graham will be preaching this Sunday at Grandfather Mountain's annual "Singing on the Mountain" event, not far from where he grew up.

By Trevor Freeze

Spin the globe and pick a country.

Kenya, Thailand, Australia, the Philippines ….

Just like his famous grandfather Billy Graham, Will Graham has traveled the country preaching the Gospel to many remote corners.

But in his own backyard?

This Sunday, he’ll get that chance. 

Less than 20 mountains from where he grew up — and just 100 miles from where he currently lives — Grandfather Mountain will be hosting “Singing on the Mountain,” and Will Graham will be bringing a message mid-morning this Sunday (June 23).

“This is the first time I’ve really had an opportunity to minister as an evangelist in the area in which I grew up and that means so much to me,” said Will Graham, executive director of the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove.

It’s also a chance to follow in his family footsteps. His father, Franklin Graham, preached at “Singing on the Mountain” in 1993 and 1999 and his grandfather, Billy Graham, preached at the 38th event in 1962.

"I don't believe there's a more beautiful spot in all the world thatn western North Carolina," Billy Graham said on August 5, 1962. "Before you leave the side of Grandfather Mountain this day, your life can be changed."

“It is always a unique blessing when I get to follow in the footsteps of my dad or grandfather,” Will Graham said.

This year marks the 89^th Annual "Singing on the Mountain," with festivities beginning at 8:30 a.m. and runs throughout the day. This year’s musical guests includes The Chuckwagon Gang, Ernie Couch & Revival, Patricia Smith of Abundance Ministries, The Cockman Family, Michael Combs, Terry Warren, Tim Green and Johns’s River Quartet. Admission is free.

Will Graham, 38, recently returned from preaching to more than 20,000 at the Celebration of Peace in Kisumu, Kenya from June 7-9.

SEE PICTURES OF WILL GRAHAM IN KENYA 

Since 2006, he has preached the Gospel on every continent except Antarctica to hundreds of thousands of people.

“I’ve preached in Kenya, Thailand, India, Australia and Hong Kong,” Will Graham said. “But now I get to preach on Grandfather Mountain, and I can’t tell you how excited I am about that.”

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For the first time, seminary students who attend a weeklong Bible seminar at The Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove will have the opportunity to earn graduate credits. Dallas Theological Seminary's Dr. Mark Yarbrough, who is teaching the course, hopes to start a trend at the Asheville, N.C., mountain getaway.

By Kristy Etheridge

The Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove is known for offering a peaceful mountain respite to believers who need a break from the bustle of life. Soon, it could also be known for helping graduate students earn college credit outside seminary walls.

June 24-28, an intensive Bible seminar at the Christian conference center in Asheville, N.C., will allow students to earn graduate credits for participating—a first for The Cove.

Dr. Mark Yarbrough is teaching the weeklong course called, The BIG Picture: Grasping the Master's Plan from Genesis to Revelation.

Yarbrough is vice president for academic affairs, academic dean, and an assistant professor of Bible exposition at Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS). He says some changes are happening in the seminary world that are making places like The Cove desirable as host sites for graduate coursework.

“Number one, there’s a rapid pace in this culture,” said Yarbrough. “And because of that, I think when people are zeroing in on their education, they want to make sure they can slow down a little and focus on their studies.”

The Cove, with its lack of televisions and abundance of mountain views, already has a reputation for helping believers slow their pace and focus on God—an appealing idea for a busy seminary student.

Yarbrough says the global nature of today’s seminaries is another factor that makes a weeklong, intensive course an attractive option to a lot of students.

“Thirty years ago, almost all DTS students were residing in Dallas, Texas,” said Yarbrough. “That’s no longer the case. Now, 40 percent of our student population does not reside in Dallas. Our students are all around the nation and in 40 different countries. I have 200 students studying totally with us online.”

DTS isn’t alone. According to Yarbrough, most seminaries have students scattered throughout the world. They may not be able to live on campus full time, but they’re willing to spend a week away from home to earn a few credits.

“So they’re coming in for these intensive courses,” said Yarbrough. “When you start looking at it that way, you have to think about housing and facilities and food service and all those other things you get if you can live in community together.”

Because The Cove is equipped with two inns and a full-service dining hall, Yarbrough knew it could be an ideal place for his new, off-campus venture. It’s an idea he’s been discussing for the past two years with Will Graham, the executive director of the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove.

About 20 DTS students and a handful of seminary students from other institutions will attend Yarbrough’s seminar at the end of June. They’ll have the opportunity to earn three graduate credits after completing a series of assignments and taking a final exam.

Like most of the seminars offered at The Cove, Yarbrough’s course on the big picture of the Bible is not just open to seminary students and pastors. Anyone who wants to deepen their understanding of the Bible is welcome to sign up—no homework or final exam required.

“There are many, many folks who know bits and pieces of the Bible,” said Yarbrough. “The Bible is a big book, but to remember there is one consistent thread from Genesis to Revelation is an important thing for us to be able to get our arms around.”

Throughout the week, Yarbrough hopes to help students discover God’s overarching storyline running through the Bible.

“We have a problem, and He has a solution, and when you trace God’s solution all the way through His Word, you realize He was at work for us all along,” said Yarbrough. “And that’s the hope of the Gospel that all culminates in Christ.”

As seminar participants explore God’s master plan, they’ll also have a chance to explore the 1,200-acre retreat center and have fellowship with one another.

“Think of what we’re going to be able to accomplish,” said Yarbrough. “You share every meal together. You’re having coffee together before and after the class. You can have that interaction with students.”

At the end of the week, DTS students, who come from Ga., Fl., Va., Ar., and as far away as South Korea, will be one step closer to a seminary degree—and, chances are, spiritually recharged from their week in the mountains.

While Yarbrough will be the first to offer graduate credits at The Cove, he doubts he’ll be the last.

“Hopefully, it’s just the beginning.”

Click here to learn more about Mark Yarbrough's seminar, The BIG Picture: Grasping the Master's Plan from Genesis to Revelation.

Click here for more information on Intensive Bible Trainings at The Cove.

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Christians must never compromise their allegiance to the Savior, no matter what others may think.

Recently I was at a White House meeting with Vice President Joe Biden and had the opportunity to remind him that our main problem in America is that we have taken God out of our society and out of our government. We need God’s Word and His laws now more than ever.

Disobedience to God’s Word and His laws has wreaked havoc across the political, economic, and spiritual landscape of our country. There is scandal after scandal, and yet our nation’s leaders seem even more belligerent toward Christians.

If we hold up God’s standards, we are accused of being intolerant. “Tolerance” is one of today’s hot buttons, but in reality the true and fast-growing “intolerance” is for Christianity—anything that stands for Jesus Christ.

You may have read recently about the IRS apology for targeting conservative groups in 2011–12. I was not surprised to hear this—BGEA was audited last September, and many believe it was because we encouraged voters to take a strong stand on same-sex marriage issues and biblical values. The audit process was complex and time consuming, but as we expected, it ended well. During the process, in fact, the focus that BGEA puts on sound management and financial accountability was acknowledged as excellent.

Christians must never compromise their allegiance to the Savior, no matter what others may think.

The Lord is looking for men and women who will fully commit their heart, soul, and lives to His kingdom. We find in 1 Samuel that Saul was anointed to lead the Hebrew people. At first he won favor with the people and was victorious in battle. But in chapter 13, we read that Saul feared the opinions of men more than the commands of almighty God. 

In a raid in the desert outside Jerusalem against Israel’s enemy the Amalekites, God had told Saul to fully destroy this enemy along with all their possessions. Instead, Saul spared King Agag and kept some of the choice sheep and oxen. He disobeyed God’s command. When the Prophet Samuel arrived and saw the evidence of Saul’s clear disobedience, he pronounced God’s judgment. “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. ... Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king” (1 Samuel 15:22–23, ESV).

Think about it—partial obedience is really no obedience at all. Complete obedience is what the Lord desires. We must never back down from fully following Christ because we fear public opinion or the ridicule of others.

Jesus Christ has commanded us to “go ... and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19)—that commandment applies to each one of us, all of His followers. We can’t fix all the social injustices and problems of our day, but we have been called to take this Gospel to the ends of the earth. BGEA is an evangelistic ministry. We exist to proclaim the lifesaving Gospel of our Savior to as many as possible.

Right now, we have a great opportunity to be involved in reaching others through My Hope America with Billy Graham. It is a simple plan. Make a list of lost friends, acquaintances, and loved ones and begin fervently praying for their salvation. In November, each of us will invite people we care about to our home, church, or favorite hangout to watch a dynamic new program we are developing with a message from my father. You can learn more about participating at MyHopeWithBillyGraham.org. We have training available online to help equip you to share your faith.

A young man who has signed up to be a part of My Hope America wrote us recently to say that he had been praying for a long time for his brother’s salvation. While looking through the My Hope America resources we sent him, he felt a strong sense that the Holy Spirit was saying, “The time is now.” He realized God was prompting him to talk again to his brother about Jesus. “Having this conversation was hard for me at first,” he says, “but, boy, am I glad I was obedient, because today a man who once studied hard to try and prove that God was not real, now follows Jesus Christ!” God works through our lives in mighty ways when we are obedient to His leading.

Your prayers and financial support are critically important for carrying out the nationwide My Hope America outreach, and we are counting on your personal participation in helping to reach people you know who need the power of the Gospel in their lives. Thank you for all you do in serving our Lord.

     May God bless you,

Franklin Graham, President

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This Memorial Day, we share an excerpt from I Saw Your Sons at War, written by Billy Graham in 1953.

Seated here I can close my eyes, and for the moment shut out these familiar scenes of home. Then I can hear again the roar of artillery…see the utter devastation of the Korean countryside…see the homeless orphan children crying for food and warmth in the chill of a Korean winter.

I can see also the American GIs standing on a snow-covered, wind-swept hillside to hear the Gospel, and then go back to the trenches…see some of those same GI’s in a front line MASH hospital (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital), dying, and as they die, hear them talk about home in Arkansas…Oregon…Minnesota…Vermont.

And when I open my eyes, and it hardly seems possible, for here the only planes we ever see here are friendly passenger planes, headed north to Washington…or south to Charlotte, and Atlanta.

It seems unbelievable that just weeks ago I walked amid the complete destruction which is the aftermath of a modern bombing and artillery barrage.

And though the entire trip seems so remote and far away now that I am home, I know this, that my visit to Korea was the greatest experience of my ministry. Nothing has ever made such a profound, and I pray, lasting impression on my Christian life.

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How do you share a clear Gospel message on your church or business website? Many are finding that linking to PeaceWithGod.net is an easy – and concise – way to tell others about a relationship with Jesus.

By Tiffany Jothen

Two cancer survivors, a small business owner, a pastor, some Southern Baptists and Chuck Norris. What do they have in common? All want to point people to Christ through BGEA’s evangelistic website, PeaceWithGod.net.

Across the United States and around the world in countries like Croatia, New Zealand, Kuwait and the Congo, web administrators are posting links to PeaceWithGod.net on their church websites, blogs and business pages. PeaceWithGod.net presents the Gospel in a simple way and gives visitors the chance to ask questions, indicate commitments to Christ and receive follow-up discipleship materials. More than 12 million people worldwide have visited PeaceWithGod.net, part of BGEA's Search for Jesus ministry, since it launched in 2011.

Gustavo Núñez owns Onsite Auto Detailing in Wisconsin. While developing his website, Núñez was looking for something simple to tell people that “Jesus is the Savior.” He found PeaceWithGod.net and put a link to it at the bottom of his home page. He can’t tell who clicks on it, but isn’t concerned about that. He’ll leave the results up to God.

“I just want to serve the Lord,” he said, and show people that there’s hope. He found hope himself in 2000 after someone invited him to church and he decided to follow Christ.

Another church called NorthRidge in New Hampshire has a large screen shot of PeaceWithGod.net on its home page. A page on its website titled “What we believe” cites the Great Commission.

“Everything that we do … is driven to be able to get the Gospel out clearly,” Pastor Mike Mills said.

The nondenominational church’s website has more web visitors than members, but “whether they come to church or not,” Mills said, “I want them to get the Gospel and how to be saved.”

Mills’ church is half an hour from Boston, and about half of his members work there. The Boston Marathon bombings in April were a wake-up call, he said, and he hopes the sudden tragedy will continue leading people to seek God.

Mills found out about PeaceWithGod.net from BillyGraham.org. He and his church regularly support BGEA, and Mills lists PeaceWithGod.net on the business cards he hands out in the community.

Martial artist and actor Chuck Norris has also helped get the word out about PeaceWithGod.net. On a March blog about religious liberty, he mentions his and his wife’s belief in Christ. Norris tells about Christ’s free gift of salvation and links to PeaceWithGod.net. 

For a pair of cancer survivors – a Georgia man and a young Utah woman – linking to the evangelistic website was a way to share their faith with those who followed their progress. 

“I understood from the beginning,” the man wrote on his website, “that as a Christian, I was not promised that I would never have problems, but I was promised that He would never leave me or forsake me.”

He linked to PeaceWithGod.net hoping to give others the same assurance.

Several states away in Utah, a young girl’s parents kept a website as she battled cancer. The site is full of encouraging Bible verses, and a link to PeaceWithGod.net is at the very top.

Terry Harper, executive director of the West Virginia Convention of Southern Baptists, said when his organization was looking for evangelistic content to go online, it turned to PeaceWithGod.net rather than “recreate the wheel.” The link is found under “Become a Christian” on the organization’s website.

“That’s what we’re about – reaching people for Christ,” Harper said.

As a boy, Harper watched Billy Graham on TV. He now looks to BGEA for theologically sound material.

The West Virginia Convention of Southern Baptists also supports another evangelistic effort called My Hope America with Billy Graham, a nationwide effort to tell others about Christ.

“I think it’s fantastic. … I’m promoting it across our state,” evangelism missionary Matt Shamblin said. “I look forward to seeing what God’s going to do with it.”

In addition to publicizing PeaceWithGod.net, the organization is reaching out to every church in the state to encourage My Hope participation.

How You Can Get Involved

• Add a banner for PeaceWithGod.net to your blog, church website or business page.

• Become a volunteer e-counselor or online discipleship coach with Search for Jesus.

• Support BGEA’s Internet evangelism ministry.

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Hundreds of families from several states gathered at The Cove Saturday for an annual open house that was packed with free activities and a chance to unwind in the middle of God's creation. Visitors said they could feel the love of Christ as they drove through the gates of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association's mountain retreat.

By Kristy Etheridge

“It’s like you’re in a different world.”

That’s how Andrea Walton described her first visit to The Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove.

“You can feel the Spirit of Christ here and the love of Christ,” said her husband, Eric. “The whole atmosphere just has the peace of Jesus that passes all understanding.”

That peace is exactly what Billy and Ruth Graham hoped their 1,200-acre mountain retreat would exude when the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association purchased the property in 1972. Now home of the Billy Graham Training Center, two inns, Camp Cedar Cliff, and the William F. Chatlos Memorial Chapel, The Cove welcomes weary travelers from all over the world, offering a time of spiritual renewal for God’s people.

Eric and Andrea Walton are from Gastonia, N.C., about 100 miles east of The Cove, which is located in Asheville’s Blue Ridge Mountains. They had heard about the retreat center for years but never made the drive until Saturday.

“We always wanted to come,” said Andrea Walton. “We heard about the open house on 106.9 and we said, ‘Let’s go!’ ”

As the Walton family headed west Saturday morning for the annual open house, Jim and Judy Hastings were driving south. The couple lives in Johnson City, Tenn., about 70 miles north of The Cove.

“Our Sunday school class has been talking about visiting The Cove for years and finally decided to do it,” said Judy Hastings. “We decided to just get a van and ride over.”

As the couple sat in the shade on a pair of wooden rocking chairs, they took in the breathtaking mountain views from the back deck of the Billy Graham Training Center.

“It’s beautiful up here,” said Judy Hastings. “The view. The peace and quiet.”

“I’m just very touched to be here,” said Jim Hastings. “I don’t have enough time and enough words to talk about the meaning.”

Jim and Judy Hastings are longtime admirers of Billy Graham. Even though they, like most of the visitors who stop by The Cove, have never met Mr. Graham, they felt especially close to the 94-year-old evangelist and his late wife, Ruth, knowing they were spending time in a place very dear their hearts.

The annual open house is a chance for people like the Hastings family to check out The Cove for free, without taking part in a seminar, a concert, or an overnight stay. But many of the visitors who walk through the doors for the open house end up back at The Cove for one of its many year-round events.

“A lot of people think this place is just for pastors,” said Jill Gottenstrater, promotions manager for the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove. “It’s not. It’s for anyone who wants to come and grow and study the Word of God.”

Those who spend a day or a weekend at The Cove walk away refreshed. Something about the quiet woods, the mountain air, and the welcome lack of televisions on the property helps visitors grow closer to their Creator.

Saturday, 1,667 people toured the grounds, including the chapel and the training center. Camp Cedar Cliff was also open, and hundreds of families spent the day horseback riding, rock climbing, practicing archery, watching performances, and eating a hot dog lunch together—all free to the public.

“I loved it,” said 8-year-old Owen Ragusa from Travelers Rest, S.C., who visited Camp Cedar Cliff with his twin brother, Ethan.

Owen and Ethan especially enjoyed the rock climbing wall and the chance to ride a horse—an experience that was larger than life.

“The horse was big, and its name was Red,” said Ethan. “I felt like I was on a third story building.”

The boys’ mom, Cindy Ragusa, enjoyed the day of free activities with her sons—a perfect way to spend Mother’s Day weekend.

“It’s nice to be in an environment like this,” said Ragusa. “You don’t find this very often. It’s very family friendly. Most of all, it’s a Christ-filled place. It’s a place to come and your kids will be safe.”

During the open house, guests had a chance to tour the studios of 106.9 The Light, see a tribute to the late George Beverly Shea inside the chapel, and walk through a Samaritan’s Purse disaster relief truck.

Many visitors also stopped by the My Hope table to learn about a special Billy Graham Crusade taking place in living rooms around the country this November. My Hope America with Billy Graham is a nationwide Christian outreach that will help believers present the Gospel to their friends and families through a video message that intertwines Mr. Graham’s preaching with current stories of men and women who have made the decision to follow Christ.

Throw in some free frozen yogurt cones, and there was quite a lot to cram into the five-hour open house. Gottenstrater hopes getting a taste of The Cove will make visitors want to come back for more.

“We don’t want The Cove to be the best kept little secret, so it’s a nice opportunity for people to just experience The Cove,” said Gottenstrater.

That’s exactly what Eric and Andrea Walton did, and they hope to come back again soon.

“We thought we knew about it before, but now we really know.”

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The Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, N.C. is encouraging Christians aged 16 and older to consider helping out at the Library this summer. One college student who has volunteered there for the past year says it's a great experience for teens and 20-somethings like him.

By Kristy Etheridge

When 20-year-old Trevor Fellows first considered volunteering at the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, N.C., he didn’t know what to expect.

“I was a little bit nervous at first,” said Fellows, whose grandmother works at the Library as a phone operator and suggested he give volunteering a try.

“I said, ‘Sure, I’ll give it a shot,’ " said Fellows. “And I found I enjoyed it.“

The college sophomore has been volunteering at the Library since June, 2012. What began as a summer activity turned into a year-round adventure. Now, Fellows is hoping more college and high school students will discover the Billy Graham Library and join him in volunteering their time this summer.

“I know what might scare a lot of kids away is they think it’s just a museum,” said Fellows. “Who wants to spend all day in a museum? Well, it’s not just a museum. It’s a way to share the Gospel with people. In a way, you’re Jesus to them for a few minutes.”

The main building at the Billy Graham Library features a wide range of walk-through exhibits including audio and video clips that tell the story of Billy Graham and his worldwide ministry. There’s also a bookstore, a restaurant, an outdoor area including walking paths, and the original house Mr. Graham grew up in.

Fellows appreciates the variety.

“I’m all over the place,” he said, before leading a tour group from one exhibit room to the next. “I learn something new just about every day I’m here.”

The Library is now accepting applications for volunteers ages 16 and older who have a Christian testimony and live in the greater Charlotte area. Those interested can download an application form from the Library website, fill it out, and either scan and email, fax or mail it back.

Volunteers can work any day from Monday to Saturday in four-hour shifts. Hours are fairly flexible; volunteers just need to work a minimum of 16 hours (four shifts) per month.

Terri Hazen is the assistant manager of the Library volunteer program. She says the Library loves its dedicated group of retired volunteers, but it would be great to get more younger believers involved, too.

“The Gospel is for all people,” said Hazen. “A lot of people think the last Crusade Mr. Graham did was in 2005, but the fact of the matter is, there’s an ongoing Crusade here six days a week.”

“We know young people want to make a difference,” said Anne Marie, who manages the volunteer program. “Young people who know Jesus want to make a difference for eternity.”

As someone who is part of making that difference three days a week, Fellows encourages other students to jump in.

“I don’t think this is a job that should be restricted by age,” he said. “I think if we have the younger folks, it creates a more balanced image. Christ is for everyone.”

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In December of 1973, Billy Graham delivered a written message in Decision magazine entitled “The National Crisis.” Despite being published nearly four decades ago, the message contained in the excerpts below (edited for length) speak to the age-old problems plaguing the earth since the fall of man. And, the answer remains the same – Jesus Christ.

By Billy Graham

This past year the American people have suffered an emotional trauma that has had few parallels in our history. 

Our newspapers and our television screens are bringing news of a hundred and one dangerous problems that are rocking the world. Each day seems to add to our already impressive number of crises here at home – an accelerating crime rate, mass murders, soaring drug use, rampant inflation, pollution, the breakdown of families, a jittery stock market – and the list could go on and on.

And the question that many Americans are asking is: What went wrong? What is wrong? 

RELATED: FRANKLIN GRAHAM: AMERICA'S 'HEART PROBLEM'

It is almost a paradox that our nation, with all the economic affluence for enjoying life, virtually leads the world in crime, narcotics abuse and immorality. As Americans we have at our beck and call all the necessary armaments for national security, but we are still insecure. We have all the material possessions deemed essential for happiness, but we are unhappy. Science has brought us close to a material paradise, but we also stand on the precipice of hell itself. Millions of Americans are happy on the outside, but deep down inside they know something is missing: they are lonely, empty and bored.

The supreme crisis that confronts us is neither political nor economic. It is moral and spiritual. And if we fail to solve this moral and spiritual crisis we may be doomed like the great nations of the past. 

The spiritual problem is also an individual problem – it is one that rests with you and me. There can be and will be no lasting social reform until the individuals who make up society are reformed. The problems of society are caused by men and women in our society. We are a nation of individuals, and we are perilously close to reproducing the lifestyle of the people in the book of Judges in the Old Testament, of whom it is said: “Every man did what was right is his own eyes.” Judges 17:6

What is the answer to the crisis that faces us at this hour? The greatest mistake that we could make would be to fail to diagnose the illness and offer an effective remedy. 

The name of the disease is sin. Our nation must seek again the way of God and walk in the law of God. This is the only answer ultimately to America’s problems. I am not suggesting that more interest in religion is going to save us, because many people in Jeremiah’s day were religious. And that is true today as well. For all too many of us, however, religion is merely a formality that has little effect on the way we live and act during the week. Only a vital, personal faith in the living God of the Bible can get to the root of our problems.

The great question is, “How can we rediscover the faith that was once a dynamic, revolutionary, life-changing force in American society?”

The answer is to be found only in Jesus Christ, the greatest revolutionary of all time. He was not concerned primarily with political or economic revolutions. Instead, he came to enter the lives of men and women and revolutionize the most basic and stubborn source of the problem – the human heart. This change of heart is what we need as a nation. This is what you need now as an individual.

Christ can and wants to revolutionize your life – your home – your community – the entire nation. But it will have to start with you.

Something vital and historic could happen to America … If men and women across the land will turn to God, it could have a profound effect of the future of this nation.  The trend of our nation can be reversed. However, it will happen only as individual men and women reverse the trend of their lives by committing themselves to Jesus Christ. 

I’m not asking you to turn to Christ in order to save America. I ask you to turn to Christ so that you can have purpose and meaning in your own life, so that you can find forgiveness before God, so you can have salvation and eternal life.

But I believe that in the midst of cynicism, discouragement and disillusionment, it’s time to believe again, it’s time to hope again, it’s time to sing again, but you can only do it, and the nation can only be blessed, if first you have peace with God. 

It is my prayer that you will find that peace – not only peace with God, but peace inside and peace with your neighbor.

Join Billy Graham in bringing hope to people you know – family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers – as well as our nation, through My Hope America with Billy Graham. Learn more and get involved now at MyHopeWithBillyGraham.org.

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You could pass more gun laws every single day and it won’t change the human heart. Only Christ can change the heart, and what America has today is a heart problem.

Dear Friend,

Once again, a few days ago, we were reminded of the dangers in the world we live in when bombs exploded at the finish line of the historic Boston Marathon, killing three and injuring more than 250.

The images of blood-stained sidewalks and people running in terror—and the images of firefighters, police officers, and other heroic individuals rushing desperately to try to save lives and help the injured—will be etched in our memory for years to come.

Because of the constant stream of media coverage that is available to us, we may think that violence is more frequent in our generation, but I don’t think that it’s any more prevalent than it has been since Cain killed Abel. Every generation in history has been filled with wickedness and violence and cruelty—it all comes from the human heart. The Bible says, “The hearts of the children of man are full of evil” (Ecclesiastes 9:3, ESV). Jesus said, “From within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder” (Mark 7:21).

While I was writing this letter, I had a phone call from the White House about proposed gun legislation in the Senate. I reminded them that you could pass more gun laws every single day and it won’t change the human heart. Only Christ can change the heart, and what America has today is a heart problem.

When we look at violence in our world, there’s nothing more violent than what happened 2,000 years ago when the Romans stripped our Lord, beat Him, spat on Him, mocked Him, brutally nailed Him to the cross, and thrust a spear into His side. He suffered and died for our sins, providing the only cure for sin-sick hearts and the one real hope for a broken world. So I think the greatest work we can be involved in is telling others about Christ and His saving work.

When my father was asked to address the nation from the Washington National Cathedral after 9/11, he said, “The cross tells us that God understands our sin and our suffering, for He took them upon Himself in the person of Jesus Christ. And from the cross, God declares, ‘I love you. I know the heartaches and the sorrows and the pains that you feel. But I love you.’”

That is a message our nation needs to hear, including your unsaved family members and unsaved friends who desperately need the hope of the Gospel. 

We have a unique opportunity to do that with My Hope America with Billy Graham, our largest evangelistic event in this country ever. Instead of filling a stadium, the outreach will culminate in tens of thousands of living rooms this coming November, the month my father turns 95. Hosts—hopefully including you—will invite a few nonbeliever friends and loved ones to join them in watching a dynamic new TV program that weaves powerful stories of changed lives around a fresh message of hope that my father is preparing.

But the effort doesn’t start in November—My Hope America begins right now, with targeted prayer and intentional relationship-building. In any kind of evangelism, whether large-scale or one-on-one, people do not respond to the Gospel unless God has first made them ready and opened their hearts to hear. I urge you to make a list of specific people you know who need Jesus Christ in their lives and then start praying faithfully and persistently that God will open their hearts. God, who “desires all people to be saved” (1 Timothy 2:4), is pleased with this kind of praying and often answers in unexpected ways.

As you pray for individuals on your list, please also pray for this entire nationwide outreach. Be sure your own church and pastor know about My Hope America. This undertaking is huge, but so is the need, and we ask also for your financial support in carrying out the task.

God sees every person’s inner pain and struggle, along with the sin and guilt that lead to death. Because of His love, He is “not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Millions of Americans, some right in your own community, need a Savior. Working together, we can introduce them to Jesus.

     May God bless you,

Franklin Graham, President

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When Louisiana State Penitentiary Warden Burl Cain visited George Beverly Shea, little did he know a week later, he would be taking part in a funeral ceremony for the 104-year-old gospel singer who traveled the world singing at Billy Graham Crusades.

By Trevor Freeze

Burl Cain is not used to crying.

But as the Prison Warden of the Louisiana State Penitentiary (aka Angola), Cain took in the funeral of George Beverly Shea, who rested in the casket his inmates had made, and he could not stop the tears from flowing.

“I thought it was the most incredible funeral,” Cain said. “It was just a great celebration of someone’s life.”

It was a surreal week for Cain, who had the opportunity to visit Mr. Shea just two days before his passing — exactly a week before he sat in the gorgeous Anderson Auditorium pew, the stone floor beneath his feet.

They spent two hours together — Cain, Bev Shea and his wife Karlene — mostly laughing, telling stories, and of course, drinking coffee, one of Mr. Shea’s passions.

None of them knowing it would be their last visit.

“We had a great conversation,” said Cain, one of the Mr. Shea’s last visitors. “We ate some cookies and just had a good ol’ time.”

At one point, Cain told Mr. Shea, “I don’t think I’ve met anyone 104 years old.”

Bev Shea’s quickly responded: “Well, I haven’t met anyone 104 either.”

He thought for a second and delivered the next line with perfect timing.

“I haven’t met anyone 103.”

Cain left blessed, not knowing Mr. Shea would soon pass away.

“He was brilliant,” Cain said. “He was so witty and had such a great sense of humor. You would have thought he was 20.”

Mr. Shea was buried April 22 at the Billy Graham Library in the Angola casket, just like the one Ruth Bell Graham was buried in back in 2007.

Franklin Graham, who had visited Angola, La., during one of his Festival outreaches, had noticed the high-quality caskets the prisoners had made and asked if they would consider making some for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

“We have a coffin shop in the penitentiary,” said Cain, who added the shop idea began after one of the inmate’s cardboard coffins fell apart during a ceremony. “This is a life-sentence prison. Life means life. But when you die, you’ve served the sentence, so why shouldn’t you have a good casket?”

Cain said six inmates worked on the caskets built for the BGEA, and Angola donated the labor costs. The caskets are made from plywood with a cross on top. 

“(The Grahams) have a heart for prison ministry and prisoners,” Cain said. “Some of the poorest people made the coffin, but (Franklin Graham) honored them by letting them build the coffins. We were very honored to do it.”

So honored that Cain made the trip to Mr. Shea’s funeral in Montreat, N.C., to pay tribute to the man who was the soloist for the Billy Graham Crusades for six decades.

“I came to the funeral because we really have a special place in our heart for Bev Shea, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Franklin,” Cain said.

One of Cain’s favorite memories was the time when a 100-year-old Shea came to the Louisiana State Penitentiary to sing to the Angola inmates.

“He sang some of his favorite songs for about 45 minutes,” Cain said. “It was standing room only.”

Mr. Shea came to Angola to deliver in person his newest Rodgers organ — one Franklin Graham had gifted to him for his 100^th birthday — to the Angola prison. It was given to Mr. Shea with the understanding that after he passed, the organ would be gifted to Angola.

Mr. Shea was quoted in 2009 not wanting to wait until his death to give Angola the organ, as he would be robbed the joy of giving it away: “Every night, on my pillow, I would think about it.”

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