The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has a long history in Ukraine. In 1988, Billy Graham preached in its capital, Kiev, three years before the end of Soviet rule.
In 2007, Franklin Graham held a three-day evangelistic Festival at Olympic Stadium in Kiev, where more than 124,000 heard the Gospel message live and over 100,000 more heard it throughout Ukraine via satellite broadcast.
So it was no surprise that Franklin Graham took to social media late last week to ask for prayer for Ukraine, dealing with months of political unrest, which has recently escalated.
“I am saddened to see the violence escalate in the Ukraine,” Franklin Graham posted on Facebook. “This part of the world has a very special place in my heart—My father and I have both preached in Kiev.
“I spoke there in 2007 and Samaritan’s Purse has distributed Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes to millions of children there. Pray for peace for this troubled region and for the innocent civilians caught in the turmoil. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matt. 5:9).”
Franklin Graham took to Facebook again on Feb. 27 to continue to ask for prayer and applaud Ukraine’s recent decision:
“I am encouraged to see that Baptist preacher Oleksandr Turchynov has been named as Ukraine’s acting president. The country is at a crossroads with the East pulling one direction and the West pulling another. Pray that God will give them wisdom and that there will be no more bloodshed.”
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