Franklin Graham

William “Franklin” Graham III

President & CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse

Born

July 14, 1952
Asheville, North Carolina

Parents

William Franklin “Billy” Graham Jr. (Died 2018)
Ruth Bell Graham (died 2007)

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

12

Education

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

Ordained

Grace Community Church, Tempe, Arizona, 1982

Ministries

• President & CEO, Samaritan’s Purse
• President & CEO, Billy Graham Evangelical Association

Boards of Directors

• Samaritan’s Purse
• Billy Graham Evangelical Association

Author

2018
Through My Father’s Eyes: Sowing Truth in a Time of Lies (co-authored with Donna Lee Toney, Thomas Nelson, 2018)

2016
Rocks, Dirty Birds and Briars: Sowing Truth in a Time of Lies (co-authored with Donna Lee Toney, Worthy)

2013
Operation Christmas Child: A Story of Simple Gifts (co-authored with Donna Lee Toney, B&H Publishing)

2012
The Sower: Finding Yourself in the Parables of Jesus (co-authored with Donna Lee Toney, Worthy)

2011
Billy Graham in Quotes (co-authored with Donna Lee Toney, Thomas Nelson)

2005
Wing and a Prayer (Tommy Nelson)

2003
All for Jesus (co-authored with Ross Rhoads, Thomas Nelson)
Kids Praying for Kids (Thomas Nelson)

2002
The Name (Thomas Nelson)

1998
Living Beyond the Limits: A Life in Sync with God (Thomas Nelson)

1995
Rebel with a Cause: Finally Comfortable Being Graham (autobiography, Thomas Nelson)
Miracle in a Shoe Box (Thomas Nelson)

1983
Bob Pierce: This One Thing I Do (Word)

Honors

2014
Hall of Faith, Conference of Southern Baptist Convention Evangelists
Watchman Award, presented by Family Research Council

2010
Honorary Chairman, National Day of Prayer

2002
“Daniel of the Year” by World magazine

1999
“Tar Heel of the Year” by The News & Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina)

1996
William Booth Award, presented by The Salvation Army

Honorary Doctorates

• Lees-McRae College
• LeTourneau University
• Liberty University
• National University
• Toccoa Falls College
• Whitworth College

Growing up Graham

William Franklin Graham III, born July 14, 1952, is the fourth of five children of the late evangelist Billy Graham and his wife, the late Ruth Bell Graham. Raised in a log home in the Appalachian Mountains outside Asheville, North Carolina, Franklin now lives in Boone, North Carolina, with his wife, Jane. They have four married children—Will, Roy, Edward and Cissie—and 12 grandchildren.

In his autobiography, Rebel with a Cause, Franklin 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, Franklin committed his life to Jesus Christ while alone in a hotel room in Jerusalem.

International Relief Worker

When Franklin was in his early twenties, Bob Pierce, founder of Samaritan’s Purse, invited Franklin to join him on a six-week mission to Asia. It was during that time that Franklin felt a calling to work with hurting people in areas of the world affected by war, famine, disease, poverty and natural disaster. He said, “I’ve been called to the slums of the streets and the ditches of the world.”

Franklin was elected to the board of Samaritan’s Purse in 1978; one year later, following the death of Pierce, he was elected president. Today, he serves as president and CEO of the international relief and evangelism organization headquartered in Boone, North Carolina. Samaritan’s Purse works in the Name of Jesus Christ to provide relief and assistance in more than 100 countries. It has affiliate offices in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Germany; field offices in 17 countries; and ministry partners in more than 100 countries.

Evangelist

Franklin conducted his first evangelistic event in 1989 and now conducts Crusades, called Festivals, around the world for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. He has proclaimed the Gospel message at evangelistic festivals in 52 countries and all 50 states since 1989. In 2016 Franklin launched the Decision America Tour and traveled to all 50 state capitals to hold prayer rallies. The focus of the rallies was to challenge Christians to pray for the United States and its leaders, and to live and promote Biblical principles at home, in public and at the ballot box.

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

Christian Leader

As a speaker and author, Franklin 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 offers Biblical context and application to national and world events. Through the organizations he leads, he has been instrumental in helping people impacted by crises including 9/11 and other terrorist attacks; civil war in Sudan; and natural disasters ranging from the Ebola outbreak in West Africa to earthquakes in Japan, Haiti and China. He has met privately with five U.S. presidents as well as world leaders from Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Franklin is editor-in-chief of Decision magazine, the “Evangelical Voice of Today,” which features solid biblical teaching as well as cutting-edge stories about issues and events in today’s world, from a biblical worldview.