Career Timeline of Franklin Graham: Major Achievements and Milestones
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Franklin Graham made an impact.
William Franklin Graham III, known as Franklin Graham, is an American evangelist and missionary prominent in the evangelical movement. He heads both the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) and Samaritan's Purse, a major international Christian humanitarian aid organization. Under his leadership, Samaritan's Purse has become a leading provider of emergency assistance in global crisis zones, including significant relief efforts in Ukraine and Pakistan. Graham is considered a highly influential evangelical figure in America, overseeing one of the largest charitable organizations in the United States, funded by over a billion dollars in private donations.
1960: Decision Magazine
Since 1960, Franklin Graham is the editor-in-chief of BGEA's Decision magazine, funded by his father. Graham has his own column in the journal.
1973: Joined Samaritan's Purse Mission to Asia
In 1973, Franklin Graham joined Bob Pierce, founder of Samaritan's Purse, on a six-week mission to Asia, where he decided to focus on world relief.
1975: First Experience in Ministry with Samaritan's Purse
In 1975, Franklin Graham gained his first experience in ministry when he accompanied Bob Pierce, President of Samaritan's Purse, on an international trip to South Korea, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, India, and Nepal.
1978: Graduated from Appalachian State University
In 1978, Franklin Graham graduated from Appalachian State University with a B.A.
1978: Founded World Medical Mission
In 1978, while studying at Appalachian State University, Franklin Graham assisted in founding World Medical Mission, the medical ministry of Samaritan's Purse, after being approached by surgeons Lowell and Dick Furman.
1979: Became President of Samaritan's Purse
In 1979, after the death of Bob Pierce, Franklin Graham became the president of Samaritan's Purse, mirroring the organization after the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA).
1980: Samaritan's Purse Headquarters Relocated to Boone, NC
In 1980, the headquarters of Samaritan's Purse was relocated to Boone, North Carolina, and merged with World Medical Mission.
1982: Ordained by Grace Community Church
In 1982, Franklin Graham was ordained by Grace Community Church in Tempe, Arizona.
1982: Ordination and Call to Ministry
In 1982, Franklin Graham was ordained, and he stated that God had called him for his own work in Samaritan's Purse, denying he was groomed to be his father's successor.
1989: First Evangelistic Event
In 1989, Franklin Graham held his first evangelistic event, continuing his father's preaching to large audiences. He has preached at more than 325 outreaches across the U.S. and in over 55 countries since 1989.
1990: Dave Cooke founded Operation Christmas Child
In 1990, British businessman Dave Cooke founded Operation Christmas Child, which later was adopted by the Samaritan's Purse.
1993: Samaritan's Purse Took Over Operation Christmas Child
In 1993, Franklin Graham took over Operation Christmas Child under Samaritan's Purse after being contacted by Dave Cooke.
1995: Assumed Greater Role in BGEA
In 1995, Billy Graham collapsed at a crusade in Toronto and Franklin Graham took his place. A few months later in 1995, Franklin Graham became vice-president of the BGEA.
1998: UK Human Rights Act
In April 2021, Judge Claire Evans referenced that the UK Human Rights Act (1998) protects religious expression, even when views may be controversial. The judge ruled in favor of BGEA UK, stating that Blackpool Council had breached human rights laws by removing advertisements for Franklin Graham's event.
2000: Named CEO of BGEA
In 2000, Franklin Graham was named the CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) after his father retired from ministry.
2001: Succeeded Billy Graham as President of BGEA
In 2001, Franklin Graham succeeded his father, Billy Graham, as President of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA).
February 2002: Organized International Conference on HIV/AIDS
In February 2002, Franklin Graham organized a five-day international conference on HIV/AIDS in Washington, D.C., urging Christians to help prevent its spread globally.
2002: Partnered with Bono to raise HIV/AIDS awareness
In late 2002, Franklin Graham gathered with Bono and the Brooklyn Tabernacle Youth Choir at New York's JFK International Airport to send off more than 80,000 Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts for delivery to Ugandan children affected by HIV/AIDS.
April 18, 2003: Preaching at Good Friday Service at the Pentagon
On April 18, 2003, Franklin Graham preached at a Good Friday service at the Pentagon, during which he made controversial remarks against Islam.
2003: Support of the Invasion of Iraq
In 2003, Franklin Graham voiced his support for the Invasion of Iraq.
June 2005: Continued Crusade Ministry
In June 2005, Franklin Graham continued the crusade ministry following his father's final evangelistic event, the Greater New York Crusade.
2006: Preached Alongside Billy Graham
In 2006, Billy Graham preached alongside Franklin at two events: the Celebration of Hope in New Orleans and the Metro Maryland Festival in Baltimore.
November 2007: Responded to Flooding in Mexico's Tabasco Region
In November 2007, Franklin Graham led Samaritan's Purse in responding to severe flooding in Mexico's Tabasco region, providing survival kits, water filtration systems, and medical care.
2008: Combined Compensation of $1.2 Million
In 2008, Franklin Graham's compensation from both Samaritan's Purse and Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) totaled $1.2 million, leading to questions about his dual roles.
2009: Criticism for Receiving Full-Time Salaries from Two Organizations
In 2009, Franklin Graham faced scrutiny for receiving a full-time salary from Samaritan's Purse while simultaneously receiving a full-time salary from Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA).
2010: Violated of the UK Equality Act
In 2020–2022, Graham's events in multiple UK cities faced cancellations by local authorities and venue operators, often due to concerns about his past comments on LGBTQ+ issues and Islam. Graham and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association took legal action against multiple venues, arguing that their cancellations violated the UK Equality Act (2010).
2010: Equality Act
In April 2021, Judge Claire Evans referenced that the Equality Act (2010) protects religious expression, even when views may be controversial. The judge ruled in favor of BGEA UK, stating that Blackpool Council had breached human rights laws by removing advertisements for Franklin Graham's event.
April 2011: Graham States Trump Is His Preferred Candidate
In April 2011, Graham told ABC's This Week program that Donald Trump, who had recently declared an interest in the Republican nomination for the 2012 U.S. presidential race, was his preferred candidate.
February 21, 2012: Graham Aligns Rick Santorum to "Christian values"
During an MSNBC Morning Joe interview on February 21, 2012, Graham said that Rick Santorum was most closely aligned to "Christian values" in his words and deeds and that Senator Santorum was certainly a "Christian at heart".
2012: Statements on HIV/AIDS and Compassion
In 2012, Franklin Graham stated that individuals with HIV or AIDS are often marginalized and asserted that the church should respond with compassion and support, which led to Samaritan's Purse introducing programs fighting HIV/AIDS in Africa.
2013: BGEA Revenue
In 2013, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association reported revenues as $106.5 million.
2014: Highest Paid Employee at Samaritan's Purse
According to 2014 data, Franklin Graham was the highest paid Samaritan's Purse employee at $622,252 annually, leading other charities in compensation.
2014: Samaritan's Purse Begins Operating in Ukraine
According to the Ukrainian government, Samaritan's Purse has been operating in Ukraine since the start of the hostilities in Ukrainian Donbas in 2014. Since the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, the organization, through local partners, has been delivering food, water, warm clothing, and medical assistance.
December 2015: Franklin Graham Leaves Republican Party
In December 2015, Franklin Graham left the Republican Party and declared himself independent. His decision stemmed from frustration with a GOP-led budget that continued funding Planned Parenthood, criticizing their fetal tissue donation practices.
2015: Resumption of Salary from BGEA and Increased Compensation
In 2015, Franklin Graham was again criticized when it was revealed he had resumed taking his salary from BGEA, where his annual compensation was significantly higher than that of the CEO's of similar non-profit organizations.
June 2016: Graham Expresses Lack of Hope in Political Parties
In June 2016, Franklin Graham told a crowd, "I have zero hope for the Democratic Party; I have no hope for the Republican Party. I am running a campaign to put God back in the political process."
November 2016: Graham States God Played a Role in Trump's Election
In November 2016, Graham told The Washington Post that God had played a role in Donald Trump's election as U.S. president, and he posted a comment on Facebook about it.
2016: Graham Supports Trump's Policies After the 2016 Election
Since the 2016 election, Graham has been a prominent supporter of some of Trump's policies on the U.S. economy, abortion, and religious freedom.
December 2017: British MPs Urge Refusal of UK Entry to Graham
In December 2017, several British MPs urged the Home Secretary to consider refusing UK entry to Graham from speaking at an event due to take place in Blackpool, due to concerns about hate speech.
2017: Samaritan's Purse Establishes Emergency Field Hospital Near Mosul
In 2017, Franklin Graham's Samaritan's Purse partnered with the Iraqi Health Ministry and the World Health Organization to establish an emergency field hospital near Mosul, Iraq, during the battle against ISIS. The 54-bed trauma hospital, located just 6 miles (10 km) from the front lines, provided critical medical care to civilians, Iraqi soldiers, and ISIS fighters injured in the conflict.
February 2018: Petition Against Graham's Visa in the UK
As of February 2018, a petition against Graham being granted a visa to the UK had gathered more than 7,500 signatures, due to his views on LGBT rights.
September 2018: Potential UK Entry Refusal for Graham
In September 2018, there were concerns about potentially refusing entry to Franklin Graham into the UK, related to views on LGBT rights, which was a controversial topic.
2018: Removal of Advertisements for Lancashire Festival of Hope
In 2018, Blackpool Borough Council and Blackpool Transport Services removed advertisements for Franklin Graham's Lancashire Festival of Hope from local buses due to complaints about his past comments.
November 21, 2019: Graham Suggests Opposition to Trump Is Demonic
In a November 21, 2019, interview with Eric Metaxas, Graham suggested opposition to Trump was the work of a "demonic power."
December 2020: Graham Praises Trump's Presidency on Facebook
In mid-December 2020, Graham wrote on Facebook that "President Trump will go down in history as one of the great presidents of our nation, bringing peace and prosperity to millions here in the U.S. and around the world."
2020: Cancellations of Graham's Events in UK Cities
In 2020, Graham's events in multiple UK cities faced cancellations by local authorities and venue operators, often due to concerns about his past comments on LGBTQ+ issues and Islam. Graham and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association took legal action against multiple venues, arguing that their cancellations violated the UK Equality Act (2010).
2020: Cancellation of UK Tour Bookings
In 2020, all venues booked for Franklin Graham's planned eight-city UK tour cancelled his booking after protests by LGBTQ+ activists and local councils.
January 2021: Graham Expresses Dismay About Attack on the U.S. Capitol
Graham did not support and expressed dismay about the attack on the U.S. Capitol that took place in January 2021.
January 2021: Graham Compares Republicans Who Voted for Trump's Impeachment to Judas Iscariot
In January 2021, Graham compared the ten Republican members of the United States House of Representatives who voted for the second impeachment of Donald Trump Trump to Judas Iscariot, suggesting that the Democrats had promised them "thirty pieces of silver".
April 2021: Judge Rules in Favor of BGEA UK
In April 2021, Judge Claire Evans ruled in favor of BGEA UK, stating that Blackpool Council had breached human rights laws by removing advertisements for Franklin Graham's event.
March 2022: Visit to Ukraine and Call for Ceasefire
In March 2022, Franklin Graham visited Ukraine after the Russian invasion. He conducted an Easter Sunday sermon in Ukraine and called for a 10-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in observance of the Easter holiday, addressing both Presidents Putin and Zelenskyy.
August 2022: Samaritan's Purse Launches Relief Operation in Pakistan Following Severe Flooding
In August 2022, Franklin Graham directed Samaritan's Purse to launch a relief operation in Pakistan following severe monsoon flooding. The aid provided during August and September included distributing emergency food, water filtration kits, shelter materials, and hygiene supplies to thousands of affected families.
September 2022: Samaritan's Purse Airlifts Aid to Ukraine
As of September 2022, Samaritan's Purse, led by Franklin Graham, had conducted at least 30 airlifts carrying essential relief and medical equipment into Ukraine. The organization also provided training to local healthcare providers, aiding Ukrainians affected by the conflict.
November 2022: Operation Christmas Child Milestone
In November 2022, Samaritan's Purse celebrated distributing its 200 millionth shoebox through Operation Christmas Child.
2022: Rescheduling of UK Tour
After legal threats and assurances, Franklin Graham's UK tour, which had been cancelled in 2020, was rescheduled for mid-2022.
2022: Samaritan's Purse Responds to Russian Invasion of Ukraine
In 2022, Franklin Graham deployed Samaritan's Purse disaster response specialists to Poland and Romania in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, providing medical supplies, food, and temporary shelter. The charity also shipped over 600,000 Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts to children in Ukraine and set up field hospitals to treat the wounded.
2022: Cancellations of Graham's Events in UK Cities
In 2022, Graham's events in multiple UK cities faced cancellations by local authorities and venue operators, often due to concerns about his past comments on LGBTQ+ issues and Islam. Graham and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association took legal action against multiple venues, arguing that their cancellations violated the UK Equality Act (2010).
February 2023: Samaritan's Purse Deploys Emergency Field Hospital to Turkey After Earthquake
In February 2023, after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake devastated Turkey and Syria, Franklin Graham's Samaritan's Purse deployed a 52-bed emergency field hospital to Antakya, Turkey. The hospital treated over 530 earthquake victims in its first week.
October 2023: Franklin Graham Visits Israel to Assess Humanitarian Needs
In October 2023, after the initial outbreak of the Israel–Hamas conflict, Franklin Graham visited Israel to assess humanitarian needs and provide assistance through Samaritan's Purse. The organization pledged to send 42 replacement ambulances, trauma kits, and essential medical supplies, partnering with over 50 local churches to distribute relief to displaced families in both Israel and Gaza.
June 2024: Evangelistic Event at OVO Hydro Arena in Glasgow
In June 2024, Franklin Graham returned to Glasgow to hold an evangelistic event at the OVO Hydro arena as part of his "God Loves You" tour, which more than 7,500 people attended.
2024: Ranked Among Largest U.S. Charities
According to the Forbes 2024 ranking, Samaritan's Purse was ranked 13th among the 100 largest charitable organizations in the United States, with $1.111 billion in private donations.
2024: Graham Asks Trump to Stop Using Profanity
In 2024, Graham wrote a private letter to President Trump asking him to stop using profanity. During the 2024 Republican National Convention, Trump publicly said he was trying to follow Graham's advice to stop swearing.
January 20, 2025: Graham Gives Invocation at Trump's Inauguration Ceremony
At the inauguration ceremony for President Donald Trump on January 20, 2025, Graham gave an invocation in which he thanked God for Trump's win and stated, "Mr President, over the last four years I'm sure there were times when you thought it was pretty dark. But look at what God has done."
March 2025: Encountering God Ethiopia Event
In March 2025, Franklin Graham led a large-scale evangelistic event, Encountering God Ethiopia, at Meskel Square in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, attended by over 430,000 people.
March 2025: Franklin Graham Discusses Humanitarian Aid with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
In March 2025, Franklin Graham spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss humanitarian aid efforts and support for Ukraine amid the ongoing war. Zelenskyy thanked Graham for Samaritan's Purse's assistance, which included medical care, supplies, and disaster relief to affected Ukrainian civilians. Zelenskyy also informed Graham about Ukraine's acceptance of a United States proposal for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire.
May 2025: Graham Welcomes First Families into New Homes after Hurricane Helene
In May 2025 Franklin Graham started welcoming the first families into their new homes that he promised to rebuild, after Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina. The homes were provided for survivors for free and were fully furnished.
May 2025: European Congress on Evangelism in Berlin
In May 2025, Franklin Graham held the European Congress on Evangelism in Berlin, drawing about 1,000 Christian leaders. During the congress on 28 May 2025, Graham met Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and led delegates in prayer for peace in the Russia–Ukraine war, also praying for Vladimir Putin and U.S. president Donald Trump.
May 2025: Franklin Graham Prays with President Zelensky in Berlin
In May 2025, while convening the European Congress on Evangelism in Berlin, Germany, Franklin Graham met with President Zelensky. During the meeting, Graham prayed for Zelensky and for an end to the conflict in Ukraine.
July 8, 2025: Franklin Graham Prays with Families in Kerrville, Texas
On July 8, 2025, Franklin Graham joined Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem via phone to pray for families gathered in a church in Kerrville, Texas, awaiting word about their missing children and loved ones due to the flash flooding.
July 2025: Samaritan's Purse Airlifts Food to Gaza
In July 2025, Samaritan's Purse began airlifting food to Gaza, sending 65 tons of food for starving Palestinians on three air missions.
July 2025: Franklin Graham Responds to Severe Flash Flooding in Central Texas
In early July 2025, Franklin Graham deployed disaster relief teams with Samaritan's Purse and chaplains with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team, in response to severe flash flooding that struck central Texas. He also prayed with families waiting for news of their loved ones.
October 2025: Graham Praises Trump for Peacemaking Efforts
In October 2025 Graham wrote a letter to Trump praising him for his peacemaking efforts and outlining God's plan of salvation.
2025: Samaritan's Purse Expansion
As of 2025, under Graham's leadership, Samaritan's Purse maintained offices in the United States, Australia, Canada, Germany, Korea and the United Kingdom, providing aid in over 100 countries worldwide.
2025: Crusade in Ethiopia
In 2025, Franklin Graham's planned crusade in Ethiopia coincided with a period of shifting political dynamics between Ethiopia's government and the Trump administration.
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