Early Life and Education of Franklin Graham: A Complete Timeline

How education and upbringing influenced the life of Franklin Graham. A timeline of key moments.

Franklin Graham is a prominent American evangelist, missionary, and political commentator within the evangelical movement. As the son of Billy Graham, he leads 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 global provider of emergency assistance in crisis zones, responding to events in regions such as Ukraine and Pakistan. Graham is considered a highly influential evangelical leader in the United States, overseeing a charitable organization that receives substantial private donations.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

July 14, 1952: William Franklin Graham III born

On July 14, 1952, William Franklin Graham III, now known as Franklin Graham, was born. He is an American evangelist and missionary.

Others born on this day/year

1970: Attended LeTourneau College

In 1970, Graham attended LeTourneau College in Longview, Texas, but was expelled for keeping a female classmate out past curfew.

August 1974: Marriage to Jane Austin Cunningham

In August 1974, Franklin Graham married Jane Austin Cunningham in a ceremony officiated by his father, Billy Graham.

1974: Became a "committed Christian"

In 1974, Graham became a "committed Christian".

1974: Graduated from Montreat-Anderson College and repented in Jerusalem

In 1974, Graham graduated from Montreat-Anderson College with an A.S. and experienced a new birth in Jerusalem.

1975: Birth of Son, William Franklin Graham IV (Will)

In 1975, William Franklin Graham IV (Will), son of Franklin Graham, was born.

1977: Birth of Son, Roy Austin Graham

In 1977, Roy Austin Graham, son of Franklin Graham, was born.

1978: Graduated from Appalachian State University

In 1978, Graham graduated from Appalachian State University with a B.A.

1979: Birth of Son, Edward Bell Graham

In 1979, Edward Bell Graham, son of Franklin Graham, was born.

1986: Birth of Daughter, Jane Austin Graham Lynch (Cissie)

In 1986, Jane Austin Graham Lynch (Cissie), daughter of Franklin Graham, was born.

September 11, 2001: Graham calls Islam evil after 9/11

Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, Franklin Graham referred to Islam as "a very evil and wicked religion."

April 18, 2003: Graham Preaches at the Pentagon

On April 18, 2003, Franklin Graham preached at a Good Friday service at the Pentagon.

2003: Graham Supported the 2003 Invasion of Iraq

In 2003, Graham supported the Invasion of Iraq.

2005: Graham Argues Against Indictment of al-Bashir

In 2005, Franklin Graham argued that Sudanese president Omar Hassan al-Bashir should not be indicted for alleged genocidal acts because the indictment would lead to the collapse of the peace agreement.

March 2009: Graham Argues Against Indictment of al-Bashir

In March 2009, Franklin Graham argued in The New York Times that Sudanese president Omar Hassan al-Bashir should not be indicted for alleged genocidal acts.

December 2009: Graham's Controversial Remarks on Islam

In December 2009, Franklin Graham made controversial remarks against Islam saying, "True Islam cannot be practiced in this country,".

April 22, 2010: Pentagon Rescinds Graham's Invitation

On April 22, 2010, after objections from the Military Religious Freedom Foundation and the Muslim group Council on American–Islamic Relations (CAIR), the Pentagon rescinded Graham's invitation from the Christian conservative National Day of Prayer Task Force to speak at a Pentagon National Day of Prayer event.

August 30, 2010: Graham Calls Islam a Religion of Hatred

In the August 30, 2010, issue of Time magazine, Franklin Graham reportedly said that Islam "is a religion of hatred. It's a religion of war."

2010: Legal Action Against Venues

In 2010, Graham and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) took legal action against multiple venues, arguing that their cancellations violated the UK Equality Act.

April 2011: Graham Prefers Trump for Republican Nomination

In April 2011, Franklin Graham stated on ABC's This Week program that Donald Trump was his preferred candidate for the Republican nomination for the 2012 U.S. presidential race.

February 21, 2012: Graham Aligns with Santorum

On February 21, 2012, during an MSNBC interview, Franklin Graham stated that Rick Santorum was most closely aligned with Christian values and was a Christian at heart.

May 8, 2012: Graham supports North Carolina Amendment 1

On May 8, 2012, Graham supported North Carolina Amendment 1, which was passed by a voter referendum prohibiting same-sex marriage and all domestic partnerships.

May 9, 2012: Graham Responds to Obama's Support for Same-Sex Marriage

On May 9, 2012, Franklin Graham responded to Obama's statement of support for same-sex marriage, saying Obama "shaken his fist at the same God who created and defined marriage".

February 28, 2014: Graham Defends Putin's Policy on "Nontraditional Sexual Relations"

On February 28, 2014, Franklin Graham defended aspects of Russian President Vladimir Putin's policy that banned "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations to minors," arguing it protected children.

2014: Samaritan's Purse Operates in Ukraine

In 2014, Samaritan's Purse began operating in Ukraine, since the start of the hostilities in Ukrainian Donbas, according to the Ukrainian government.

December 2015: Franklin Graham Leaves Republican Party

In December 2015, Franklin Graham resigned from the Republican Party, citing disagreements over funding for Planned Parenthood and expressing disillusionment with mainstream politics.

June 2016: Graham expresses zero hope for parties

In June 2016, Franklin Graham told a crowd that he had "zero hope for the Democratic Party" or the "Republican Party" and that he was running a campaign to put God back in the political process.

November 2016: Graham Attributes Trump's Election to God

In November 2016, Franklin Graham told The Washington Post that God had a role in Donald Trump's election as U.S. president, sensing God's intervention across the country.

2016: Graham Becomes Supporter of Trump

Since the 2016 election, Franklin Graham has been a prominent supporter of Donald Trump’s policies, including strongly opposing the impeachment process.

January 20, 2017: Graham Reads at Trump's Inauguration

On January 20, 2017, at the Inauguration of Donald Trump, Franklin Graham read a passage from Paul's First Epistle to Timothy, calling for prayers for all people in authority.

December 2017: MPs Urge Ban on Graham from UK

In December 2017, several British MPs urged the Home Secretary to consider refusing UK entry to Franklin Graham from speaking at an event due to take place in Blackpool.

February 2018: Petition Against Graham UK Visa

As of February 2018, a petition against Graham being granted a visa to the UK had gathered more than 7,500 signatures.

September 2018: Graham UK Visit

In September 2018, 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.

November 21, 2019: Graham Suggests Opposition to Trump is Demonic

In a November 21, 2019, interview, Franklin Graham suggested that opposition to Trump was the work of a "demonic power".

December 2020: Graham Praises Trump's Presidency

In December 2020, Franklin Graham wrote on Facebook that President Trump would "go down in history as one of the great presidents of our nation".

2020: Events Cancelled due to concerns

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.

2020: Buttigieg's Presidential Run

In 2020, Pete Buttigieg became the first openly gay man to announce a run for President against President Donald Trump.

January 2021: Graham Compares Impeachment Voters to Judas

In January 2021, Franklin Graham compared the ten Republican members of the House who voted to impeach Trump to Judas Iscariot.

November 2021: Heart Surgery

In November 2021, Franklin Graham underwent heart surgery to treat constrictive pericarditis.

March 2022: Graham Visits Ukraine and Calls for Ceasefire

In March 2022, Franklin Graham visited Ukraine after the Russian invasion and called for a 10-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in observance of the Easter holiday.

August 2022: Samaritan's Purse Launches Relief Operation in Pakistan

In August 2022, Franklin Graham directed Samaritan’s Purse to start an immediate relief operation in Pakistan, providing food, water filtration kits, shelter, and hygiene supplies after severe monsoon flooding.

September 2022: Samaritan's Purse Airlifts Aid to Ukraine

In September 2022, Samaritan’s Purse had conducted at least 30 airlifts carrying essential relief and medical equipment into Ukraine, contributing to the aid efforts following the Russian invasion.

2022: Events Cancelled due to concerns

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.

February 2023: Samaritan’s Purse Deploys Field Hospital to Turkey

In February 2023, after an earthquake in Turkey and Syria, Franklin Graham’s Samaritan’s Purse deployed a 52-bed emergency field hospital to Antakya, Turkey, which treated over 530 victims in its first week.

October 2023: Graham assesses humanitarian needs in Israel

In October 2023, during the Israel–Hamas conflict, Franklin Graham visited Israel to assess humanitarian needs and provide assistance through Samaritan’s Purse.

January 20, 2025: Graham Gives Invocation at Trump's Inauguration

On January 20, 2025, at the inauguration ceremony for President Donald Trump, Franklin Graham gave an invocation thanking God for Trump's win.

March 2025: Franklin Graham meets with President Zelenskyy

In March 2025, Franklin Graham met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss humanitarian aid efforts, with Zelenskyy publicly thanking Graham for Samaritan’s Purse assistance.

2025: Graham Crusade Coincides with Political Dynamics

In 2025, Franklin Graham’s crusade in Ethiopia coincided with a period of shifting political dynamics between Ethiopia’s government and the Trump administration.