History of Franklin Graham in Timeline

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

1960: BGEA's Decision Magazine Founded

In 1960, Decision magazine was founded by Billy Graham and Franklin Graham is now the editor-in-chief.

1970: Attended LeTourneau College

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

1973: Joined Samaritan's Purse mission to Asia

In 1973, Graham joined Bob Pierce, the founder of Samaritan's Purse, on a six-week mission to Asia, where he decided to focus on world relief.

1973: Billy Graham's relationship with Jimmy Carter

In 1973, the text refers to Billy Graham’s, longstanding relationship with Jimmy Carter dating back to the 1973 Atlanta Crusade and later integrated evangelical outreach activities in Georgia.

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: First Ministry Experience

In 1975, Franklin Graham gained his first experience in ministry when he accompanied Bob Pierce on an international trip, visiting missionary and refugee camps, hospitals, and meeting with leaders in various countries.

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.

1978: Founded World Medical Mission

In 1978, while studying at Appalachian State University, Franklin Graham was approached by surgeons from Boone, North Carolina to establish an organization to send Christian physicians to missionary hospitals, which led to the founding of World Medical Mission.

1979: Birth of Son, Edward Bell Graham

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

1979: Became President of Samaritan's Purse

In 1979, after the death of Bob Pierce, Graham became the president of Samaritan's Purse and modeled it after the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

1980: Conflict and relocation of Samaritan's Purse headquarters

In 1980, Graham discovered that the California leadership of Samaritan’s Purse had incorporated a separate ministry organization, leading to a conflict and the relocation of the headquarters to Boone, North Carolina.

1982: Ordination and denial of succession

In 1982, Franklin Graham was ordained, beginning his evangelistic career, and he denied that he was groomed to be his father's successor.

1982: Ordained as a minister

In 1982, Graham was ordained as a minister and has since become a public speaker and author.

1982: Ordained by Grace Community Church

In 1982, Graham was ordained by the Grace Community Church in Tempe, Arizona.

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

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

1989: First evangelistic event

In 1989, Franklin Graham held his first evangelistic event, continuing his father’s preaching to large audiences worldwide.

1990: Operation Christmas Child founded

In 1990, British businessman Dave Cooke founded Operation Christmas Child.

1990: Second Vice-Chairman of BGEA

In 1990, Franklin Graham became the second vice-chairman of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA).

1993: Samaritan's Purse took over Operation Christmas Child

In 1993, Samaritan’s Purse officially took over Operation Christmas Child under Graham's leadership.

1995: Stepped in for his father, vice-president of BGEA

In 1995, Franklin Graham stepped in for his father at a crusade in Toronto after Billy Graham collapsed, and later that year, Franklin became vice-president of the BGEA.

1998: UK Human Rights Act

The UK Human Rights Act of 1998 protects religious expression.

2000: Named CEO of BGEA

In 2000, Franklin Graham was named CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) after his father retired from ministry.

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."

2001: Succeeded his father as President of BGEA

In 2001, Franklin Graham succeeded his father, Billy Graham, as President of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA).

2001: Allocated funds for HIV/AIDS prevention

In 2001, the Samaritan's Purse allocated $1.6 million for HIV/AIDS prevention efforts.

February 2002: Organized conference on HIV/AIDS

In February 2002, Franklin Graham organized a five-day international conference on HIV/AIDS in Washington, D.C., describing it as a greater threat than terrorism.

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.

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.

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.

2005: Recognition by TIME Magazine

In 2005, TIME magazine recognized Franklin Graham as one of the most influential evangelicals in the United States.

2006: Preached alongside his father

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: Response to Mexico flooding

In November 2007, Franklin Graham led Samaritan’s Purse in responding to severe flooding in Mexico’s Tabasco region.

2008: Compensation Concerns

In 2008, Franklin Graham's compensation from Samaritan's Purse and Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) totaled $1.2 million, raising concerns about his earnings.

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,".

2009: Salary Scrutiny

In 2009, Franklin Graham faced scrutiny for simultaneously drawing full-time salaries from Samaritan's Purse and Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA), leading to questions about his compensation and time commitment.

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 19, 2010: Comments on President Obama's Faith

On August 19, 2010, Franklin Graham questioned President Barack Obama's Christian faith, suggesting he was born a Muslim due to his father's Islamic background.

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."

September 2010: Statement on Churches and Synagogues in Islamic Countries

In September 2010, Franklin Graham stated that building churches and synagogues is forbidden in most countries in the Islamic world.

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.

2010: Equality Act

The Equality Act of 2010 protects religious expression.

March 2011: Claims of Obama Administration Ties to Muslim Brotherhood

In March 2011, Franklin Graham claimed in an interview with Newsmax that officials in the Obama administration had connections to the Muslim Brotherhood.

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.

February 28, 2012: Response to NAACP Letter

On February 28, 2012, Franklin Graham responded to an open letter from the NAACP and other faith leaders, who criticized his statements questioning President Obama's Christianity, urging him to avoid using Christianity as a political weapon.

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".

2012: Addressed marginalization of individuals with HIV/AIDS

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.

2013: Evangelistic Association Revenues

In 2013, the evangelistic association reported revenues of $106.5 million.

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: Highest Paid Employee

According to 2014 data, Franklin Graham was the highest-paid Samaritan's Purse employee, earning $622,252 annually, and received increased retirement contributions and a regular salary.

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.

2015: Salary Controversy Resurfaces

In 2015, Franklin Graham was again criticized for resuming his salary from BGEA, with his annual compensation exceeding that of CEOs at similar non-profit organizations.

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.

2017: Opposition to Conversion Therapy Ban

In 2017, Franklin Graham spoke against a bill proposing to ban conversion therapy, referencing Leviticus 18:22 and defining homosexuality as a sin.

2017: Emergency field hospital near Mosul, Iraq

In 2017, Franklin Graham’s organization, Samaritan’s Purse, partnered to establish an emergency field hospital near Mosul, Iraq, during the battle against ISIS.

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.

2018: Ad Removal in Blackpool

In 2018, Blackpool Borough Council removed advertisements for Franklin Graham’s Lancashire Festival of Hope from local buses due to complaints about his past comments on Islam and same-sex marriage.

April 2019: Attack on Pete Buttigieg's Homosexuality

In April 2019, Franklin Graham criticized Pete Buttigieg for his homosexuality and marriage to another man, stating that the Bible defines homosexuality as sin.

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.

2020: UK Tour Cancelled

In 2020, all venues booked for Franklin Graham's planned eight-city UK tour were cancelled following protests by LGBTQ+ activists and local councils due to his controversial statements.

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.

April 2021: Legal Victory in Blackpool Ad Case

In April 2021, Judge Claire Evans ruled in favor of BGEA UK, stating that Blackpool Council breached human rights laws by removing advertisements for Franklin Graham’s event in 2018. The ruling emphasized the protection of religious expression under UK law.

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.

November 2022: 200 millionth Operation Christmas Child shoebox distributed

In November 2022, Samaritan’s Purse celebrated distributing its 200 millionth shoebox through Operation Christmas Child.

2022: UK Tour Rescheduled

After threatening legal action, Franklin Graham's UK tour was rescheduled for mid-2022 after assurances that his preaching would not be discriminatory.

2022: Legal victory against Scottish Event Campus

In 2022, Franklin Graham had a legal victory against the Scottish Event Campus (SEC).

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.

2022: Response to Russian invasion of Ukraine

In 2022, in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Franklin Graham deployed Samaritan’s Purse disaster response specialists to Poland and Romania, providing aid, and set up field hospitals.

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.

2023: Evangelistic event in Glasgow

In 2023, Franklin Graham returned to Glasgow to hold an evangelistic event at the OVO Hydro arena.

2024: Forbes ranking of Samaritan's Purse

According to the Forbes 2024 ranking, the Samaritan's Purse was ranked 13th among the 100 largest charitable organizations in the United States.

2024: Percentage of budget from government grants

Less than 5% of Samaritan’s Purse’s budget for 2024 came from government grants.

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: Encountering God Ethiopia

In March 2025, Franklin Graham led Encountering God Ethiopia, a large-scale evangelistic event at Meskel Square in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

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: Samaritan's Purse offices worldwide

As of 2025, Samaritan's Purse maintained offices in multiple countries, providing aid in over 100 countries worldwide.

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.