Billy Graham’s Biography, Ministry, Networth, Career, and Family

Quick Data on William Franklin Graham III

Full Names: William Franklin Graham III
Famous As: Pastor, Missionary
Birthdate: July 14, 1952
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Asheville
Networth: $ 10 Million
Ministry: Billy Graham Evangelistic AssociationIn 1979, after the death of Pierce, he became the president of Samaritan’s Purse. In 1995, he became vice-president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and became the CEO in 2000.
Spouse: Jane Cunningham
Education

Montreat College, A.S., 1974
Appalachian State University, B.A., 1978
Ordained: Grace Community Church, Tempe, Arizona, 1982

The son of evangelist Billy Graham, Franklin Graham followed in his father’s footsteps to become a missionary and an evangelist. He now heads both the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse. He has also produced Christian-themed movies and docu-dramas such as Second Chance and Facing Darkness.

Honors

Hall of Faith, Conference of Southern Baptist Convention Evangelists, 2014
Watchman Award, presented by Family Research Council, 2014 Honorary Chairman, National Day of Prayer, 2010
“Daniel of the Year” by World magazine, 2002
“Tar Heel of the Year” by The News & Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina), 1999
William Booth Award, presented by The Salvation Army, 1996
Honorary Doctorates: Lees-McRae College, LeTourneau University, Liberty University, National University, Toccoa Falls College, Whitworth College

Early years

William Franklin Graham III was born in Asheville, North Carolina, on July 14, 1952, to evangelists Billy Graham and Ruth Graham. He is the fourth of their five children. As a teenager, Graham attended The Stony Brook School, a Christian private school on Long Island, New York, but dropped out. He finished high school in North Carolina.

In 1970, Graham attended LeTourneau College in Longview, Texas, and was expelled from the school for keeping a female classmate out past curfew. In 1973, Graham joined Bob Pierce, founder of Samaritan’s Purse, on a six-week mission to Asia. It was during this trip that Graham decided to focus on world relief. In 1974, he graduated from Montreat-Anderson College, now Montreat College, with an A.S. That same year on a trip to Jerusalem and he repented and experienced a new birth. In 1978 he graduated from Appalachian State University with a B.A.

He was ordained in 1982 by the Grace Community Church in Tempe, Arizona, a non-denominational church.

Controversies

Two salaries

Franklin Graham drew scrutiny in 2009 for drawing a full-time salary from Samaritan’s Purse, while simultaneously receiving a full-time salary from Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA). This was called into question after his 2008 compensation from both organizations totaled $1.2 million. (Most of this was the result of a new IRS rule that required him to re-report deferred retirement contributions that had already been reported over the previous three years.) Some experts on non-profit organizations have questioned whether one person can perform two full-time jobs leading organizations that employ hundreds and spend hundreds of millions around the world. In response to the questions about his compensation, Graham decided to give up his salary from BGEA, stating his calling to the ministry “was never based on compensation”. He also had contributions to his retirement plans suspended until the economy bounced back. However, Graham was again criticized in 2015 when it was revealed he had again taken up his salary from BGEA, and that his annual compensation was significantly higher than that of the CEOs of similar but much larger non-profit organizations

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According to 2014 data, Graham is the highest-paid Samaritan’s Purse employee at $622,252 annually and leads other charities in compensation. The preacher gave up a salary at the evangelistic association during the late economic downturn, but the leaders urged him to accept compensation again and he now receives increased retirement contributions as well as a regular salary. The evangelistic association reported 2013 revenues as $106.5 million and 2014 as $112,893,788.

Published Books

The Sower. Worthy Publishing. 2012. ISBN 9781617951114.
A Wing and a Prayer (2005)
All for Jesus (2003), with Ross Rhoads
Kids Praying for Kids (2003)
The Name (2002)
Living Beyond the Limits: A Life in Sync with God (1998)
Rebel With A Cause: Finally Comfortable Being Graham (1995), autobiography
Miracle in a Shoe Box (1995)
Bob Pierce: This One Thing I Do (1983)

Few References

^ Gibson, David (December 22, 2015). “Evangelist Franklin Graham quits the Republican Party over Planned Parenthood funding”. The Washington Post. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
^ “Franklin Graham”. Franklin Graham Biography. Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Archived from the original on May 17, 2012. Retrieved July 12, 2012.
^ “Franklin Graham”. Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
^ “Franklin Graham biography”. billygraham.org.
^ “The prodigal son comes home”. CNN.com. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
^ Jump up to:^a ^b The Associated Press, Billy Graham Chooses Son as Likely Successor, nytimes.com, USA, November 9, 1995
^ George Thomas Kurian, Mark A. Lamport, Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States, Volume 5, Rowman & Littlefield, USA, 2016, p. 2015
^ Jump up to:^a ^b ^c ^d Paula Zahn, Franklin Graham Timeline, cnn.com, USA, 2001
^ “Sign In” (members only). Appalachian Alumni Association, Appalachian State University. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
^ “Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients”. Alumni Association, Appalachian State University. Retrieved November 29, 2013.