Franklin Graham Appointed President of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

Billy Graham Evangelistic Assn
Thursday, 17 January 2002

Younger Graham Continues to Serve as CEO of BGEA and President of Samaritan's Purse

The Board of Directors of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) recently appointed Franklin Graham president of the organization, adding the title to that of CEO, a position he has held for the past year. Graham, 49, succeeds John R. Corts, who retired last month after 35 years with the organization, including 10 years as president and chief operating officer.

Franklin Graham, who also serves as president and chairman of Samaritan's Purse, an international Christian relief organization headquartered in Boone, N.C., has served on the board of his father's organization for more than 20 years and was appointed first vice-chairman in 1995. Franklin Graham has been assuming increasing management responsibilities with the BGEA in the past several years, though his father, who is 83, continues to serve as chairman and also conducts two major evangelistic campaigns or missions each year.

Last November, Franklin Graham announced that the BGEA would relocate its international headquarters from Minneapolis, where it has been for 50 years, to Charlotte, N.C., Billy Graham's birthplace. The organization has a contract to purchase 63 acres on the Billy Graham Parkway and will make the transition to Charlotte over the next couple of years.

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is a nondenominational, non-profit organization that reaches millions of people each year through Billy Graham evangelistic outreaches and television broadcasts, Franklin Graham Festivals, DECISION magazine, "Hour of Decision" and "Decision Today" radio programs, and World Wide Pictures.

Billy Graham has announced major evangelistic missions this year in Cincinnati, Ohio (June 27-30) and Dallas, Texas (Oct. 17-20). Franklin will conduct major Festivals in San Salvador, El Salvador (Mar. 14-16); Gainesville, Fla. (Apr. 12-14); College Station, Texas (May 2-5); Spokane, Wash. (Aug. 23-25); and Mendoza, Argentina (Nov. 14-16).

For more information, or to contact Billy Graham Evangelistic Assn, see their website at: www.billygraham.org