May 12: Billy Graham update
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association just 
issued a statement regarding the health of renowned evangelist Graham.
The statement was posted on the association’s website.
Graham, 92, was hospitalized May 11 in Asheville, N.C. near his home in Montreat and diagnosed with pneumonia.
According to the statement, Graham has no fever and is listed in fair condition. He is watching TV and has received some visitors.
Also in the statement, the beloved preacher shares a few words of thanks for those who are praying for him.
Read the association’s statement here: Billy Graham update
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
12 Days of Christmas, Day 1: Billy Graham classic holiday videos
There are 12 more days until Christmas, when Christians all around the world will celebrate the birth of Christ.
I’ll be blogging on many subjects, but I thought it might be nice to focus on at least one Christmas-related event, activity or issue in these days leading up to the holiday. 
Here’s something for the many people who have long enjoyed sermons and presentations from renowned evangelist Billy Graham.
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has put together several short Christmas-themed videos featuring Graham and his family. The videos are available for viewing on the association’s website.
Here’s a link to the association’s site. When you get to the site, just click on the video on the left: Billy Graham classic holiday videos.
And yes, technically, I know the 12 days of Christmas begin with Christmas and lead up to Jan. 6, Three Kings Day, (Epiphany) but this is my interpretation, for blogging purposes!
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
National Day of Prayer
I’m heading over to cover the National Day of Prayer service at the state Capitol and I can’t help but wonder about the observance activities under way in our nation’s capitol.
Some of you may have seen earlier reports that evangelist Franklin Graham, son of renowned evangelist Billy Graham, was disinvited from participating in the National Day of Prayer observance at the Pentagon. This was done, according to reports, because Graham had been critical of the religion of Islam in the past and some Muslim Pentagon employees felt he should not be part of the prayer service.
Well, yesterday I read on the e-newsletter put out by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association that Franklin Graham is indeed going to pray at the Pentagon today. Apparently, he won’t be part of the National Day of Prayer observance, but he plans to pray in front of the Pentagon.
As far as I know, there’s nothing stopping Franklin, who has a son serving in Afghanistan, from praying in front of Pentagon if he wants to.
I’ll keep you updated and look for stories later online and in Friday’s Oklahoman.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Obama meets with Billy Graham
The Associated Press is reporting that President Obama met with evangelist Billy Graham (pictured) on Sunday at Graham’s North Carolina home.
Reportedly, evangelist Franklin Graham, Billy Graham’s son, said the meeting was very cordial.
Here’s The Associated Press story: President meets with Billy Graham
Billy Graham’s musical friend turns 100
George Beverly Shea, the Gospel soloist who has become a legend appearing with his longtime friend evangelist Billy Graham at Graham’s ministry crusades, recently turned 100.
Friends, family and loved ones of the popular singer helped him celebrate his birthday at a private event, hosted at the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove in Asheville, N.C.
Shea’s longtime friends Graham, music director Cliff Barrows and gospel music legends Bill and Gloria Gaither attended the event.
Testimonies during the program accented the humility and grace of the man often called “America’s Beloved Gospel Singer,” as well as his vital contribution to the work of evangelism for the Billy Graham Crusade team for more than 60 years.
“I’m deeply grateful to him,” said Mr. Graham during remarks at the event, publicized by Christian Newswire. “I count him as one of my 
closest friends and confidantes.”
The centenarian greeted well-wishers with a few words, and took the opportunity to recite one of his favorite hymns, “The Shadow of a Cross,” in his familiar bass-baritone voice.
In a gesture perfect for a musician, Shea was presented with a Rodgers organ, eventually to be used at Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. Angola’s warden, Burl Cain, was in attendance at the celebration. Following a Franklin Graham Prison Festival at Angola in 2006, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association donated funds to build a chapel there that was dedicated in April 2008.
“I was overwhelmed that so many people were here tonight,” said Mr. Shea after the event. “And I never dreamed I would get a gift like this.”
“All these years, Daddy always said that a Crusade really began when Uncle Bev walked up to the mic and began to sing,” Franklin Graham said, according to Christian Newswire.
Shea was born in Winchester, Ontario, Feb 1, 1909, the son of a minister. He first sang for Billy Graham on the Chicago radio hymn program, “Songs in the Night,” in 1943 and since then has carried the Gospel in song to every continent and every state in the country.
Shea is the recipient of 10 Grammy nominations with one Grammy Award (1965) and is a member of the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame (1978). For his significant contributions to Gospel music, he was inducted into the Religious Broadcasting Hall of Fame (NRB) in February 1996.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Billy Graham’s grandson chosen to lead Coral Ridge
Here’s the news that is making headlines in Florida and beyond.
Evangelist Billy Graham’s grandson,Tullian Tchividjian (pictured above), has been chosen to lead the Presbyterian megachurch formerly led by the Rev. D. James Kennedy.
According to the Religion News Service, Tullian Tchividjian, 36, will assume the pastorate at Fort Lauderdale’s Coral Ridge Presbyterian, if approved by a congregational vote.
Kennedy died in September 2007 at age 76, and is widely believed to have been an ”architect of the Christian right,” the RNS reported.
Tchividjian is one of seven children of Gigi Tchividjian, the eldest daughter of Billy and Ruth Graham. His grandfather preached the dedication sermon for the Coral Ridge sanctuary in 1974.
“This will be an exciting legacy for both Dr. Kennedy and Billy Graham,” Dan Westphal, head of Coral Ridge’s search committee, told the RNS. “I’ve come to know Tullian well, and he is a godly man.”
Born in Jacksonville and raised in South Florida, Tchividjian was named after Tertullian, a theologian of the second and third centuries. He earned degrees in philosophy at Columbia International University in South Carolina, and in divinity at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Obama inauguration: Warren invokes Jesus’ name
In the midst of all the hoopla about megachurch pastor Rick Warrren doing the invocation at today’s presidential inauguration was this question: Will he invoke the name of Jesus?
Well for the curious, Rev. Rick did just that.
Some people may remember that evangelist Franklin Graham ignited a firestorm when he invoked the name of Jesus in his invocation at the 2001 inauguration of George W. Bush.
Franklin G., son of renowned evangelist Billy Graham, was filling in for his father who was ill at the time.
Franklin Graham refused to retract his words after criticism became public. He later wrote a book about the reasons why Jesus’ name incites and draws ire.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
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Prayers for Obama
Not everybody had New Year’s resolutions, weight loss or black eyed peas on their mind on Jan. 1.
That was the day the Christian Defense Coalition launched a new prayer campaign for President-elect Barack Obama.
The campaign is to lead up to Jan. 20, the day of Obama’s presidential inauguration in Washington, D.C.
The coalition is asking people to pray at noon everyday in their homes, businesses and organizations that Obama change his pro-choice stance on abortion.
As part of the campaign, members of the coalition will lead a prayer vigil at noon everyday outside the White House, concluding with a large prayer vigil on the Martin Luther King national holiday on Jan. 19.
The coalition, in a news release, said an inaugural prayer offered 40 years ago by the Rev. Billy Graham is to be offered:
“We thank Thee for this torch of faith handed to us by our forefathers. May we never let it be extinguished. Thou alone hast given us our prosperity, our freedom and power. This faith in God is our heritage and foundation,” the prayer says.
“The whole world is watching to see if the faith of our fathers will stand the trials and tests of the hour. Too long we have neglected Thy word and ignored Thy laws. Too long we have tried to solve our problems without reference to Thee. Too long we have tried to live by bread alone,” it continues.
“So we pray, O God, as we enter a new era, that we as a nation may experience a moral and spiritual rest,” it adds. “And in the lonely moments of decision grant him an uncompromising courage to do what is morally right.”
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Billy Graham birthday video
It’s been a few weeks since evangelist Billy Graham celebrated his 90th birthday.
As a way to honor the renowned preacher, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association requested the people who have been impacted by Graham and his ministry send in letters and e-mails sharing their testimonies of faith.
The association received about 120,000 letters.
Watch as Graham’s son, Franklin Graham, tells his father of the project: Billy’s 90th birthday.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Graham celebrates with family
Evangelist Billy Graham celebrated his 90th birthday Friday with family and personal staff at a private barbeque near his mountain home outside Asheville, N.C., attended by all five of his children, most of his 19 grandchildren and many of his great grandchildren, a news release said.
“I’ve learned that these latter years can be some of the most fulfilling of our lives,” the evangelist said in the prepared statement released through Christian Newswire.
“I am grateful for each day, thankful for the measure of health I have and am overwhelmed by this celebration. But I think we can come back and celebrate again next year.”
(PICTURED ABOVE: Four generations of William F. Graham, including the evangelist, Billy Graham, and, left to right, his son, Franklin; grandson, “Will”; and great-grandson, “Quinn.”)
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
