An inside look at a third-generation evangelist: Will Graham

By Jeff Schapiro

Editors’ Note: In a season where every day seems to bring a new assault on traditional Biblical views, there are nonetheless a whole new generation of young pastors preaching orthodox biblical Christianity and seeing their churches grow exponentially because of it. The Christian Post has picked but a few of scores of pastors enjoying the favor of God in this way, in an effort to find out what about the Gospel resonates in today’s generation.

Pastors interviewed are under 40, most, but not all, in urban settings and are attracting Christians over a wide age spectrum, including millenials and Generations X and Y. These pastors uphold traditional biblical views of family and morality, yet attract young people and are gaining national reputations.

Today we spotlight Will Graham, 38, who is unique among the other church leaders featured in this series because he does not currently pastor a church. He is the grandson of Billy Graham, a third generation evangelist, vice president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and executive director of the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove.

Following in the footsteps of his grandfather and father, Will Graham is a third-generation evangelist who has seen thousands of people put their faith in Jesus Christ during his evangelistic Celebration events.

All three generations of Grahams are still actively trying to reach nonbelievers with the Gospel. Will has evangelistic events planned for both Japan and Thailand later this year, he told The Christian Post. His father, Franklin, has events planned for Iceland and Thailand. His grandfather, Billy, will be shown delivering what will likely be his last sermon during the “My Hope with Billy Graham” event in November.

Will says he misses being the pastor of a local church, but “when God calls you to do something you’ve got to do it, and I’m grateful for that as well.”