Franklin Graham, president and CEO of humanitarian aid organization Samaritan’s Purse, and the Billy Graham Evangelstic Association is returning to Ukraine to share an uplifting message on Easter, April 17, according to Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Franklin Graham, who recently visited the war-torn nation, has seen firsthand the desperate circumstances facing Ukrainians and Ukrainian refugees. His Easter message, which will air on Fox News Easter Sunday at 12 noon ET, will include prayer “that God will open hearts to the Gospel and that He will draw many to salvation in Jesus Christ.” Prayer will also include bringing the conflict in Ukraine to an end.
In a message on Facebook, Franklin Graham shared, “My deepest gratitude to my father Billy Graham’s friend, Mr. Rupert Murdoch, who is providing the television air time for this. I hope you’ll mark your calendar and plan to watch as we celebrate the reason for our hope—JESUS IS ALIVE! Remember to pray for the people of Ukraine.” The prayer event will include music from an 80-person choir made up of Ukrainians who have been displaced since Russia’s invasion.
Last month, Franklin Graham visited Ukraine where his two ministries, the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) and Samaritan’s Purse, are working hard to assist Ukrainians in need with crisis response teams and medical aid. Speaking with doctors, nurses, and church leaders, Franklin Graham recognized their brave commitment to providing support for Ukrainians while risking their own lives. Since his last visit, the ministries have expanded their efforts by adding more staff and volunteers as well as moving “hundreds of miles closer to the front lines” where they can help people in more desperate situations.
Since the start of the conflict in Ukraine on February 24, Franklin Graham has been encouraging people around the world to pray for the nation. He has even called for a ceasefire from April 15-24 “in observance of the Easter holiday around the world.” Franklin Graham explained that he will be “sharing a message the whole world needs to hear: Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, conquered sin and death 2,000 years ago when He rose victoriously from the grave. This Good News changes everything—for individual hearts, for communities and for entire nations.”