Grahams

Popular evangelist Billy Graham, who was hospitalized on Nov. 30 after having been diagnosed with pneumonia, was released Tuesday from the North Carolina hospital where he was admitted and plans to spend the Christmas holidays at home.

Graham returned to his Montreat, N.C, home in the afternoon after a six-day stay at nearby Mission Hospital in Asheville.

“I am grateful for the many thoughts and prayers expressed by individuals across the country and around the world during my stay at Mission Hospital,” he said in a statement upon discharge. “I also appreciated the wonderful treatment I received here from such caring doctors and nurses, and feel I have made some new friends. But I am especially looking forward to seeing my home decorated for Christmas and spending the holidays with members of my family.” more >>

Doctors attending to evangelist Billy Graham in a North Carolina hospital since last Wednesday said they were encouraged by the progress in his recovery from pneumonia even as he was able to watch his pastor deliver a sermon on television Sunday.

“Doctors are encouraged by Mr. Graham’s significant clinical progress, but have not yet set a date for discharge,” Merrell Gregory, spokeswoman of Mission Hospital in Asheville, N.C., said in a statement Sunday.

Graham’s family visited him in the hospital over the weekend, and he watched on television his pastor, Dr. Don Wilton of First Baptist Church in Spartanburg, S.C., deliver his regular Sunday sermon, Gregory said. She also said the 93-year-old evangelist is showing progress in his physical therapy and “walking more in the private corridor outside his room.” more >>

Evangelist Billy Graham was admitted to Mission Hospital in Asheville, N.C., today for evaluation and treatment on his lungs. As news of "America's evangelist" being hospitalized emerged Wednesday, supporters from around the nation offered prayers and well-wishes.

"Upon admittance, he was alert, smiling and waving at hospital staff," read a press release from the hospital regarding Graham's admittance, which was also published on the Billy Graham Evangelical Association's website.

According to the North Carolina preacher's personal physician, Dr. Lucian Rice, Graham's condition is stable and was being treated for pneumonia by Dr. Mark Hellreich. more >>

Who is the most influential Christian leader in the United States? The results of a new study show that no individual overwhelmingly stands out, and Americans are divided over the answer.

According to a study released by Barna Group on Monday, 41 percent of American adults were unable to identify who they believe to be the most influential Christian leader in our nation today. The most mentioned individual was evangelist Billy Graham, who was named by 19 percent of adults. It was also found that Graham's name was more likely to be mentioned by the elderly – ages 66 and older – than by younger adults.

“Looking at the big picture, only a limited number of individuals come to mind when Americans consider leadership of Christians on a national scale,” said Lynn Hanacek, Barna Group vice president of research and project director. “However, bear in mind that a different type of measurement such as aided awareness, in which respondents are asked if they ever heard of a specific name, may have yielded different results.” more >>

Evangelist Franklin Graham is in the south Indian city of Hyderabad where tens of thousands are coming to hear the Gospel message despite calls by rightwing Hindu groups to ban his four-day festival.

On the second night of the Hyderabad Festival Friday, about 50,000 people poured into Lal Bahadur Stadium in the capital city of Andhra Pradesh state, which was under a tight security cover. And on the weekend, the number was expected to rise even higher.

“I heard about the Graham family when I lived in Virginia, but I didn’t know what they did really – just something religious,” said Jayesh, a youngster who had just returned to India after attending college in the United States. more >>

More than 100 volunteers dressed as Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes will be canvassing New York City Thursday in an effort to encourage people to get involved in their campaign to provide gifts to 8.5 million children globally.

Although organizers have previously visited New York for several promotional events, this year marks the first year for the life-size shoe boxes in the city. Each box worn by the volunteers represents a country that Operation Christmas Child will visit.

Operation Christmas Child is an annual ministry project of Samaritan's Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization led by Franklin Graham. Since 1993, the ministry has delivered more than 86 million gift-filled shoe boxes to needy boys and girls, some of them orphans, in 138 countries. more >>