Evangelist and noted humanitarian the Rev. Franklin Graham has recently stated that President Barack Obama should consider the apparent offer of a phone conversation with North Korean dictator Kim Jung-Un.

Graham, who has visited North Korea five times and has a charity organization operating in the Communist nation, said in an interview with U.S. News and World Report that it was a "golden opportunity."

Graham was commenting specifically on the recent visit by NBA star Dennis Rodman to North Korea wherein the former Chicago Bull met with Kim Jung-Un. more >>

North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory met with the Rev. Billy Graham for a personal visit at his home in Montreat during a trip to the state's mountains, and expressed gratitude that the evangelist prayed for his family and the state.

"While in western North Carolina today, I had the pleasure of meeting with the Reverend Billy Graham at his home in Montreat," said Governor McCrory, a Republican, in a statement, talking about his visit on Friday.

McCrory, who assumed office as the 7th governor of North Carolina on Jan. 5, praised the 94-year-old evangelist for being "such an inspiration and has been for generations." At the end of the meeting, Graham and the governor prayed together "for me, my family, but most importantly for the state." more >>

NASHVILLE – The first installment in a video series produced in association with "My Hope America with Billy Graham" is planned for release by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association on Monday. Those attending the BGEA breakfast meeting at the National Religious Broadcasters 2013 convention on Sunday were treated to an advanced screening of the gripping program, "Defining Moments."

"God looks at your heart and God sees that you have a spiritual disease, and that spiritual heart disease is called sin," says Billy Graham in the program. "The things that are broken in your heart and life can be restored in Christ, if you put your faith and your obedience in Him."

The video features the redemption stories of three individuals – illusionist Jim Munroe, NFL player David Tyree and musical artist Lacey Sturm – as told by them. Each found success in their careers, yet were still searching for hope while facing struggles. more >>

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) has launched an initiative aimed at helping children grow in their faith and share their beliefs during a current social climate in which youth face a lot of opposition, says a training director for the group.

The Ultimate Mission, a 12-session Bible study developed for ages 6-10, was announced this week at the annual Children's Pastors Conference in San Diego, Calif. "We're looking at basic discipleship. What does it look like to walk with God in a way that I might be asked about my relationship with Jesus Christ, and then will I be ready to give an answer?" said Chad Miller, BGEA's director of Children's & Youth Evangelism Training, during a product review of The Ultimate Mission with peers and children's pastors.

"It's clear that 6-10 year olds – unlike previous generations – are being asked, and sometimes even harassed, about their faith, and we're ready to come alongside the churches to let these students know that they're not alone," Miller said. "We want to equip them to take a stand and give an answer whenever someone asks them about the hope they have." more >>

In remarks given at Liberty University, the Rev. Franklin Graham explained to students gathered that there are "costs" to following Jesus.

Graham, who is president and CEO of Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, focused his remarks at a Liberty University's regular event Convocation about "what it means to give your life to Christ."

"What does that mean? To say 'God here is my life, take it and use it'? Because there are some costs associated with this," said Graham, who read from Luke 14 to illustrate his point. "You have to be willing to give up everything…If you are going to follow me, if you are going to be my disciple you have got to understand the cost. You have to put me first." more >>

The "My Hope with Billy Graham" campaign has reached over 57 countries with the Gospel and is set to culminate in November of this year to mark the preacher's 95th birthday.

"My Hope" began 10 years ago and was intended to teach Billy Graham's message of hope to the world in places where the aging evangelist could not physically travel. In December, the movement hosted eight information sessions at locations around America, and those efforts are only set to increase in January and the months leading up to Graham's birthday.

"The important point is that, all together, 'My Hope with Billy Graham' is building momentum as an unprecedented nationwide, grass-roots movement of caring Christians reaching out with the love and Good News of Christ in their network of relationships," Joe Mott, of "My Hope with Billy Graham" communications, shared with The Christian Post. "The purpose of the information sessions is to equip pastors to recruit and train their church members to follow the example of the Apostle Matthew from the Bible." more >>