Grahams

South Sudan became the world's newest country on Saturday (local time) as it declared its independence.

In anticipation of an uneasy transition to statehood, the United Nations authorized sending 7,000 troops and 900 police on Friday to help establish peace for the war-ravaged new nation. The U.N. resolution was drafted by the United States and approved by the U.N. Security Council by a 15-0 vote.

Southern Sudan has been in a civil war with its northern counterpart, its second since Sudan became a nation, since the mid-1980s. The split has partly been along religious lines. North Sudan is mostly Muslim while those in the South are mostly Christian and Animist. South Sudan sought independence, in part, over its objections to being governed by Sharia law. more >>

Chaplains from the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team recently finished ministering to victims of the devastating tornadoes that hit Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Joplin, Mo., earlier this year.

The Rapid Response Team, a group of chaplains that are trained to minister to people in crisis situations, spent nine weeks in Tuscaloosa and over six weeks in Joplin providing an ear to listen, prayer support, and counseling to victims.

Keith Stiles, the RRT's deployment manager, said that even though the ministry has a goal of sharing Christ with the victims, they don't do all the talking. more >>

LOS ANGELES – Evangelist Franklin Graham concluded his first outreach to the American Hispanic community in Los Angeles Sunday evening speaking about the value of the human soul.

The two-day Festival de Esperanza (Festival of Hope) opened on Saturday with crowds on both evenings first treated to mariachi and Latin-flavored music performed by Christian artists.

Graham said it’s hard for people to truly understand the value of their souls. His message was translated on stage by Galo Vasquez, who is the director of Latin American Ministries for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. more >>

Evangelist Franklin Graham is gearing up for his first-ever American Hispanic festival this weekend. Festival de Esperanza (Hope Festival) will also be the first time Graham is holding his signature evangelistic event in Los Angeles.

It’s the city where his father, renowned evangelist Billy Graham, first began to gain attention when he preached for eight weeks straight in a tent to a total of some 350,000 people in 1949. The younger Graham was invited by Hispanic churches in the Greater Los Angeles area. More than 600 Latino churches have been preparing for the June 25-26 festival.

“Our hope is that anyone who is struggling with questions about life or would like a new beginning will watch this Festival of Hope,” said Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and the international Christian relief organization Samaritan's Purse, in a statement. more >>

Franklin Graham spoke about the greatest lessons that he's learned from his father, the world-renown evangelist Billy Graham, on the Father's Day edition of AOL.com's “You’ve Got” program.

The program, which highlights top politicians, celebrities and people of interest, sends off inspirational messages to the public. Past participants have included Ted Haggard, former pastor of New Life Church in Colorado Springs, and Joel and Victoria Osteen of Lakewood Church in Houston.

Franklin Graham’s message was: "You’ve got…to learn from your father." more >>

Franklin Graham and his son, Will, visited the tornado-stricken city of Joplin, Mo., over Memorial Day to encourage volunteers helping with Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan's Purse, and to pray with survivors of the massive storm.

The May 22 monster tornado killed at least 139 people and left miles of destruction in its path. It is reported to be the deadliest tornado in the U.S. in 60 years.

"The community is literally ripped apart," said Will Graham, the grandson of Billy Graham and the third generation of Grahams to preach under the BGEA banner. "Nothing is left. The streets are wiped clean." more >>