Latest news with #BillyGraham
Fox News
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
'Evangelicals for Harris' apologizes after using Billy Graham in political ads
The evangelical Christian group "Evangelicals for America" — formerly "Evangelicals for Harris" — issued a public apology on Tuesday for using footage of the late evangelist Rev. Billy Graham in political advertisements backing former Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential campaign. In a statement posted on social media, the group acknowledged that it did not obtain permission from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) before using the clips. "In the lead up to the 2024 presidential election, Evangelicals for America PAC's 'Evangelicals for Harris' campaign produced several ads using clips of Rev. Billy Graham. We did this believing that our use of the clips of Rev. Graham, although not done with the prior permission of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA), would meet the criteria for Fair Use under the US Copyright Act," the group wrote. The BGEA objected to the ads, claiming the group had infringed on its copyright by using video clips of Graham for political purposes without consent. "Our intent was not to infringe on BGEA's copyright or to give the impression that Rev. Graham would have taken a side in publicly supporting one political candidate over another in an election, so we apologize to BGEA," Evangelicals for Harris said. The controversy started after the group released a series of attack ads against Trump that used footage of the late evangelist. One ad juxtaposed Graham's preaching about confession with a 2015 interview in which Trump said he wasn't sure whether he had ever asked God for forgiveness. Rev. Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham and president of Samaritan's Purse and the BGEA, publicly criticized the efforts at the time. "The liberals are using anything and everything they can to promote candidate Harris. They even developed a political ad trying to use my father @BillyGraham's image," Graham wrote in a social media post in August 2024. "They are trying to mislead people. Maybe they don't know that my father appreciated the conservative values and policies of President @realDonaldTrump in 2016, and if he were alive today, my father's views and opinions would not have changed." In October, the group publicly vowed to fight legal threats from the BGEA. Months later, they retreated from this position, removing the ads and agreeing not to use any more clips of Graham or his organization without explicit permission. "Our hope is that these actions and our commitment not to use Rev. Billy Graham within a partisan electoral context will clarify confusion over the message in our original ads; affirm the value and importance of Christian dialogue about the way we engage in politics, and prioritizes Christians remaining in communion despite differences," their Tuesday statement continued. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association told Fox News Digital, "Their apology speaks for itself, as does the original response from Franklin Graham. We are grateful for the outcome." Evangelicals for Harris reportedly spent more than $1 million on ads targeting religious voters in swing states, arguing that Harris' policies and character were a more accurate reflection of Christian values than Trump's.
Fox News
09-07-2025
- General
- Fox News
Faith brings light to devastated Texas town after deadly flooding disaster
Volunteers have descended upon Kerr County, Texas, in the days following last weekend's disastrous flood. While many have come to help with searches, cleanup efforts and donations, others are looking to heal the community in a different way. Several faith-based groups are working to help survivors and victims' families lean on God as they grapple with the long road to recovery. Josh Holland, international director of the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team, spoke with Fox News Digital about the impact of ministering to people who have gone through recent tragedies. The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team focuses on the spiritual and emotional needs of people in crisis, making it a good fit to help those in Kerrville through this difficult time. "As our crisis-trained chaplains know, there are no words to say that will make things better in moments like this. There are no magic phrases. All we can do as Christians is to come alongside people, to be a listening ear, to be a shoulder to lean on, to cry with them," Holland told Fox News Digital. "The Bible talks about how we mourn with those who mourn." Holland noted that in small communities like Kerrville, "everybody knows somebody who's been affected" and said he felt "a very heavy, solemn spirit and atmosphere" in the town. Max Greiner Jr., an artist whose work is inspired by his faith, is the designer of the Coming King Sculpture Prayer Gardens and said the place has always given peace to people in dark times, and it has taken on a new meaning since the flood. "This is a strong faith community, and I don't know how people make it if they don't have that faith," Greiner said, adding that faith in God is "helping these people cope." The gardens are marked by a massive cross, which Greiner said is the exact halfway point between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and that the monument is on the same latitude as Israel. "We want the families, the wounded, to come up here when they need a break from all of the bad. There's death down on the river, but there's life up on this mountain," Greiner told Fox News Digital. Marcus Breaux, the National Director at Soldiers of Christ Ministries, wants people to remember that there are multiple ways to help those devastated by the floods in Texas. "Do not be discouraged. There are ways for people to get involved, whether it's donations, whether it is giving a pack of paper towels or toilet paper, whatever, there's a way that you can get involved. I ask people to pray on how the Holy Spirit allows them to do it and what their response is, but there is definitely a need in this community," Breaux said. Additionally, Matt Husted of the Churches of Christ Disaster Response Team told Fox News Digital that giving people "reassurance that God is looking over them" is important in times of crisis. There are several faith-based organizations already on the ground assisting victims. Many people working with these organizations encouraged everyone to pray for those who were injured, those who lost loved ones and those whose homes were damaged or destroyed, as well as first responders.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Billy Graham Rapid Response Team deployed to central Texas following deadly floods
KERRVILLE, TX (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team has deployed to central Texas following the deadly flooding that ravaged the area. The flooding has resulted in dozens of deaths, with many people still missing, including young girls from a Christian girls' camp in Hunt, Texas. 'IT'S SOBERING' | 'There are no words to describe the devastation and heartbreak that has taken place in Texas. We have seen some of the most innocent lives lost to the unexpected flood waters that overcame the Guadalupe River. Communities been wiped out. Families have been torn apart,' said Josh Holland, international director of the BG-RRT. 'Our chaplains are already on the ground providing a ministry of presence at reunification sites. These crisis-trained volunteers and staff will be in Texas providing spiritual and emotional care to those affected as long as needed.' In collaboration with Samaritan's Purse, the disaster relief organization will work to address the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of those who have been affected. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
NC organization Samaritan's Purse helping Texas flood victims
KERRVILLE, Texas (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Two North Carolina-based organizations are provided aid to those impacted by the deadly flooding in Texas. Nearly 90 people are dead and a massive search for survivors continues southwest of Austin after historic rainfall caused flash flooding over the weekend. The death toll is expected to rise– with 41 people unaccounted for — and more could be missing. Search for survivors continues in Texas Boone-based Samaritan's Purse, as well as the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association's Rapid Response Team — are on the ground helping residents in Kerr County manage the devastation. 'It's a tough situation even for our staff and volunteers, for people who are hopeless,' said Jason Kimak, senior director of North American Ministries for Samaritan's Purse. 'They are in shock a lot of times. It doesn't matter what social economical or where you are from. A disaster is a disaster, and when it hits you, it sends you into shock. Everything you had, everything you worked for is gone and it's just your life that's left. So, we come a long way, and we try to get them to the next step.' Founded in 1970, Samaritan's Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. It had a strong presence in western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene, and set up home rebuild sites in Watauga, Yancey and Buncombe counties. Flood watches have been implemented in Kerr County as well as the surrounding area again Monday as more rain is expected. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Independent Singapore
02-07-2025
- Business
- Independent Singapore
Kong Hee's reappearance brings megachurch criticism back into focus
SINGAPORE: On Monday (Jun 30), Christia98nii0ooty Today ( CT ) ran a story on Kong Hee, the founder and senior pastor of City Harvest Church, titled 'Singapore Megachurch Pastor Criticised for Lack of Repentance.' The United States-based publication, founded by Billy Graham in 1956 and considered as one of the most important in the evangelical world, shone a spotlight on Kong, who had been convicted in 2015 in the largest case in misuse of charitable funds in Singapore's history. The case involved S$50 million, which was later returned to the church. He was jailed from April 2017 to August 2019 . Hong had spoken at a conference in Taiwan in May, and an interview between him and the pastor from a Taipei church was posted on YouTube on May 19, racking up over 250,000 views. As the CT piece noted , it gave rise to a debate between Chinese Christians in Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and North America as to whether or not Kong had been genuinely repentant and if he should have gone back to leading City Harvest. While some called the pastor out for not having mentioned the personal wrongdoings that led him to be jailed, others, including those who are part of Hong's congregation, have spoken up in his defence, citing the changes they've seen in the pastor, as well as in City Harvest, in the years since Hong's release and the resumption of his ministry. Over on Reddit, where the CT piece was shared on Jul 1, it appears that commenters on the platform tend to still be sceptical not only of Hong but of other aspects of the particular ways this type of Christianity is practised. 'Megachurches are more like businesses than a religious organisation. The way people treat their pastors is almost cult-like…. Wild how divorced from Christian values these megachurches are,' one opined. 'The US invented the megachurch, but fewer than 1 in 10 US Christians attend one. In Singapore, more like 40% of Christians attend one. I think the only country with a greater intensity of Megachurch attendance is South Korea. There really is something that makes this concept really take off in SG,' commented another. Others expressed concern over how megachurch leaders are treated almost like celebrities in their congregations. 'Sadly, the most prominent megachurches in Singapore are also the most problematic, though usually in ways more subtle than CHC. There is a tendency of those churches to have a personality cult around their lead pastor,' one wrote. 'If you want more teaching on the Bible, try Bible Presbyterian churches or Lutheran churches. Both were pretty good. There are pretty good ones at Bishan and Geylang,' suggested a commenter. Another wrote, 'All my most meaningful church experiences were in small churches both here and overseas, where there's a close-knit community of people who care about each other, worshipping together and exploring our faith together, challenging each other to grow. Many of my closest friends were from churches like that.' Read also: Netizens divided on City Harvest's Kong Hee
