B i l l y G r a h a m E v a n g e l i s t i c A s s o c i a t i o n... That you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth. Acts 13:47, ESV 2012 MINISTRY REPORT 1
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 1:8, ESV COVER: Hope for a New Nation Festival, Juba, South Sudan, October 2012 THIS 2 PAGE: Rock the Lakes evangelistic outreach in Green Bay, Wisconsin, August 2012 BILLY GRAHAM EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION
FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear Friend, Throughout 2012, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) saw God work through prayer and the proclamation of the Gospel as He drew lost and hurting people to Himself, healed families and communities, and transformed hundreds of thousands of lives for eternity. We thank Him for those He has delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of his beloved Son (Colossians 1:13, ESV). BGEA also spent much of the year preparing for the largest outreach we ve ever undertaken in the U.S. Instead of a citywide Crusade in a packed stadium, My Hope America with Billy Graham will take place in 2013 in living rooms across the nation and will culminate with a current and powerful message from my father. There is no greater task than sharing the Gospel, whether with neighbors in our own homes or taking it to the ends of the earth. Thank you for partnering with us to help fulfill Jesus Great Commission to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19, ESV). Sincerely, Franklin Graham President 2012 MINISTRY REPORT 3
CRUSADE MINISTRIES Proclaiming God s love to people who need Jesus Christ Franklin 4 Graham Festival of Hope, BILLY Budapest, GRAHAM Hungary, EVANGELISTIC June 2012 ASSOCIATION
CRUSADE MINISTRIES People everywhere seek truth and hope, but many are uncomfortable starting their search in a church. That s why BGEA Crusades fill stadiums, arenas, and parks around the world with the Good News of Jesus Christ. These evangelistic outreaches are planned far in advance through partnerships with numerous churches in each host city. The multi-day events feature messages of eternal hope, coupled with energetic and inspirational music. Afterward, we immediately begin follow-up with the local churches so new believers can get plugged in to congregations and, hopefully, grow to maturity in their faith. FRANKLIN GRAHAM FESTIVALS During 2012, BGEA responded to invitations from local churches by holding Franklin Graham Festivals in Japan, Ghana, Hungary, Latvia, and South Sudan, as well as four family/youth-oriented Rock events in North America. Franklin preached repentance toward God and... faith in our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21, ESV) to a combined audience of almost 269,000 people, with over 15,300 of them publicly committing their lives to Christ. In Sendai, Japan, a major city still recovering from the historic 2011 earthquake and tsunami, more than 12,000 individuals gathered to hear Franklin Graham proclaim the Good News of salvation. Nearly 900 others watched from satellite locations elsewhere in Japan. The three-day Tohoku Celebration of Hope was the largest Christian event in the history of the region. This site of so much heartache and loss was transformed into a place where new life began as more than 300 people made decisions to follow Jesus. In Accra, Ghana, the nation s president, John Evans Atta Mills, greeted the Festival crowd of 26,500 people, encouraged them to follow Christ, and then prayed that nobody would leave here the same. We give God all the glory for the mighty work 2012 MINISTRY REPORT 5
I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. Philemon 1:6, ESV He did during the two-day Ghana Jesus Festival, as nearly 2,400 inquirers prayed for forgiveness of sin and committed their lives in faith to Him. Over three pivotal days in Budapest, Hungary, Franklin welcomed 36,000 people to the largest indoor facility in the country for the Festival of Hope. When he gave the invitations, more than 2,500 of them got out of their seats and streamed forward to make decisions for Jesus Christ. During the Baltic Youth Festival in Riga, Latvia, Franklin preached the hope of the gospel (Colossians 1:23, ESV) to more than 19,000 attendees. With each call for commitments, young people flooded the stage area, designated for five different languages English, Latvian, Lithuanian, Estonian, and Russian to talk to counselors about surrendering their lives to Jesus Christ. We praise God for the nearly 1,400 who did just that. Franklin has been ministering in what is now South Sudan for almost two decades. His latest visit to the new nation was greeted by nearly 100,000 people who turned out in the city of Juba for the two-night Hope for a New Nation Festival. Thousands received the message of repentance and forgiveness and rushed forward to make professions of their faith in Jesus Christ. One of the over 6,100 who did was a widow named Joy. I want to follow Jesus. Yes, I want to follow Jesus, she said. Emotionally moved and struggling to express herself, she explained, I don t know English; there is more in my heart. 6 BILLY GRAHAM EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION
Will Graham proclaims the Gospel in Green Bay, Wisconsin. A few months later, the Festival s national coordinator, Bishop James Lagos Alexander, reflected, That was one of the greatest moments in the history of our country. When Franklin said, Come and give your life to Christ, people were running thousands! Alexander reported the local churches remain united and then passed along a telling account he received. After the Festival, one of the chiefs of security called us and said, In this city, we have over 40 cases of deaths every day accidents and criminal [activity]. But the only days that we have never recorded any incident or accident in the city were [the two days of the Festival]. WILL GRAHAM CELEBRATIONS Will Graham preached the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24, ESV) several times in India, Thailand, and the United States, as well as at youth-oriented outreaches in Canada and Australia, during 2012. The total attendance at his Celebrations and events surpassed 88,700 people, with more than 13,200 of them responding to the invitations for salvation through Jesus Christ. Some 30 years ago, Billy Graham proclaimed the Gospel in the state of Nagaland in India. In 2012, his grandson Will offered a Celebration of Peace there for nearly 19,700 people who gathered in the city of Dimapur. The three-day event saw almost 2,500 attendees respond to Will s message of hope and eternal life by making commitments to Christ. 2012 MINISTRY REPORT 7
Will s team then traveled 300 miles south and held a second Celebration a week later in the city of Aizawl, located in India s hill state of Mizoram. Will preached the Good News to 34,800 souls more than 4,400 of whom responded by praying with him to receive Jesus Christ into their hearts. The Will Graham Red River Celebration was held in the north Texas town of Gainesville. Five thousand people listened as he presented the Gospel that is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16, ESV). We thank God for the nearly 200 people who dedicated their lives to Christ. Almost 4,500 people showed up for the Trinity Valley Will Graham Celebration in Terrell, Texas, just 35 miles east of Dallas. God didn t create you for a vocation; He created you for a relationship, Will explained to the audience. More than 200 people moved toward the stage to commit their lives to Jesus Christ in repentance, gratitude, and faith. After coming forward, Fred, a 50-year-old hitchhiker long burdened by alcoholism, exclaimed, For the first time, I finally feel free. He then called his wife in Alabama and told her he d given his life to Jesus and was coming home and that with God s help, he would kick his addiction. Hearing the news, she wept with joy. Will also took the Gospel of Jesus Christ Associate Evangelist Robert Cunville preaches the Good News. to a largely Buddhist province in southern Thailand called Nakhon Si Thammarat. More than 4,800 people attended the Celebration, where over 320 of them confessed their sin and committed their lives to Christ. ASSOCIATE EVANGELISTS Robert Cunville, who has served as an associate evangelist with BGEA for almost 35 years, held 14 evangelistic events in 2012. Most of the year, he focused his efforts on smaller towns and villages Pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ. Colossians 4:3, ESV in India where many have never heard God s Good News. He also preached the opening message for Will Graham s Celebration in Mizoram, India. By year s end, Robert had proclaimed the Gospel to almost 190,500 people, praising God as more than 17,300 responded to the invitations to follow Christ. Associate Evangelist David Ruiz presented the message of God s love during Festivals of Peace in Oaxaca, Mexico; Ibarra, Ecuador; and Valdivia, Chile. More than 25,500 8 BILLY GRAHAM EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION
CRUSADE MINISTRIES continued to use the Christian Life and Witness Course as a way to help people mature in their faith, learn to share it with others, and make disciples. These courses were held domestically and internationally in 11 different locations in support of Franklin Graham Festivals and Will Graham Celebrations. Almost 37,000 individuals completed the training. During the sessions, more than 4,600 of those attending realized their own personal need for a relationship with Jesus Christ and made life-changing decisions for Him. As a result of the training, more than 13,000 people volunteered as counselors to help inquirers find new life in Christ during Festivals and Celebrations. people attended the three outreaches, and over 2,000 publicly gave their hearts and lives to the Savior Jesus Christ. These new believers included a number of young people who told Festival counselors they had struggled with depression and attempted suicide. One man in Ecuador who committed his life to Christ actually died the following day when his motorcycle was struck by a car. At his funeral, his wife expressed her gratitude to God for her husband s opportunity to receive Christ, and she expressed great comfort in knowing her husband is in heaven. COUNSELING AND FOLLOW-UP With every Festival, Celebration, or other BGEA outreach, winning people to Jesus is only the beginning. We want to see each new believer become rooted in a good local church and be given the chance to grow and become a devout follower of Christ. During 2012, BGEA 2012 MINISTRY REPORT 9
YOUTH MINISTRIES Helping build Christ s church for the next generation Rock the Lakes evangelistic outreach in Ottawa, Canada, June 2012 10 BILLY GRAHAM EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION
YOUTH MINISTRIES In this era of Facebook, Twitter, and iphones, young adults may have shorter attention spans, but they remain more receptive to the Gospel than adults. Partnering with local churches around the world for youth outreaches has been and always will be a core emphasis of BGEA s ministry. From evangelistic concerts and special events to discipleship and age-appropriate evangelism training, we are bringing God s Word to young people in many different cultures, in their own languages. Rock the Lakes evangelistic outreach in Rochester, New York, June 2012 ROCK EVENTS BGEA continued to reach North American youth and their parents through contemporary music in 2012 with Rock the Lakes and Rock the River outreaches. These family-friendly events combined strong presentations of the Gospel with action-packed programs and performances by popular Christian artists. In Rochester, New York, an audience of almost 18,000 turned out for the two-day Rock the Lakes outreach. God s Word was proclaimed through the artists worshipful music and testimonies, Franklin Graham s recurring preaching, and the concluding message on Father s Day by Will Graham. We give all honor and praise to God that 669 individuals acted upon the invitation to repent of their sins and follow Jesus as Savior and Lord. When Rock the Lakes arrived in Wisconsin, 24,000 people descended on downtown Green Bay for the celebration of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Why Jesus? Franklin Graham asked the audience at one point and then he answered, Because He s the one who took your sins to the cross. He ll change you, forgive you, and set you free. As the event concluded, Will Graham once again gave the final invitation. During the weekend, more than 700 attendees came forward to surrender their lives to Jesus Christ. 2012 MINISTRY REPORT 11
Rock the Lakes evangelistic outreach in Buffalo, New York, September 2012 One of them, a homeless man named David, came to the park to find out what all of the music was about. As he listened, the Holy Spirit pierced his heart. I just can t live like this anymore, he said. I need God in my life. David talked and prayed with a counselor to receive Christ. For the first time, I have hope to change. More than 18,600 folks gathered a month later for Rock the Lakes in Buffalo, New York. After one young girl made a life-changing commitment to Jesus on Saturday, she came back on Sunday with a friend in tow. We praise God that her friend also decided to turn from her sins and submit her life to Christ as her Lord and Savior as did more than 680 other Rock the Lakes attendees. Franklin Graham brought his Rock outreach to the banks of the Ottawa River in Ontario, Canada, and despite a daylong rain on Sunday, welcomed more than 15,250 people over the weekend. During Rock the River, 425 individuals responded to the artists testimonies and Gospel messages from Franklin by praying to invite Jesus to be the Lord of their lives. These Rock events, held in the United States and Canada, were also streamed online to more than 100 countries. Over 82,100 people as far away as Malaysia, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Finland, and Singapore watched the live video feed. Nearly 2,000 of them chose to record their decisions for Christ online. WILL GRAHAM PROGRAMS We also partnered with BGEA s office in Canada and local churches for Ignition with Will Graham, one in a series of events for youth in the Waterloo region of Ontario. Nearly 2,500 people turned 12 BILLY GRAHAM EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION
YOUTH MINISTRIES out in the city of Kitchener and heard Will preach the Gospel. More than 160 inquirers responded to his invitation to repent of their sins and experience new life in Christ. In a similar partnership with BGEA Australia, Will Graham toured New South Wales to proclaim the Good News in three cities: Orange, Bathurst, and Lithgow. These Australia Reality events, aimed at reaching young people in regional centers, drew a total audience of almost 3,700 individuals. Will shared with great urgency the need for a relationship with Jesus Christ, and when he gave his invitations, more than 290 inquirers responded and prayed with counselors. DARE TO BE A DANIEL According to research, nearly two-thirds of all Christian believers in the United States came to faith while children or teens. Who better to reach those in this critical stage of life with the Good News than other young people? BGEA s Dare to Be a Daniel (D2BD) evangelism training equips students ages 9 14 with the life skills, tools, and confidence they need to live out their faith publicly and share it with friends and family. During 2012, BGEA continued to partner with teachers in Christian schools, Sunday schools, vacation Bible schools, camps, and weekend retreats to train a new generation of evangelists through D2BD. More than 2,600 youth completed the program bringing the total of Daniels trained since its inception four years ago to over 29,000 kids. Additionally, more than 7,700 students received study materials during the year from our group curriculum resources (13-session and 5-session student manuals). We give God thanks that our Daniels led more than 200 of their friends and family to Christ in 2012. The director at Beechpoint Christian Camp in Michigan reported, The Dare to Be a Daniel studies were amazing. Campers went home telling their family and friends about Jesus. It was a summer filled with campers being encouraged in their faith, challenged to walk in the light of Jesus, and many who asked Jesus into their hearts. Already available in Spanish, French, and Creole, the international version of Dare to Be a Daniel continued to be used in Australia as well. THE GREATEST JOURNEY When young children learn about Jesus for the first time, many eagerly respond. The Greatest Journey is an exciting discipleship Bible study created specifically to help boys and girls ages 6 9 learn how to receive Jesus Christ, follow Him faithfully, and share their faith with others. BGEA s new version of The Greatest Journey is adapted from the Samaritan s Purse curriculum by the same name, which is being used in impoverished nations around the world. Our 12-session study is designed for home use, Sunday school, or children s outreach in developed nations. BGEA spent much of 2012 preparing to launch The Greatest Journey in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia in early 2013 writing and developing the curriculum pieces (student manuals and leader s guide) and preparing distribution channels. Let the children come to me. Mark 10:14, ESV 2012 MINISTRY REPORT 13
MY HOPE proclaiming the hope of Jesus Christ 14 BILLY GRAHAM EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION
MY HOPE AMERICA WITH BILLY GRAHAM Since its launch in 2002, BGEA has taken the World Evangelism Through Television Project, My Hope, into 57 countries. Working in partnership with more than 305,000 local churches in those nations, over 4.5 million Christians served as My Hope hosts inviting unsaved friends, family, and neighbors into their homes to view an evangelistic program and then sharing their faith. Our partner churches report more than 10 million people have made decisions for Christ as a result of what God has done through My Hope. From house to house, [we] did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus. Acts 5:42, ESV Now this outreach is coming to America. In 2012, Billy Graham began calling on Christians across the United States to pray and prepare for a nationwide evangelistic outreach, which will culminate in a message from him in November 2013. In my spirit I know God has called us to do this, he said. And I pray He will stir your heart to join us. During the year, BGEA began sharing the vision with a wide array of denominational gatekeepers, pastors, and parachurch leaders, as well as the general Christian public; urging extraordinary prayer; and encouraging involvement at a grass-roots level. By year s end, more than 3,100 churches had officially registered their involvement, while over 60,000 individuals expressed their interest and support for the effort. Eight master training sessions equipped people to serve as home hosts. These sessions produced over 500 volunteer trainers, who are projecting that in 2013 they will train nearly 10,000 churches. Additional training sessions will continue well into 2013. As awareness of My Hope America increased in 2012, involvement grew among Christians from a wide spectrum of American life. Already, stories were received of unprecedented opportunities to share Christ by those who have been trained as Matthews. We give God the glory! 2012 MINISTRY REPORT Calling America to Biblical Values As a precursor to My Hope America, Billy Graham expressed a desire in 2012 to call America back to God and to prayer. He wanted to draw attention to moral issues that are clearly addressed in the Bible and which have increasingly become part of a national political dialogue. In response, a number of friends who support the ministry of BGEA contributed funds designated for the purchase of special newspaper ads in the lead-up to Election Day. Featuring Billy Graham s image, the ads implored Americans to vote for biblical values and pray with me that America will remain one nation under God. The ads which appeared in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and more than 500 local newspapers across the country explained the importance of casting ballots for candidates who base their decisions on biblical principles and support the nation of Israel and urged readers to vote for those who protect the sanctity of life and support the biblical definition of marriage between a man and a woman. 15
RAPID RESPONSE TEAM Showing the love of Jesus Christ to those affected by tragedy Rapid Response Team chaplains minister to first-responders in Newtown, Connecticut. 16 BILLY GRAHAM EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION
RAPID RESPONSE TEAM In the aftermath of a disaster, not all the damage can be repaired with medicine, plywood, and insurance. Even as emergency and relief workers respond to physical needs, the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (RRT) deploys crisis-trained chaplains to help meet emotional and spiritual needs. They share God s hope and comfort through Jesus Christ with survivors, their families, and first-responders, and provide support to pastors and churches in devastated communities. Franklin Graham and his wife, Jane, bring the comfort of Christ to victims of Hurricane Sandy. BGEA s nationwide network of crisis-trained volunteer chaplains always ready to deploy at a moment s notice were especially busy in 2012 comforting people affected by tornadoes, floods, wildfires, and mass shootings. RRT deployed 549 chaplains to 30 disaster locations, including Aurora, Colorado, and Newtown, Connecticut, whose communities were shattered by unthinkable violence. During the year, RRT assisted more than 88,000 victims and personally prayed with over 22,000 individuals. As chaplains ministered to hurting hearts, consoled the grieving, and shared the love of Jesus Christ, 836 people responded to the hope of the Gospel by making commitments to Him. RRT trained and equipped almost 2,900 individuals at 18 training sites in the United States, including church leaders in Newtown. The team continued its presence in Japan following 2011 s historic earthquake and tsunami. Sixteen chaplains ministered in camps for displaced persons, praying one-on-one with more than 2,300 individuals 69 of whom found eternal shelter in the One who commands even winds and water, and they obey him (Luke 8:25, ESV). BGEA also supported RRT- Australia, RRT-Canada, and RRT-United Kingdom as they provided biblically based grief and crisis training to more than 230 individuals. When they come out to you, and you see their ways and their deeds, you will be consoled. Ezekiel 14:22, ESV 2012 MINISTRY REPORT 17
THE BILLY GRAHAM LIBRARY State of the art. Straight to the heart. Each year, more than 130,000 visitors from around the world experience 18 the Billy Graham BILLY Library. GRAHAM EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION
THE BILLY GRAHAM LIBRARY Since its 2007 opening, the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina, has shared God s glorious Good News with more than 650,000 visitors from all 50 states and 72 countries. This ongoing Crusade provides the opportunity for the lost to find new life in Jesus Christ and for believers to be renewed and challenged in their walk with Him. Every day the Library is open, visitors are being touched by the Gospel, and many people share with us about their life-changing decisions for Jesus Christ. The Billy Graham Library, a multimedia experience that continues Graham s legacy of delivering the simple yet profound message of God s love, celebrated its fifth anniversary in 2012. Every day, guests toured the exhibits at their own pace, enjoyed the history, and discovered how God can use any life yielded to Him including their own. Thanks in large part to several special events throughout the year, the Library continued to appeal to a broad range of visitors. Our first Easter Celebration and the readers theater with author Kelly Chapman both drew large gatherings of children and parents. A Henry Blackaby book signing featured the world-renowned author of Experiencing God. We also welcomed Jim Cymbala, who has pastored the legendary Brooklyn Tabernacle for four decades, and Bobby Richardson, the New York Yankees World Series MVP, for book signings. The Library s annual events included Christmas at the Library, which alone welcomed nearly 33,900 guests, and Bikers With Boxes. Special exhibits included The Power of Christ in the Home: Reflections on Parenting From the Graham Family ; Ethel Waters: His Eye Is on the Sparrow ; and Billy Graham: God s Ambassador to World Leaders. All told, the Library hosted more than 135,000 guests from around the world, most of whom experienced The Journey of Faith tour. Our staff and volunteers saw God do a mighty work by opening the hearts of over 1,800 of them to respond to the Gospel message. One visitor named Bill reported that he had the most incredible thing happen to me at the Billy Graham Library. I found God there. Bill prayed with a trained volunteer at the end of his tour and said that I felt God wash over me, and it was just such an inspirational moment to a guy who has had no personal peace in 30 years. Thanks be to God. For Bill and countless others, the new life starts here. Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn. Psalm 22:30-31, ESV 2012 MINISTRY REPORT 19
THE BILLY GRAHAM TRAINING CENTER AT THE COVE Be still and know that He is God. The Training Center s scenic deck offers visitors a breathtaking view of God s majestic creation in the Blue Ridge Mountains. 20 BILLY GRAHAM EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION
THE COVE For 24 years, the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove in Asheville, North Carolina, has trained and equipped believers to take up [their] cross daily (Luke 9:23, ESV) to follow Christ and live out the Gospel for a watching world. In keeping with its founding principles set forth by Billy and Ruth Graham, The Cove invests in personal transformation through biblical instruction, inspiration, intercession, and impact all in an environment where participants can experience retreat, rest, relaxation, and renewal. In an unprecedented year of ministry, The Cove welcomed nearly 50,000 program participants and visitors during 2012. For the seeds that were planted in the hearts of each of these individuals, may God receive the glory. Of these, almost 29,000 attendees took part in 371 Seminar, Guest Group, and Personal Spiritual Retreat ministry events, while 49,200 people visited the Chatlos Memorial Chapel. The Cove also hosted seven Seminar webcast sessions in 2012, which were transmitted live, with more than 6,000 home viewers in over 100 countries. By year s end, more than 4,100 guests indicated they had made life-changing commitments at The Cove. We praise God for these, which ranged from decisions for Christ to new ministry, career, and family commitments. In the chaos of life, I had forgotten my purpose, responded one military servicemember after attending a Seminar. I needed to be shown how to get back to the light. A recommitment of faith and forgiveness of my sin lifts my spirit. Another attendee explained, I am a prodigal daughter who can celebrate that God welcomes me home with a party. I can release my bucket of guilt and shame. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. 2 Peter 3:18, ESV 2012 MINISTRY REPORT 21
INTERNET & MEDIA Moving to reach every language on earth with the Gospel Right now, thousands online are 22searching for God. BILLY GRAHAM EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION
INTERNET & MEDIA Since our founding, Billy Graham has understood the critical role new technologies could have in reaching those who might otherwise never hear the message of God s salvation. He went from being the first evangelist to use television on a national scope to helping pioneer the production of Christian films. Today, BGEA continues to work innovatively through the Internet and multimedia outlets to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to as many people as possible. INTERNET BGEA s online outreach once again grew to record levels in 2012. We maintain more than a dozen ministry websites, which together hosted more than 6.3 million visits during the year up 69 percent over 2011. These sites feature cutting-edge videos, inspiring articles, compelling audio messages, and downloadable witnessing tools. Nearly 82,000 viewers encountered God s Word through live webcasts of Festivals or Cove Seminars. Almost 2,000 of those who watched a Franklin Graham Festival online indicated they made commitments to Christ in response. We expanded our social networking reach in 2012, providing greater real-time access to a global network of prayer partners and others who follow the organization. By year s end, 1.7 million people were connected with at least one BGEA ministry or project on Facebook, with more than 100,000 following us on Twitter. Our videos garnered 1.3 million YouTube views, and we sent 15 million emails to subscribers of ministry updates. Behind the numbers are not only real people, but often other people they know. After discovering an online editorial about the power of the cross, one grateful 2012 MINISTRY REPORT 23
reader wrote, The Holy Spirit led me to this article tonight. I needed a strong testimony to share with a friend who is dealing with drug addiction. This I plan to print and to share. Thank you! To another feature, someone responded, Thank you for posting this article! God knew I would need to hear it today. SEARCH FOR JESUS As you read this, millions of hurting people are using search engines like Google to find answers online to questions such as: Does God answer prayers? What s my purpose in life? Does anyone care about me? In April 2011, BGEA s Search for Jesus ministry launched the strategically linked PeaceWithGod.net, an evangelistic website that directs people to real, lasting hope found only in Christ. The site presents the Gospel in four simple steps using video, testimonies, and Scripture and then invites visitors to surrender their lives to Christ. During 2012 alone, nearly 8 million people visited PeaceWithGod.net. We stand amazed at God s wondrous work and give Him thanks that almost 1.5 million of them indicated they acted upon the invitation to receive Jesus as their personal Savior. Furthermore, 172,000 individuals passed on their contact information for follow-up and online discipleship. One visitor named Lorena, a 28-yearold nursing student from California, found PeaceWithGod.net after turning to alcohol when her father died. She responded to our presentation by committing her life to Christ, started going to church, and now attends a Bible 24 BILLY GRAHAM EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION
INTERNET & MEDIA If you seek him, he will be found by you. 2 Chronicles 15:2, ESV study. I feel a lot happier, she said. I just feel I am in a better place. The year also brought more than 250 volunteers to the Search for Jesus ministry. Many of them, called e-counselors, chat with visitors on PeaceWithGod.net, while others, the discipleship coaches, mentor new believers as they go through an online Bible study course. Tony, a volunteer from New York, lives with multiple sclerosis and said he doesn t have to worry about mobility when sharing his faith online. He chats with people around the world, encouraging them in their struggles and pointing them to the love of Christ. I believe every chat makes a difference, he said, because I believe it s His will that God wants me to talk to these people. Also in 2012, Search for Jesus launched three additional evangelistic websites: PazConDios.net for Spanish speakers in the United States, which has seen more than 281,000 visitors and more than 42,000 declarations of faith; PazComDeus.net for Portugal, which has had more than 75,000 visitors and more than 8,700 life-changing commitments; and HopeKayGod.net for the Philippines, with more than 8,000 visitors and 334 decisions to follow Christ. BGEA invites believers everywhere to watch realtime decisions around the world or get involved by visiting SearchforJesus.net. RANSOM BGEA is reaching thousands of young adults through the online evangelism, teaching, and discipleship outreach Ransom. Ransom.tv is a place where visitors can find a safe environment to ask difficult questions and discover answers for life issues through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It s also a place where they can influence the lives of others by telling their own stories of God s forgiveness and redemption through video and written testimonials called Ransom Notes. In addition, the site features numerous resources for spiritual help and hosts live events such as evangelistic concerts. During 2012, Ransom s Web traffic increased by 176 percent from 2011. More than 200 people submitted their testimonies known as Ransom Notes for inclusion on the site and used social media to invite their friends, families, and acquaintances to read their submissions. 2012 MINISTRY REPORT 25
Ransom also produced 15 new discipleship videos during the year and 23 high-profile Ransom Notes, most of which feature musicians such as Lacey Sturm, TobyMac, Flame, and Gungor. The site s video library has now surpassed 2 million collective views since Ransom s launch. We give all thanks and praise to God for the ways He is using Ransom to pierce hearts around the world. Zeynep, a young woman who lives in Turkey, revealed, I was an outspoken atheist. I used to hate everyone and even hate life. I tried to commit suicide many, many times, even the worst ways to die. But after I heard Lacey s testimony [on Ransom], I stopped and thought that I should invite Jesus in my heart. And I did. And now I m still alive, with the scars of the knife on my wrists, but still alive, and I m glad now! Thank You, Jesus, for saving me. SCHOOL OF EVANGELISM ONLINE Throughout 60 years of global ministry, God has blessed Billy Graham and his team with practical, effective strategies for proclaiming the Gospel. In 2012, BGEA launched the School of Evangelism Online to pass on these time-tested principles to pastors and others interested in sharing their faith. The virtual School gives participants a chance to study these effective strategies at their own pace using online lessons and instructional videos. Through December, the School saw more than 450 enrollments from 22 countries. I was motivated with clear lessons and outlines of how to prepare and preach an evangelistic message, one participant said. I preached my first evangelistic message at two churches during my studies in this course. At both churches, two people responded with raised hands to receive Jesus Christ into their hearts. The School of Evangelism Online also began preparing the second course in its curriculum for launch in 2013 an expanded Christian Life and Witness based program for personal evangelism. TELEVISION & VIDEO During 2012, BGEA produced more than 525 TV programs, website features, and ministry videos, which documented the ways God used our ministries around the world. These included four new episodes of the nationally televised monthly program Always Good News, which show the power of the Gospel changing people s lives and reveal the breadth of our work. The program aired Pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored. 2 Thessalonians 3:1, ESV on Christian cable networks and local television affiliates. BGEA also produced 19 new Billy Graham Classics, programs which were developed from past Crusades. Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) and The Church Channel (TCC) aired the Billy Graham Classics eight times each week during 2012. In addition, we expanded on-demand content on BillyGraham.org/Classics with six additional programs. The increased 26 BILLY GRAHAM EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION
TV and online showings proved fruitful as BGEA s call centers received more than 31,000 spiritual inquiries. Some 13,300 of these callers prayed with our representatives to receive Christ. RESPONSE CENTER & CHRISTIAN GUIDANCE As a primary voice of the ministry, BGEA s Response Center answered more than 196,000 calls and emails in 2012. Our representatives responded to callers with words of encouragement, prayer, and the latest information on BGEA s ministries such as upcoming Festivals and My Hope America with Billy Graham. Incoming calls were primarily from listeners of BGEA s radio broadcasts and viewers of TV s Always Good News and the Billy Graham Classics. Our trained representatives had the privilege to pray with over 24,000 callers, of which more than 550 individuals made a first-time decision or recommitted their lives to following Jesus Christ. Working in tandem with the Response Center, BGEA s Christian Guidance ministry provided discipleship materials to inquirers and corresponded with thousands of longtime friends and supporters who sought information about our ministries and resources. During 2012, the Christian 2012 MINISTRY REPORT 27
Guidance team personally answered more than 20,000 letters and emails, which included providing spiritual encouragement and responding to prayer requests. DECISION MAGAZINE BGEA s Decision magazine continued to challenge and inspire readers in more than 80 countries. The award-winning publication faithfully blends evangelism, discipleship, and stories of transformed lives, while providing biblical insight into news and current events. Decision printed more than 3.2 million copies in 2012, an average of over 291,000 copies per month. Approximately 19,000 copies were sent at no charge to prison chaplains each month for distribution in more than 200 correctional institutions. Hundreds of blind and sightimpaired people received Decision either in Braille or on audiotape, and the Decision email devotional was sent to more than 68,000 subscribers each week. Decision s digital edition, available at a reduced subscription price, features rich content such as audio and video in addition to what appears in the print edition. Decision also publishes an ipad edition, which can be purchased from the itunes newsstand store and contains bonus multimedia content and extra stories and photos. We are humbled by and give God thanks for responses like this one from a reader in New York City: I just finished reading the latest issue of Decision magazine, and every page touched my heart and uplifted my spirit; it provided comfort through the most difficult time in my life. Another reader wrote, I have been reading Decision for as long as I can remember. It may be the stage of life I am in now, but the content of every page is gold to me. My personal commitment to Christ is strengthened with each reading. RADIO & BLUE RIDGE BROADCASTING The Good News of Jesus Christ delivered by BGEA continued to blanket the globe on AM, FM, shortwave, satellite, and on-demand Internet audio in 2012. The weekly program The Hour of Decision in its 62 nd year was a Sunday fixture for listeners of 593 U.S. stations. Internationally, translations of the program reached Spanish, Mandarin, and Farsi speakers giving listeners on every continent the opportunity to hear the Gospel. Decision Minute, which offers 15 real-life illustrations each month that show people s need for Jesus Christ, aired on more than 600 stations coast-to-coast, including eight of America s 10 largest cities. Also this year, the Billy Graham Audio Archives hosted over 93,500 individual visitors who accessed Mr. Graham s messages on demand at BillyGraham.org. Each week, Blue Ridge Broadcasting (BRB) BGEA s listener-supported radio ministry provided hope through Bible teaching and Christian music to over 432,000 listeners in portions of seven states. BRB marked its 50 th anniversary with expansion, debuting 106.7 the Light, which serves Knoxville, Tennessee, and its vicinity. Countless individuals also listened online with their PCs and smartphones, and more than 44,600 downloaded the app by year s end. Events and concerts sponsored by BRB drew almost 120,000 people during the year. Of those attending, more than half who asked for future contact from us were doing so for the first time. Said one listener named Mary, I love the songs, the support you provide, and mostly the prayers that you give for anyone and anybody. I love just listening, especially when I feel down and no one understands. Immediately, I m lifted up. Thank you. 28 BILLY GRAHAM EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION
I am thankful for the days God has given me, and I am humbled by His continued hand of favor on the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. The Lord draws people to Himself daily through BGEA s various evangelistic ministries, and I am so deeply grateful.... Your partnership is an investment that will show results for all eternity. Billy Graham 2012 MINISTRY REPORT 29
BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2012 Board Members The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association exists to support and extend the evangelistic calling and ministries of George E. Battle, Jr. Senior Bishop AME Zion Church Davidson, North Carolina Elected 2003 David P. Bruce Executive Assistant to Billy Graham Montreat, North Carolina Elected 2002 Billy Graham Evangelist & Chairman Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Montreat, North Carolina Elected 1950 Melvin F. Graham s President & Owner Graham Enterprises Charlotte, North Carolina Elected 2001 Wm. Franklin Graham, III s First Vice Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer Samaritan s Purse U.S.A. Boone, North Carolina Elected 1979 Wm. Franklin Graham, IV Vice President Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Asheville, North Carolina Elected 2005 Billy Graham and Franklin Graham by proclaiming the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to all we can by every J. Frank Harrison, III Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated Charlotte, North Carolina Elected 2002 Greg Laurie Senior Pastor Harvest Christian Fellowship Riverside, California Evangelist for Harvest Crusades Elected 1994 Anne Graham Lotz President AnGeL Ministries Raleigh, North Carolina Elected 1994 Denton Lotz General Secretary Emeritus Baptist World Alliance Forestdale, Massachusetts Pastor of Tremont Temple Baptist Church Boston, Massachusetts Elected 1999 Hon. Stephen E. Merrill l Former Governor of New Hampshire Chairman, Bingham Consulting at Bingham McCutchen LLP Boston, Massachusetts Elected 1997 Charles O. Morgan, Jr. s l Attorney Miami, Florida Elected 1983 effective means available to us and by equipping KEY: s Executive Committee l Audit Committee others to do the same. William B. Pauls s Chairman The Pauls Corporation Denver, Colorado Elected 1997 C. William Pollard s l Chairman Fairwyn Investment Company Wheaton, Illinois Elected 1986 Paul T. Saber s President and Chief Executive Officer Manna Development Group Encinitas, California Elected 2006 Joseph M. Stowell, III s President Cornerstone University Grand Rapids, Michigan Elected 1999 30 BILLY GRAHAM EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION
Board Members Emeriti Clifford B. Barrows Vice Chairman Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Charlotte, North Carolina Elected 1950 Emeritus 2000 George F. Bennett Chairman Emeritus State Street Investment Trust Hingham, Massachusetts Elected 1973 Emeritus 1999 Wallace E. Berg Retired Consultant Eden Prairie, Minnesota Elected 1973 Emeritus 1997 David L. Burnham Chairman Burnham Ministries International Boca Raton, Florida Elected 1985 Emeritus 1998 Richard G. Capen, Jr. Former U.S. Ambassador to Spain Corporate Director & Author La Jolla, California Elected 1990 Emeritus 2009 Melvin L. Cheatham s Clinical Professor of Neurosurgery UCLA Medical Center Ventura, California Elected 1997 Emeritus 2008 Michael E. Haynes Pastor Emeritus Twelfth Baptist Church Roxbury, Massachusetts Elected 1987 Emeritus 2002 Herbert P. Hess s l President Emeritus North American Management Group Hingham, Massachusetts Elected 1979 Emeritus 2012 KEY: s Executive Committee l Audit Committee Officers Billy Graham Chairman Joel B. Aarsvold Secretary Wm. Franklin Graham, III First Vice Chairman William B. Pauls Treasurer Clifford B. Barrows Vice Chairman Graeme M. Keith Assistant Treasurer C. Howard Kast Retired Business & Financial Consultant Westminster, Colorado Elected 1987 Emeritus 1999 Graeme M. Keith s Chairman The Keith Corporation Charlotte, North Carolina Elected 1990 Emeritus 2008 Ruth Shanahan President Crowley Shanahan Foundation Dallas, Texas Elected 1992 Emeritus 2010 C. William Pollard Chairman of Executive Committee Board Committee Chairpersons C. William Pollard Executive Committee Charles O. Morgan, Jr. Audit Committee C. William Pollard Compensation Committee Graeme M. Keith Development Committee J. Frank Harrison, III Field Ministry Committee William B. Pauls Finance Committee Wm. Franklin Graham, IV Graham Center Liaison Committee Hon. Stephen E. Merrill Insurance Committee Herbert P. Hess Investment Committee Billy Graham Nominating Committee Herbert P. Hess Retirement Plan Committee 2012 MINISTRY REPORT 31
Report of Independent Auditor The Board of Directors Billy Graham Evangelistic Association We have audited the accompanying consolidated financial statements of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Affiliated Organizations (collectively referred to as the Organization) which comprise the statement of financial position as of December 31, 2012, and the related consolidated statements of activities and cash flows for the year then ended, and the related notes to the financial statements. Management s Responsibility for the Financial Statements Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America; this includes the design, implementation, and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. Auditor s Responsibility Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor s judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the organization s preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the organization s internal control, and accordingly, no such opinion is expressed. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion. Opinion In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Affiliate Organizations as of December 31, 2012, and the changes in its net assets and its cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Report on Summarized Comparative Information We have previously audited the Organization s 2011 financial statements, and we expressed an unmodified audit opinion on those audited financial statements in our report dated March 19, 2012. In our opinion, the summarized comparative information presented herein as of and for the year ended December 31, 2011 is consistent, in all material respects, with the audited statements from which it has been derived. Charlotte, North Carolina March 25, 2013 32 BILLY GRAHAM EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION & AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS
Consolidated Statement of Financial Position As of December 31, 2012 and 2011 2012 2011 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 22,448,773 $ 16,269,196 Accounts receivable, net 786,206 822,272 Pledges and other contributions receivable, net 2,448,355 4,671,521 Inventories 836,548 895,341 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 1,407,279 1,290,340 27,927,161 23,948,670 Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation 71,443,304 75,720,213 Investments: Investments functioning as endowments 145,460,431 135,844,119 Other long-term investments 7,750,158 7,553,968 Deferred giving program 91,220,823 91,926,680 244,431,412 235,324,767 Other assets 4,009,151 790,041 Total assets $ 347,811,028 $ 335,783,691 2012 Operating Support and Revenue Contributions, 87.0% Billy Graham Training Center, 5.9% Decision magazine & other evangelistic materials, 1.5% Other income, 5.6% Liabilities and net assets Liabilities: Accounts payable $ 2,493,044 $ 2,385,598 Accrued expenses 1,781,853 2,688,502 Deferred revenue 1,098,530 1,032,194 Deferred giving program 71,644,121 71,139,808 Total liabilities 77,017,548 77,246,102 Net assets: Unrestricted: Designated by governing board 138,209,795 129,536,291 Represented by property and equipment 71,443,304 75,720,213 General 35,137,951 27,646,083 Total unrestricted net assets 244,791,050 232,902,587 Temporarily restricted 15,406,433 15,299,546 Permanently restricted 10,595,997 10,335,456 Total net assets 270,793,480 258,537,589 Total liabilities and net assets $ 347,811,028 $ 335,783,691 2012 Operating Expenses Ministry expenses, 83.5% Fund-raising, 6.3% General and administrative, 10.2% The accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements. 2012 MINISTRY REPORT 33