Franklin Graham, President and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA), has stated that a younger generation is stepping up to proclaim the message of Jesus Christ with renewed energy and commitment.
His vision is not just to recognise their passion, but to equip and inspire them to continue this mission across Europe and beyond. Speaking from Berlin, Germany, where over 1,000 evangelical and ministry leaders from 56 nations have gathered for the European Congress on Evangelism, Graham underscored the importance of nurturing this youthful zeal.
“There’s a younger generation that I believe is taking hold of the gospel and is taking the challenge of preaching the gospel to the ends of this Earth,” he said. “And I think many of these young people need to be encouraged. And so I think this Congress is important to encourage another generation to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to this continent.”
The four-day congress, which opened today at the JW Marriott Hotel, is aimed at rallying emerging evangelists and Christian leaders across Europe. Graham was joined at a press briefing by his son, Will Graham, Executive Vice President of BGEA, and Viktor Hamm, Vice President of Crusade Ministries, who played a leading role in organising the event.
For Franklin Graham, Europe holds immense spiritual significance. He reflected on the continent’s historical contribution to global evangelism, noting that many of the world’s great missionaries once came from Europe, including those who brought the gospel to the United States and other regions. He recalled how his late father, Billy Graham, had preached in Germany eight times between 1954 and 1990.
Rather than broaden the congress to include participants from other continents, Franklin Graham made a deliberate choice to keep the focus on Europe. “We can do conferences in other parts of the world but right now, we’re focusing on Europe,” he explained. “So many missionaries and great church leaders came out of Europe. They came to the United States and evangelized the United States, and then not just the United States, but throughout so much of the world.”
Will Graham echoed his father’s commitment to encouraging new evangelists. He highlighted the need for preachers to hold firmly to the fundamental truths of the gospel, just as his grandfather, Billy Graham, had once done. “Like my father said, to preach with authority, to preach the blood and the cross of Jesus Christ to fan the flame for another generation to get excited about evangelism,” Will said. He recalled how Billy Graham, when asked who would continue his mission, would point to the crowd and say, “They are.” That vision continues to shape the approach of the BGEA today, with a deep investment in the next wave of gospel messengers.
Addressing the spiritual challenges facing modern Europe, Franklin Graham noted a concerning trend in many churches where evangelism has faded over time. He expressed hope that fellowships would rediscover the necessity of daily gospel outreach. “It’s not just for today but for every day,” he remarked, urging church communities to reclaim their evangelistic calling.
Graham also addressed the skepticism many young people hold toward organised religion. He pointed to the power and clarity of the gospel itself as the answer. Quoting Romans 1:16, he said, “I’m not ashamed of the gospel.” He criticised efforts by older generations to soften the message in an attempt not to offend, often avoiding mention of the cross. In contrast, he sees in today’s youth a boldness and hunger for truth. “It’s not politically correct, but there’s Holy Spirit-filled power in it. And I think young people today are challenged by a challenge. How do we reach our generation? How can we convince them? How can we talk to them? How can we get their attention? Young people want a challenge.”
When asked about the impact of secularism and the increasing pressure on Christians regarding freedom of speech, Graham responded with a call for courage. “You don’t give up. You don’t quit. And you don’t become less bold. You become more bold,” he said. Rather than retaliate or lash out, Christians should remain firm in biblical truth without compromise. “If Christians begin to be quiet, we’ll lose our freedom to share the gospel,” he warned. “I don’t encourage Christians to go out and throw rocks through windows and stuff like that. I believe we just stand firm on what the Bible teaches. If there’s ever been a time where we need to be more bold, it’s today and being bold in the Word of God and not compromising.”
Graham acknowledged that some regions which once welcomed the gospel are now growing increasingly hostile to it. He anticipates more restrictions on freedom of religion and speech in European societies. “There’s going to be places where we used to be able to share our faith, but we won’t be able to do that anymore,” he said. In light of this, he stressed the urgency of proclaiming the message while there is still freedom to do so. “I think it’s important [to preach] as long as we have the freedom to do it.”
