Grahams Take Action for Religious Freedom
As Christians globally encounter increasing legal and cultural challenges, the Grahams are intensifying their efforts to safeguard freedom of speech and religion through financial aid and public support.
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) has initiated a new legal defense fund, totaling $1.3 million, aimed at assisting European Christians and churches facing court actions due to their biblical beliefs.
Sissy Graham Lynch, the daughter of Franklin Graham and the late Rev. Billy Graham’s granddaughter, is encouraging followers not to remain quiet amid escalating hostility, notably in the United States.
“We convey God’s message of love, but when a small group of British activists labeled it as hatred, we faced cancellation,” Franklin Graham recounted. “Our advertisements were removed, and our event venue withdrew. We contested this in court, which took seven years, but ultimately, all nine legal cases were resolved in our favor.”
Following these legal wins, BGEA established the Billy Graham Defense Fund. Initially seeded with £500,000 (about $678,000) from a court settlement, Franklin Graham’s organization added another £500,000, bringing the total to £1 million, or around $1.3 million.
“We allocated our legal damages from the UK lawsuit to the Billy Graham Defense Fund—it’s a new means to support other European Christians who face threats and coercion in expressing their faith,” Graham explained.
Yet, he noted that the problem isn’t confined to other nations.
“Christian silence isn’t limited to abroad,” he pointed out. “The BGEA and Samaritan’s Purse are engaged in numerous legal cases impacting believers’ freedoms.”
Between 2017 and 2024, BGEA and Samaritan’s Purse filed 20 amicus briefs concerning religious freedom cases, many of which were addressed by the U.S. Supreme Court, including those involving notable figures like Joe Kennedy and Jack Phillips.
“We want Americans to advocate for biblical beliefs in court, and to feel supported in their fight,” Graham stated. “It’s crucial to uphold our freedom to share the gospel both in the U.S. and the UK, as the stakes are far too high for silence.”
Sissy Graham Lynch aspires for the Defense Fund to provide both practical and symbolic backing for individuals facing public and legal pressures. “Telling the truth can lead to cancellation. You might be labeled,” she remarked. “But every time you stand up, you bolster resilience for others to do the same.”
“Freedom of speech and religion is the most invaluable human liberty,” she continued. “We must ensure that we can proclaim the gospel in both the U.S. and the UK because the implications are too significant to ignore.”
In a series of exclusive interviews, Lynch spoke with various individuals at the recent European Conference on Evangelism in Berlin, attended by over 1,000 Christian leaders from 55 countries.
Lynch indicated that worldwide, including in the U.S., believers face mounting pressure to mute their convictions. “My family has personally experienced the repercussions of taking a Gospel stance,” she said. “It may come with a steep price, but it’s vital for people to realize how impactful their voices can be when they embrace the message of Jesus Christ.”
“Sharing your beliefs at work, school, or in sports often leads to situations where Christians confront legal action,” she noted. “If we wish to preserve religious freedom and free speech for future generations, it’s imperative to take action now.”
Among those Lynch interviewed was Päivi Räsänen, a Finnish MP, who mentioned her ongoing legal woes from a 2019 tweet quoting Romans 1. Despite being acquitted twice, her case has ascended to Finland’s Supreme Court.
“They have tried to persuade me to renounce my beliefs,” Räsänen stated. “But I refuse to apologize for what the Apostle Paul wrote—it’s God’s word, not merely my perspective.”
She warned that a failed prosecution could set a troubling precedent. “Censorship paves the way for losing these rights,” she argued. “Self-censorship is the most significant threat to our freedoms.”
Kristen Wagoner, President and CEO of Alliance Defending Freedom, also engaged with Lynch. ADF represents clients in numerous Supreme Court cases focused on religious freedom, including those involving the Colorado Civil Rights Commission.
“We are witnessing an alarming trend of censorship globally,” Wagoner remarked. “These are inherent rights that we must protect, as defending them fosters both human flourishing and the advancement of the gospel.”
Dr. Amy Orr-Ewing, a theologian with Oxford ties, told Lynch she perceives a genuine hunger for truth among young people in the West, even amid rising pressure against faith.
“After over 25 years in ministry, the moment we’re experiencing in the West regarding the truth and the gospel is unprecedented,” she reflected. “The griping and victim mentality prevalent today won’t resolve this anger—truth must prevail.”
Lynch aims to broaden Americans’ understanding of the global fight for religious freedom and inspire a steadfast response. She also hosts the podcast “Fearless.”
