In The Next Billy Graham TV Special: The Greatest Journey

Program shows how the Gospel is reaching children around the world

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 5, 2011 – Imagine a child touched by God’s love – in every corner of the world. In the next Billy Graham television special, airing on Christian networks and online beginning Dec. 5, audiences can see how the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) is reaching thousands of children through a program called The Greatest Journey.
 
“As we come to Christmas, we are reminded what Christmas is all about. There are millions upon millions of people who don’t know that God sent His Son, Jesus Christ from heaven to this earth,” said Franklin Graham, president and CEO of BGEA. “BGEA is partnering with Samaritan’s Purse to provide materials and training to children who receive gift-filled boxes through Operation Christmas Child.” Samaritan’s Purse is an international Christian relief organization headed by Franklin Graham.
 
According to a UNICEF report, there are 2.2 billion children in the world today, and 1 billion of them live in poverty.  The Greatest Journey is reaching many of these children – in places like Peru, Kenya and Guyana.
 
Joseph Barker, a full-time volunteer in Guyana understands the needs of the children in his country. “Some people are so poor that their children cannot go to school because they don’t have a book or pencil to write with,” he says. “The children are the ones that are suffering in these times. I want these children to come to know the Lord, Jesus Christ as their personal savior.”
 
The Greatest Journey is a 12-lesson Bible study created specifically for children. The curriculum, taught by trained local church volunteers, uses memory verses and engaging activities to teach children how to receive Jesus as their Savior, follow Him each day, and share their faith with others. To date, the materials have been translated in more than 50 languages and have been shared around the world. At the end of the classes, children receive a Bible in their native language.
 
Cissie Graham Lynch, special projects producer at BGEA and daughter of Franklin Graham, has been able to travel to various countries and has been a part of The Greatest Journey. “God is using this project to get children involved in the church, to disciple them to go into their communities to share the Gospel.”  Many reports have come in from family members turning to Christ whose children have completed the course and shared their faith with others.
 
To learn more about The Greatest Journey, or to watch the program online, visit www.billygraham.tv.

About the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) proclaims the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ throughout the world by every effective means available. From its headquarters in Charlotte, N.C., BGEA directs a wide range of domestic and international ministries, including: large-scale festivals led by evangelists Franklin Graham and Will Graham; Dare to Be a Daniel, a youth evangelism training project; My Hope World Evangelism Through Television; the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team of crisis-trained chaplains; and many others through print, television, telephone, radio and the Internet. For more information, please visit www.billygraham.org. Get news updates on Twitter at Twitter.com/BGEAnews.

Media Contact:
Lisa Moseley
704-401-2116
lmoseley@bgea.org