Graham Family Launches $1.3M Defense Fund Amid Global Christian Persecution Crisis

The Graham Family’s Fight for Religious Freedom

As Christians around the world face increasing legal and cultural challenges in expressing their faith, the Graham family is taking a stand by supporting freedom of speech and religion through both financial backing and public advocacy. Their efforts are aimed at protecting believers from being silenced, especially in regions where religious expression is under threat.

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) has launched a new $1.3 million legal defense fund to support Christians and churches in Europe who are facing court cases over their biblical beliefs. This initiative comes as part of a broader movement to defend religious liberty, not only in other countries but also within the United States.

Cissie Graham Lynch, daughter of Franklin Graham and granddaughter of the late Rev. Billy Graham, is encouraging believers to speak out against growing hostility, even in the U.S. She emphasizes that standing up for one's faith can come with significant risks, but it is essential for preserving the right to share the Gospel.

Franklin Graham shared his experience with Fox News Digital, highlighting how his organization faced backlash after being labeled as promoting hate for its message of God’s love. “Our advertisements were removed from buses and venues dropped our events,” he said. “We stood our ground and challenged the decisions in court. Though it took seven years, all nine legal disputes were resolved in our favor.”

Following these victories, BGEA created the Billy Graham Defense Fund, which was initially seeded with £500,000 (approximately $678,000) from court settlements. Samaritan’s Purse, another organization led by Graham, contributed an additional £500,000, bringing the total to £1 million, or about $1.3 million.

Graham explained that the funds were used to create a “war chest” to help other Christians in Europe who are threatened or intimidated into silence. He emphasized that the issue is not limited to other countries, as similar challenges are occurring in the U.S.

Between 2017 and 2024, BGEA and Samaritan’s Purse filed 20 amicus briefs in religious liberty cases, including those involving Coach Joe Kennedy, Jack Phillips, and Baronelle Stutzman, all of which were heard by the U.S. Supreme Court. These cases have highlighted the importance of protecting the right to live out one’s faith.

“We want Americans who are standing up for biblical beliefs in court to know that we are with them — they are not alone in this fight,” Graham said. “We must work to preserve the right to proclaim the Gospel here in the U.S. and in the U.K., so that we can continue to share the hope of Jesus Christ around the world.”

Cissie Graham Lynch believes the Defense Fund serves as both a practical and symbolic source of strength for believers facing public pressure and legal retaliation. “You could be canceled for speaking the truth. You may be called names,” she said. “But every time you choose to fight that fight, you help build a stronger foundation for other people of faith to stand on.”

She added, “There is no human liberty more precious and important than the freedom of speech and religion. We must work to preserve the right to proclaim the Gospel here in the U.S. and in the U.K.—because the stakes are far too high to stay silent.”

Lynch shared interviews with Christian leaders during the European Congress on Evangelism, a Berlin gathering hosted by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. The event brought together over 1,000 Christian leaders from 55 countries and territories. She noted that Christians around the world, including in the U.S., are increasingly pressured to suppress their beliefs.

“My family personally knows the backlash that comes when you take a stand for the Gospel,” Lynch said. “It may come with a high cost, but I want people to know how powerful their voice is when they fearlessly share the Good News of Jesus Christ.”

Among those interviewed was Päivi Räsänen, a Finnish member of Parliament. She discussed her ongoing trial for a 2019 tweet quoting Romans 1 from the Bible. Despite being acquitted twice in lower courts, the case has been sent to Finland’s Supreme Court. Räsänen emphasized her refusal to apologize for what she believes is the Word of God.

Kristen Waggoner, president and CEO of Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), also spoke with Lynch. ADF has represented clients in multiple U.S. Supreme Court cases related to religious freedom, including Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. The organization has also taken on international cases involving silent prayer arrests in the U.K. and blasphemy charges in Nigeria.

“Around the world, we're seeing a rising tide of censorship,” Waggoner said. “These are God-given rights. It's upon us to defend them and to protect those rights — knowing that it leads to human flourishing, and the flourishing of the Gospel.”

Lynch aims to equip Americans with a broader understanding of global threats to religious liberty and encourage them not to retreat. She hosts the “Fearless with Cissie Graham Lynch” podcast, continuing the family’s mission to support and empower believers worldwide.