The president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is bringing his God Loves You tour to New Zealand. Photo / Supplied
The president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is bringing his God Loves You tour to New Zealand. Photo / Supplied
An American evangelist with strong and controversial views against homosexuality, abortion and Islam is set to kick off his God Loves You tour in New Zealand this week.
Franklin Graham, the son of the late Christian leader Billy Graham, is hosting events at Auckland’s The Trusts Arena, Wellington’s TSB Arena and Christchurch Arena next month. He is also hosting a pastors’ lunch this Thursday in Auckland.
Graham’s upcoming New Zealand tour is purported to have partnered with more than 500 churches across the country.
In 1959, Graham’s father visited the same three cities and preached to a fifth of the country’s population. Ten years later he returned and set the record for the largest audience to attend a religious event in the country.
“New Zealand has changed so much since my father visited this country, but the needs of the human heart haven’t changed. So many people are searching, and just like my father, I want them to know that God loves them,” said Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA).
Franklin Graham will host events in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Photo / File
Graham has faced scrutiny for years over his controversial views - which led to his 2020 tour in the United Kingdom being cancelled following public outcry.
BGEA recently won a court case against one of the seven venues that cancelled, Scottish Event Campus.
The case was about claims of hate speech at the rallies with a judge finding there was no basis for the allegations.
“This ruling will be a great encouragement for Christians and people of all faiths across the UK and many other parts of the world,” said Graham.
Graham was able to have another go at touring the UK this year with his God Loves You tour and during the tour told British broadcaster Piers Morgan in a tense interview that homosexuality is a sin.
“God made us male and female, and he designed sex to be between a man and a woman and not between two women or two men. That’s the way God made us and created us and that’s just the way it is,” he said.
Franklin Graham took a break from his current "God Loves You" tour in the UK to inform Piers Morgan that homosexuality is sin... pic.twitter.com/Q0IQkSNOya
— Christian Nightmares (@ChristnNitemare) July 16, 2022
In 2014, he wrote an article for his association’s Decision Magazine saying he supported Russian President Vladimir Putin’s stance on homosexuality.
“Obviously, he may be wrong about many things, but he has taken a stand to protect his nation’s children from the damaging effects of any gay and lesbian agenda,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, Graham tweeted last year that US President Joe Biden’s comments about Putin being a “killer” were offensive to Russians and earlier this year came under pressure after calling for people to pray for Putin so that war and loss of life could be avoided.
.@POTUS@JoeBiden said Russian President Putin is a “killer.” President Biden’s words have offended the Russian people & have set our relations with this country back considerably. President Biden should consider that, in God’s eyes, abortion is murder. https://t.co/p93cXW88dW
In 2015, in an interview with Christian-perspective news outlet CBN News, Graham said Isis and Islam were the same and said the migration of Muslims to America was potentially dangerous.
A year later, in a Facebook post he wrote, “the foundations of this nation have nothing to do with Islam, but everything to do with the Church of Jesus Christ. Islam cannot save anyone from Hell or open the gates of Heaven. Only One can do that - Jesus Christ”.
“He’s alive today. Muhammad is dead. I worship a risen Lord! Islam can’t compete with that.”
Speaking to Fox Carolina News ahead of the 2020 US Presidential election, Graham said he was proud of Trump and would most likely vote for him.
In a media release for the NZ tour, BGEA said they have been working closely withMāorichurch leaders and thousands of Christians to bring the free, family-friendly events — featuring live music and a message of hope — to all Kiwis.
“With the rising tide of lawlessness, lovelessness, and rejection, the message that God is love and He can be trusted and experienced, is like light in the midst of chaos and darkness. Franklin Graham carries this life-changing message of hope for New Zealand — bringing healing and heart answers to the root problems,” said Anne Morrow, co-founder of New Life Churches New Zealand.
