CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Billy Graham Defense Fund emerged from Franklin Graham’s own costly legal battles spanning 2018-2024, when he faced accusations of hate speech for proclaiming biblical teachings on sexuality during evangelistic events across European cities.

The fund, established in 2024, combines approximately $650,000 (£500,000) that BGEA won in its legal victories with an equal matching contribution from Samaritan’s Purse. Justin Arnot, BGEA general counsel, explained that the initiative grew from Franklin Graham’s vision to support other Christians facing similar persecution.

The defense fund has already supported several high-profile cases, including Bristol preacher Dia Moodley, who was successfully defended by ADF after being banned from publicly criticizing other religions, and Adam Smith-Connor, who faced conviction for silently praying in an abortion buffer zone in Dorset County, England.

BGEA’s own legal ordeal began when LGBTQ activists accused Franklin Graham of hate speech for teaching biblical sexuality. The controversy led to an advertisement for a 2018 Blackpool event being removed from public buses, while seven venues canceled his appearances during a planned eight-city tour in 2020.

Despite the initial setbacks, Arnot expressed understanding toward those who opposed BGEA’s events, acknowledging the intense political pressures faced by public officials and venue operators. He emphasized that many venue leaders ultimately proved cooperative once commercial reasonableness prevailed over political considerations.

The resolution strategy focused on establishing venues as neutral spaces serving diverse communities rather than partisan platforms. “The classic position that a venue would take (is) we’re a neutral venue, we serve people from across the spectrum of belief and events of all kinds. That’s the safe position for these groups to take,” Arnot explained.

Franklin Graham’s approach throughout the controversy emphasized both truth and compassion. In a 2020 statement, he acknowledged that while God defines homosexuality as sin, “God goes even further than that, to say that we are all sinners – myself included.” He stressed that Christ came not to condemn but to offer salvation through His sacrifice.

The success of BGEA’s UK ministry following the legal victories demonstrates the fund’s broader significance. More than 4,700 individuals surrendered to Christ among the 62,000 who heard the Gospel at BGEA outreaches from 2022 through 2025, with support from thousands of Christians and hundreds of churches across Europe.

Early in the ordeal, Franklin Graham took the unprecedented step of publicly inviting his opponents to attend the evangelistic meetings, demonstrating the organization’s commitment to open dialogue and transparent ministry practices.

The Billy Graham Defense Fund represents a significant shift in how American religious organizations support international religious liberty, moving from reactive support to proactive legal defense infrastructure. As religious freedom challenges intensify across Europe and other regions, this model may inspire similar initiatives from other faith-based organizations.