Franklin Graham Preaches to 10,000 at China Megachurch

The Christian Post reports that 10,000 people packed a Chinese church to hear American evangelist Franklin Graham on Sunday. The sermon at Bethel Church of Baoding, located about 120 miles south of Beijing, was Graham's second to the Chinese people in two years. "I'm here today to tell you that not only does God know who you are, He loves you," the evangelist said. Graham's grandfather worked in China as a medical director for 25 years, and his mother, the late Ruth Bell Graham, was born there. While house churches and unapproved denominations often face discrimination and persecution from Chinese authorities, the church where Graham preached is affiliated with the government-approved Three-Self Patriotic Movement and the China Christian Council.

Graham Meets High-Level North Korean Official

Christian Today reports that Franklin Graham met with North Korean Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun on Wednesday, hoping to thaw relations between the government and aid agencies. Graham also offered a small sculpture as a gift to North Korean leader Kim Jong Il through the country's vice parliamentary speaker. Graham later visited a provincial hospital that his aid agency, Samaritan's Purse, and USAID had provided with a generator. According to Graham's spokespeople, this was the hospital's first source of electricity. "I'm going as a minister of Jesus Christ with a message of peace and that God loves each one of us regardless of our borders or politics," the evangelist said before departingon Tuesday.

Franklin Graham Makes 3rd Trip to North Korea

The Christian Post reports that Franklin Graham began his third meeting with North Korean leaders Tuesday in their country. The CEO of Samaritan's Purse is the firstAmerican aid agency leader to be allowed in the country since all U.S. humanitarian groups were forced to leave six month ago. "I believe it is important to make visits like this to help improve better relations and to have better understanding with each other," said Graham prior to leaving. "I'm going as a minister of Jesus Christ with a message of peace and that God loves each one of us regardless of our borders or politics." Five NGO groups providing food aid were kicked out of the country in March with no explanation, leaving many North Koreans to fare for themselves in the chronic food shortage.