falls" has condemned what he calls "the false reports" about President George W. Bush’s family and the "tone and rhetoric" of the presidential campaign, his organization said in a statement obtained by BosNewsLife Saturday, September 25.
"I have known all of the Bush family for many years—the president’s grandfather and grandmother were personal friends of mine," the 85-year old preacher added in the same release of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA).
"I have also considered the president’s father one of my closest friends for many years." Graham said he and his wife, Ruth, had "taken many vacations with the senior Bushes and have been treated as members of their family."
The seasoned preacher, who has known several presidents, described the Bushes as "a remarkable family with the highest moral values which I know are based on their religious faith."
The Associated Press (AP) quoted his spokesman, A. Larry Ross, as saying that the evangelist was especially concerned about Kitty Kelley’s just published book "The Family: The Real Story of the Bush Dynasty."
COCAINE SCANDAL
With already over 700,000 copies in print, the unauthorized biography alleges that George W. Bush used cocaine at Camp David while his father was president.
It is also a tale about greed, failed marriages and adultery, charges the Bushes have denied. Amid the political turmoil, Graham’s upcoming evangelistic ‘crusades’ in Kansas City and Los Angeles in October and November are part of his self proclaimed efforts to overcome divisions and spread Christian hope.
"I appreciate everyone’s prayers on my behalf and I look forward once again to bringing a message of God’s love and forgiveness to the people of Kansas City and Los Angeles," he said about the stadium meetings. The elderly preacher made the decision to preach again after a recent house visit by his longtime primary doctor and local physicians, the BGEA said.
"PROGRESSING WELL"
"Doctors reported the evangelist is progressing well, nearly one month ahead of schedule" and has recovered rapidly in the last few weeks from two serious falls that resulted in surgeries performed earlier this year, including a hip replacement procedure and a pelvic fracture repair, the organization claimed.
"I feel better than I expected to at this point and I am thankful that God has strengthened me for continued ministry," Graham stressed. During his recovery at home in the mountains of Western North Carolina, Graham and his wife, Ruth, have endured two major storms and flooding from Hurricanes Frances and Ivan, resulting in minor damage to their home and loss of power for several days.
Hurricanes Charley, Frances and Ivan have reportedly killed 85 people in Florida and caused extensive damage, while Jeanne, killed more than 1,000 people, mostly in Haiti, when it dumped torrential rains their last weekend.
PRAYERS AND THOUGHTS
"Our thoughts and prayers are with those who continue to recover from these devastating storms, and especially with those who have lost loved ones," Graham said.
While at home this summer, Graham "enjoyed" watching the Olympics on television as well as the coverage of the Democratic and Republican National Conventions.
He also saw his longtime friend President Ronald Reagan laid to rest and "was grateful that the nation had such an opportunity to mourn the passing of one of its greatest leaders," the BGEA explained.
The evangelist was to travel to Kansas City for the Heart of America Billy Graham Crusade to be held at Arrowhead Stadium October 7-10 and then on to Los Angeles for the Greater Los Angeles Billy Graham Crusade at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, November 18-21.
Los Angeles was also the area where Graham first vaulted into the public eye with a 1949 crusade.
Since than, Graham preached the Gospel to more people in live audiences than anyone else in history—over 210 million people in more than 185 countries and territories—through various meetings, including Mission World and Global Mission, according to official estimates.
Hundreds of millions more are believed to have been reached through television, video, film, as well as the Internet, and at least hundreds of thousands of people made "a personal decision" to live for Christ, the BGEA said.
