Franklin Graham announces World Summit in Defense of Persecuted Christians in Moscow

Lorraine Caballero Friday, March 11, 2016

Franklin Graham is seen in this file photo. | (Reuters)

Rev. Franklin Graham has announced that the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association will host the World Summit in Defense of Persecuted Christians along with the Russian Orthodox Church and other evangelical leaders.

In a Facebook post this week, Franklin Graham gave a preview on the World Summit in Defense of Persecuted Christians, which will be held in Moscow in October. The evangelist explained that the global summit is all about and talked about his discussion with Russian Orthodox Church head Patriarch Kirill about the persecution of Christians all over the world, The Christian Post reports.

In Graham's interview with Kirill on Feb. 16, the Patriarch urged Christians to work hand in hand to prevent society from being de-Christianized. The American evangelist also noted that UK's Prince Charles had warned that Christianity could soon disappear from the Middle East because of the intensity of persecution, Charisma News relays.

"The World Summit in Defense of Persecuted Christians will shed a global spotlight on this crisis," said Franklin Graham in his Facebook statement. "We will bring delegates from around the world and will be able to join hands with people of other churches and denominations of the Christian faith to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ and to hear firsthand reports of the suffering that is taking place."

In addition, Graham mentioned how 2015 became the worst year for persecuted Christians. The number of Christians who were killed because of their faith more than doubled compared with the year before that.

Graham also brought up the suffering of the Orthodox Church under the communist rule in the 20^{th century. He recalled how the communists jailed or executed all the Russian church leaders and that their graves now stand as a reminder of what happened.}

Because of the persecution that the Russian Christians suffered at the hands of the communists, Graham said it is just fitting that the summit will be held in Moscow.

The World Summit in Defense of Persecuted Christians in Moscow, Russia will run from Oct. 28 to Oct. 30.