Billy Graham's Health Declining 'Quite a Bit,' Says Son

The health of Rev. Billy Graham, known as the "pastor to presidents," has been in decline, according to comments his son Franklin Graham made to WSOC-TV on Friday.

Billy Graham turned 95 last month.

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"My father's health has declined quite a bit in last few days," Franklin Graham said. "I'm not even sure he knows Nelson Mandela has passed away. He hasn’t been able to get his strength back. Vitals are good, he’s just weak and at home."

The evangelist did not speak during his birthday celebration in November because of his health. President Bill Clinton, Sarah Palin, Donald Trump and Rupert Murdoch traveled to North Carolina for the pastor's birthday last month.

Graham has served as a "pastor to presidents," beginning with President Harry Truman. He participated in his last crusade in New York in 2005. The Asheville Citizen-Times reported that Graham has conducted 417 crusades over more than 50 years.

He was hospitalized in November for pulmonary tests and observations.
 
Graham's latest segment of his "My Hope America with Billy Graham" video ministry mixes clips from his Montreal home to his times as a globe-traveling evangelist. The segment, titled "The Cross," aired in November.

"What I like about it, it's like your grandfather or your father talking to you in the living room, where we’re used to seeing Billy Graham standing behind a pulpit in a large stadium preaching," Franklin Graham told the Citizen-Times. "Here is sort of a grandfather figure, talking to you from a chair. I think it’s extremely effective and very powerful."

Roughly 25,000 churches nationwide participate in the "My Hope America" program.

"It may be the largest evangelistic effort in the history of our country," Franklin Graham said. "Here's my father, 95 years old, and he’s still fervent for the souls of men and women, and he wants people to know the truth."

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