Will a Son Also Rise?

By Richard N. Ostling

"The girls get married and change their names," says Ruth Graham, "but the boys are stuck with Graham." Franklin (William Franklin III), 41, and Ned (Nelson Edman), 35, caused their parents anguish in their rebellious search for what Ruth calls "their own identities." But now that their period of rebellion is over, the question is whether one might reprise his father's role when Billy passes from the evangelical scene.

Starting in high school, Ned confesses, he became "infatuated with the drug subculture," using marijuana, LSD and mescaline. "When you're the child of a famous person," says Franklin, who had his own bouts with heavy drinking, "you're measured by a different scale. You can get mad and fight it, or you can learn to accept it." Their father, biding his time, eventually reminded each son of his and Ruth's love, warning that "Satan is wanting to control your life, and there is a battle going on for your soul." Franklin and Ned surrendered to Billy's God. Both are ordained and have key roles in evangelical organizations.

Ned heads East Gates Ministries International, which aids churches in China. Franklin runs two international relief agencies, Samaritan's Purse and World Medical Mission. Both preachers have an enduring passion for motorcycles -- but they differ about the disposition of their father's temporal kingdom. Ned has distanced himself from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and hopes it will go forward under leadership that has "absolute integrity and a mandate from God." Says Ned: "I do not see that anybody can step into my father's place." Franklin knows there's only one Billy but sits on the association's executive committee and is constantly touted by the media as its future head. Indeed, since 1989 Franklin has followed his father's vocation, preaching at small revival meetings. "I'm not going to give my preference one way or the other," says Billy of the succession, adding that Franklin "doesn't want it, in my judgment." Says Franklin: "God is going to raise up a person."

With reporting by David Aikman/Washington and Lisa H.Towle/Raleigh