Franklin Graham backlash for urging followers to pray for Vladimir Putin.
Franklin Graham is CEO of Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.(Photo: Facebook/Franklin Graham)A social media post by evangelist Franklin Graham asking followers to pray for Russian President Vladimir Putin to avoid a war with Ukraine is drawing backlash from liberals on social media, while some have come to Graham's defense.
"Pray for President Putin today. This may sound like a strange request, but we need to pray that God would work in his heart so that war could be avoided at all cost," Graham, the president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, wrote on Facebook and Twitter Friday.
"May God give wisdom to the leaders involved in these talks and negotiations, as well as those advising them. Our prayers might make the difference between life and death."
The post from the son of legendary evangelist Billy Graham drew criticism, mostly on Twitter.
