Former religion editor says Franklin Graham could be leading BGEA in different direction

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Evangelist Franklin Graham said newly re-elected President Barack Obama is leading the country down a path of destruction during a national interview Tuesday night.

"If we are allowed to go down this road in the path that this president wants us to go down, I think it will be to our peril and to the destruction of this nation," Franklin Graham, the son of Billy Graham, said.

Eyewitness News caught up with Keith Collins at the Billy Graham Library today. He is the pastor of Fire Church in Concord and saw the interview last night.

"I think that Franklin's heart was to awaken America to the fact that our country was founded on Godly principles." Collins said, "For us to abandon those things can create a sense of danger for our nation."

Ken Garfield covered the Graham family for more than a decade as the former religion editor for the Charlotte Observer.

"I was surprised that they were so partisan in this election in the name of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association," Garfield said.

Garfield thinks this could signify Franklin Graham is taking the organization in a different direction. If it goes along this route, it's going to be a little bit more partisan, a little bit more political, and a little bit more sort of fiery Christian evangelical politics." Garfield said. "Now whether that's great in the long run or not we'll have to wait for another generation to see if people will support it, pray for it, give it money."

Eyewitness News reached out to the Graham family for comment, but a representative declined.

WSOC