GOOD MORNING WEST OAKS FAMILY!

Franklin Graham, the son of Ruth & Billy Graham, has devoted his life to meeting the needs of people around the world and proclaiming the Gospel. He is currently the director of Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Samaritan's Purse has met the needs of poor, sick, and suffering people in more than 170 coun-tries. Raised in a log home in the Appalachian Mountains outside Asheville, North Carolina, Graham now lives in the mountains of Boone, NC with his wife, Jane Austin Graham.

By the time of his birth, his father was already known around the world as a spiritual leader, but he wasn't the only spiritual giant in the family. Franklin Graham's mater-nal grandfather, Lemuel Nelson Bell, was a medical missionary to China for more than 20 years, a respected moderator of the Presbyterian Church and a co-founder of the magazine Christianity Today.

At age 22, after a period of rebellion and traveling the world, Franklin committed his life to Jesus Christ while alone in a hotel room in Jerusalem. Soon after, Dr. Bob Pierce, founder of Samaritan's Purse (and World Vision), invited Graham to join him on a six-week mission to Asia. It was during that time that Graham felt a calling to work with hurting people in areas of the world affected by war, famine, disease, and natural disasters.

He believes in the power of love, stating "I just believe as a Christian, we are to show love; we are to show compassion to people, not to point the finger, not to do this, but to do this - to love them, to welcome them, to embrace them." He strives to deliver the message of Jesus but also says that I'm at least smart enough to know I could never fill Billy Graham's shoes, but I'm grateful he gave me an opportunity to help him finish his race on earth well and to continue his life's work."

Prayer Requests

Judy & Grayson, Gary & Nancy Mosely, Priscilla Laughlin, and Donna Scott. Keep praying for Israel, our Pastor Tommy, our pastor's wife Teresa, our West Oaks Academy school's children, administrators, coaches, and of course our teachers.

DID YOU KNOW?

• o One of the country's top 2026 boys high school basketball players is switching it up on where he will be playing basketball this upcoming season. High-school star Marcis Ponder is transferring to play for the West Oaks Academy for his junior season. Be sure to meet Marcis as well as the other young men who are here on Sundays in fellowship. Make them feel welcome by learning their names & where they are from. They all live together in the same house and most are a long way from home. For example, Jahsean Corbett (pictured in the photo) is from the Virgin Islands and after his senior year will play for Duquesne University.
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• o The film "Forged" was released in Orlando theatres this past week. This film depicts a young man, A year out of high school with no plans for his future, who meets a mentor to start charting a better course for his life. Through the prayers of his mother and biblical discipleship from his new mentor, he begins discovering God's purpose for his life is so much more than he could hope for or imagine.
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WIT & WISDOM: Grandkids

• --My grandson was visiting when he asked, "Grandma, do you know how you & God are alike?" I mentally polished my halo and I said, "No, how are we alike?'' "You're both old," he replied.
• --A 7 yr-old grandson was heard saying Grandpa is the smartest man on earth! He teaches me good things, but I don't get to see him enough to get as smart as him!
• --A 6 yr-old was asked where his grandma lived. "Oh," he said, "she lives at the airport, and whenever we want her, we just go get her. Then, when we're done having her visit, we take her back to the airport.
• --A little girl was diligently pounding away on her grandfather's word processor. She told him she was writing a story. "What's it about?" he asked. "I don't know," she replied. "I can't read."