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In a moving Easter message recorded among the charred remnants of burned neighborhoods in California, Rev. Franklin Graham urges the nation to find hope even amid devastation.
Shot in the aftermath of the Southern California wildfires, “Easter from the Ashes” will be available at noon ET on Fox News this Sunday.
“Is there hope where there are ashes?” Graham inquires in the special, standing in the debris of the Palisades neighborhood in Los Angeles. “This is a message of hope for individuals who feel overlooked.”
The program features performances by Grammy Award-winning worship leader Michael W. Smith and artist Charity Gayle and was filmed in areas still marked by the fiery destruction.
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The music was recorded at Pepperdine University, located just a short distance from neighborhoods that no longer exist.
This broadcast continues a long-standing tradition of Easter messages from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, but this one is uniquely tied to the ashes of loss, addressing both spiritual and emotional needs in the wake of natural disasters affecting communities across the nation.
Volunteers with Samaritan’s Purse look for valuable personal items for the Alvarado family in the remnants of their home, destroyed in the Eaton Fire on February 5, in Altadena, California. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
In recent months, Americans have faced numerous disasters: wildfires on the West Coast, flooding and tornadoes in the Midwest and South, and Hurricane Helene in the Southeast. In all these instances, Samaritan’s Purse, the global relief organization led by Graham, has stepped in to provide assistance.
“Easter feels different for many this year,” Graham told Fox News Digital. “So many have suffered devastating loss. But I want everyone to understand that God has not forsaken them.”
Samaritan’s Purse has sent disaster relief teams across the U.S. to offer assistance ranging from physical help to emotional support.
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In California, volunteers have been aiding families in searching through the ashes for cherished belongings. One particularly touching story involves a woman who sought a porcelain vase, a treasured heirloom from her grandmother. The team successfully found it, unbroken, tucked away in a corner of a basement buried under ash.
“It was perfect, with no cracks or chips,” Graham said. “To anyone else, it was merely a vase. For her, it was irreplaceable. That’s the type of healing we aim to provide.”
Across the country, Samaritan’s Purse has worked to restore mobility and housing by replacing vehicles and rebuilding homes. Teaming up with Rick Hendrick of Hendrick Automotive Group, they have been supplying cars to families who have lost everything.
“When people lose their vehicles in a disaster, they are often stranded,” Graham pointed out. “Many have been forced to walk to stores or rely on neighbors. We felt compelled to assist in any way we could.”
Currently, Samaritan’s Purse has over a dozen homes under construction, with plans to continue rebuilding for at least the next three years.
While physical restoration is critical, Graham’s Easter message emphasizes spiritual revival through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He highlights the biblical truths of both heaven and hell, a topic often neglected but one he believes is needed now more than ever.
“In this special, I discuss Jesus’s teachings on hell and the escape He offers,” Graham said. “He died for our sins, was buried, and on the third day, He rose again. That’s the hope we have.”
Volunteers from Samaritan’s Purse pray with Manuel and Emma Alvarado after aiding them in the search for personal belongings in the ashes of their home in Altadena, California. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
He shared stories from disaster survivors who described their experiences as near-miraculous. One woman, who was trapped in a flood, clung to a branch that later vanished — something she believes was an act of divine intervention.
“Some people believe angels rescued them,” Graham noted. “Events occurred that are inexplicable through any other means.”
Graham also reflected on his recent visit to the White House during Holy Week, where he joined about 40 pastors for a private dinner and worship service with President Donald Trump. He described the President’s words as “the clearest gospel message I’ve ever heard from a U.S. leader.”
“I doubt we’ve heard anything similar since George Washington,” Graham asserted. “He not only believes but is open about it.”
“We have a president who openly displays his faith,” Graham remarked on The Ingraham Angle. “He does not shy away from his beliefs and is very direct about them.”
Graham deemed Trump’s address at the dinner as one of the most straightforward public affirmations of the Gospel he has encountered from any U.S. president. “He speaks about Jesus Christ and openly shares his faith,” he added. “He will tell you that when that bullet went through his ear in Butler, Pennsylvania, it was God who spared his life.”
Volunteers with Samaritan’s Purse pray with 86-year-old Manuel and Emma Alvarado after assisting them in searching for personal items amid the ashes of their home, destroyed in the Eaton Fire on February 5, in Altadena, California. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
The day following the dinner, Graham participated in a service for White House staff, including lawyers and administrative professionals, which was led by Pastor Greg Laurie and Pastor Jentezen Franklin, who administered communion. “It was a beautiful time of worship,” he remembered.
Graham credited the Trump administration with helping alleviate bureaucratic delays that often hinder recovery efforts in disaster-stricken areas.
“California has proven to be very challenging,” he stated. “We’ve encountered numerous delays at the state and local levels. However, the President pressed FEMA to expedite their response, which helped facilitate progress.”
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As the interview drew to a close, Graham returned to the essential message of the season.
“Easter is a profoundly special time because Jesus Christ conquered death,” he said. “He took our sins upon Himself, died, was buried, and on the third day, He rose again. He welcomes anyone who is willing to accept Him by faith into their hearts. That’s the miracle of Easter.”
