Jack N. Graham (born June 30, 1950) is an American pastor, author, and broadcaster based in Plano, Texas. He has led Prestonwood Baptist Church since 1989.
He served two terms as president of the Southern Baptist Convention and reaches millions through PowerPoint Ministries. Jack Graham is not related to Billy Graham, though the two names get mixed up all the time.
Jack Graham at a Glance
| Personal | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Jack N. Graham |
| Born | June 30, 1950 Conway, Arkansas, USA |
| Age | 76 (as of September 2026) |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse | Deb Graham (married 1970) |
| Children | Three married children |
| Grandchildren | Eight (per Prestonwood’s bio) |
| Raised in | Fort Worth, Texas |
| Education | |
| High school | Eastern Hills High School, Fort Worth |
| University | B.S., Hardin-Simmons University |
| Seminary | M.Div. (1976) and D.Min., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary |
| Ministry | |
| Title | Senior Pastor |
| Church | Prestonwood Baptist Church, Plano, Texas |
| Denomination | Southern Baptist |
| Ordained | 1970 |
| At Prestonwood since | 1989 |
| SBC president | Two terms (2002 to 2004) |
| Media | PowerPoint Ministries, Bible in a Year with Jack Graham |
| Website | jackgraham.org |
| Career | |
| Books | 15+, including Man of God, Unseen and Angels |
| Net worth | Not publicly verified |
| Salary | Not publicly disclosed |
Early Life and Background
Where Is Jack Graham From?
Jack Graham was born in Conway, Arkansas, a small city near Little Rock. He made a faith commitment at age 6. He was baptized at First Baptist Church in his hometown.
His family later settled in Fort Worth, Texas. He graduated from Eastern Hills High School there. Fort Worth is also where his ministry took shape.
He has said he learned to preach by listening to Billy Graham’s radio program as a child. That is the closest link between the two men.
Jack Graham’s Education
Graham was ordained at age 20 in 1970. He was already pastoring his first church and had just married Deb. He was also in the middle of college.
He earned a B.S. from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. He then went to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. There he finished a Master of Divinity with honors in 1976. He later earned a Doctor of Ministry in “Church and Proclamation.”
Southwestern has named him a distinguished alumnus. He still speaks in its chapel.
Is Jack Graham Related to Billy Graham?
No, Jack Graham is not related to Billy Graham. The Dallas Morning News made that clear when Billy Graham died in February 2018. The Christian Post reported the same thing in 2013.
So why the mix-up? Both men are Southern Baptists. Both are known for preaching. And both carry one of the most common surnames in America.
Jack calls Billy Graham a personal mentor and a “father in ministry.” In 2013, Prestonwood ran a six-month push around Billy Graham’s My Hope outreach. Franklin Graham, Billy’s son, has called Jack a good friend.
Ministry Journey
Early Pastorates
Graham’s first church was East Side Baptist in Cross Plains, Texas (1970 to 1971). He then served as associate pastor at Sagamore Hill Baptist Church in Fort Worth (1972 to 1975).
His first full-time pastorates followed:
- First Baptist Church, Hobart, Oklahoma (1975 to 1978)
- First Baptist Church, Duncan, Oklahoma (1978 to 1981)
- First Baptist Church, West Palm Beach, Florida (1981 to 1989)
Eight years in West Palm Beach set him up for a much bigger call.
Coming to Prestonwood in 1989
Prestonwood was a young Dallas church, founded in February 1977. By 1988 it had grown to about 11,000 members. Then its founding pastor, Bill Weber, resigned after admitting an affair.
The church was hurt and needed a steady hand. Graham arrived in June 1989. He later told Baptist Press that the church was already growing and understood it existed for people who were not there yet.
He also says he never wanted to be anything but a pastor. Ask him if he expected to lead a church this size, and his answer is no, not for one second.
Rise to Prominence
How Prestonwood Grew Under Jack Graham
Prestonwood outgrew its North Dallas site. In 1999 the church moved to a 140-acre campus in west Plano. The new worship center seats about 7,500 people. The campus also holds a school and a ministry complex.
The church added a North Campus in Prosper in 2006. It dedicated the new building in 2008. Prestonwood en Español now serves members from more than 20 nations. Prestonwood Christian Academy is the church’s school system.
Membership numbers have climbed steadily. Reports cited about 8,000 members in 1989, 43,000 in 2018, and more than 60,000 on the church’s own site today. Weekly attendance is lower than membership, at about 17,000 in 2018.
President of the Southern Baptist Convention
Graham was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) in 2002 and served two terms. Bobby Welch followed him in 2004. Years later, J.D. Greear would lead the same convention. Paul Pressler, a key figure in the SBC conservative resurgence, served as first vice president during his first term.
He had already led the SBC Pastors’ Conference. Other Baptist leaders he stands alongside include Jerry Vines and Charles Stanley, who also held national Baptist roles.
National Prayer and Politics
Graham served as honorary chairman of the 2015 National Day of Prayer. He sat on Donald Trump’s religious advisory council and took part in the National Prayer Service at the Washington National Cathedral in January 2017.
In March 2026, he joined Sen. John Cornyn’s faith advisory council, according to Baptist News Global. Robert Jeffress and Max Lucado sit on the same panel.
PowerPoint Ministries, Sermons, YouTube and Podcasts
PowerPoint Ministries is how most people meet Jack Graham. It carries his teaching on television, radio, email, YouTube and podcasts. His show, PowerPoint with Jack Graham, airs weekly on TBN.
Jack Graham Sermons
His sermons are direct and practical. He blends Scripture with everyday issues. In March 2026 he preached a Sunday message called “America, Israel and War in the Middle East.” A man shouted during it and security removed him, according to The Christian Post.
You can watch full sermons on the Prestonwood site and on jackgraham.org.
Jack Graham YouTube
Prestonwood streams every weekend service on its YouTube channel. Clips and full messages stay up for replay. If you want Jack Graham on YouTube, search “Prestonwood Baptist Church” or “PowerPoint Ministries.”
Jack Graham Podcasts
The biggest one is Bible in a Year with Jack Graham. It launched in October 2022 with iHeartPodcasts and Pray.com. It hit the top spot on the Spotify religion chart in its first week. The church says it has passed 125 million downloads.
The weekly PowerPoint messages are also available as audio podcasts.
Books by Jack Graham
Graham has written more than a dozen books. His best known are listed below.
- You Can Make a Difference (1992)
- Lessons from the Heart (2001)
- A Hope and a Future (2002)
- Life According to Jesus (2004)
- A Man of God (2005)
- Courageous Parenting (2006), written with Deb
- Powering Up (2009)
- Culture Wise (2012)
- Unseen: Angels, Satan, Heaven, Hell, and Winning the Battle for Eternity (2013)
- Angels: Who They Are, What They Do, and Why It Matters (2016)
- Reignite: Fresh Focus for an Enduring Faith
- The Jesus Book: Reading and Understanding the Bible for Yourself
New to his writing? Start with A Man of God for men, or Unseen for his teaching on angels.
Jack Graham’s Family: Wife and Children
Jack Graham’s Wife, Deb
Jack married Deb Graham in 1970, when he was 20. They have been married for more than five decades. Deb co-wrote Courageous Parenting with him. The book comes from what they learned raising their own kids.
Deb keeps a lower public profile than her husband. No reliable source gives her birth date or maiden name, so this page leaves them out.
How Many Children Does Jack Graham Have?
Jack and Deb have three married children. They had their first child, a son, by 1976. Prestonwood’s bio now lists eight grandchildren. Older bios listed three, then six, so the number has grown over the years.
The family has kept its children’s names private, and this page does the same.
What Religion Is Jack Graham? Beliefs and Theology
Jack Graham is a Christian and a Southern Baptist. His views follow the Baptist Faith and Message (2000), the statement of faith of the Southern Baptist Convention. That means he holds to the Bible as God’s authoritative Word, salvation through faith in Jesus, and believer’s baptism.
He takes a conservative line on social issues. His 2012 book Culture Wise takes on seven cultural topics from that view. He is also outspoken on angels, spiritual warfare and prayer.
A 2019 Christian Post interview covered his views on church growth, abuse and female preachers ahead of that year’s SBC meeting.
Where Is Jack Graham Now?
Jack Graham is still senior pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church. He preached there in March 2026 and TBN aired new PowerPoint messages through July 2026. He turned 76 this summer and marked 37 years at Prestonwood in June.
He spoke about a future handoff back in 2014. He said younger ministers were in place and it would be a natural change when he stepped down. No successor has been named.
Staff around him include Neal Jeffrey, who leads pastoral and preaching ministry, and Jonathan Teague, executive pastor.
What Happened to Pastor Jack Graham?
Nothing has removed him from the pulpit. Searches like this usually point to two events.
His 2009 Cancer Surgery
In 2009, Graham announced he had prostate cancer. He had successful surgery on May 14, 2009. It came just before his 20th anniversary at Prestonwood.
The church gave him a two-month sabbatical, and he spent it at home with Deb and family. He returned to the pulpit afterward.
The 2022 Guidepost Report
In May 2022, a Guidepost Solutions report named Graham. It has drawn far more attention than his health news. The full account is in the next section.
Criticism and Controversies
The main criticism concerns how Prestonwood handled abuse in 1989. It is documented, and it is disputed. Here is what each side says.
What the report says. The 2022 Guidepost Solutions report on the SBC named Graham. It says that in June 1989 he let youth music minister John Langworthy leave quietly after Langworthy admitted abusing a student. It says police were not told, as The Dallas Morning News reported. Langworthy later moved to Mississippi and admitted the abuse to another congregation. He was charged there and pleaded guilty.
What Prestonwood says. Executive pastor Mike Buster said the church “categorically denies” the report’s account. He said Prestonwood has never protected or supported abusers. Graham did not sit for a Guidepost interview. He pointed investigators to his SBC presidential papers instead, according to reporting.
In June 2026, days before the SBC annual meeting, Graham posted that the SBC does not have a systemic abuse crisis. He called it a “reckless hoax.” Critics pointed to the Guidepost findings and the Houston Chronicle’s 2019 Abuse of Faith series. Supporters saw a defense of the convention.
Graham has also drawn criticism for serving on Donald Trump’s advisory council. Premier Christianity noted he only mildly bristled when asked about it.
Jack Graham Net Worth and Salary
There is no verified figure for Jack Graham’s net worth or salary. Prestonwood is a church, and the SBC does not publish pay for individual pastors. Graham has not shared his own numbers.
Online estimates are all over the place. One site says $10 million. Another says $698 million. Salary guesses run from $150,000 to $1.2 million a year. None cite tax filings, church budgets or news reports.
Treat them as noise. What can be said is that his income likely comes from a church salary, book royalties and speaking. That is a description, not a number.
Awards and Recognition
- Distinguished alumnus, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
- Two-term president, Southern Baptist Convention (2002 to 2004)
- President, SBC Pastors’ Conference
- Honorary chairman, National Day of Prayer (2015)
- Member, Donald Trump’s religious advisory council
Interesting Facts About Jack Graham
- He was ordained at 20 and married in the same year.
- His papers are archived at the Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives.
- D Magazine ran a July 1989 story on Bill Weber’s attempt to return after Graham took over.
- Cosmetics founder Mary Kay Ash backed the church started by Bill Weber after he left Prestonwood.
- His personal physician in 2009 was Dr. Kenneth Cooper, founder of the Cooper Aerobics Center in Dallas.
- Prestonwood runs a pro-life clinic called Prestonwood Pregnancy Center.
- Other people share his name, including a former Colorado State athletic director.
Jack Graham Timeline
- 1950: Born June 30 in Conway, Arkansas.
- 1956 (about): Makes a faith commitment at age 6 and is baptized.
- 1970: Ordained, marries Deb, and becomes pastor of East Side Baptist, Cross Plains.
- 1972 to 1975: Associate pastor, Sagamore Hill Baptist, Fort Worth.
- 1975 to 1978: Pastor, First Baptist, Hobart, Oklahoma.
- 1976: Earns a Master of Divinity with honors from Southwestern Seminary.
- 1978 to 1981: Pastor, First Baptist, Duncan, Oklahoma.
- 1981 to 1989: Pastor, First Baptist, West Palm Beach, Florida.
- 1989: Becomes senior pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church.
- 1999: Prestonwood opens its 140-acre Plano campus.
- 2002 to 2004: Serves two terms as SBC president.
- 2006: Prestonwood opens its North Campus.
- 2009: Prostate cancer surgery and a two-month sabbatical.
- 2015: Honorary chairman of the National Day of Prayer.
- 2017: Joins Trump’s advisory council and attends the National Prayer Service.
- 2019: Marks 30 years at Prestonwood.
- 2022: Named in the Guidepost report. Launches Bible in a Year with Jack Graham.
- 2026: Joins Cornyn’s faith council and continues to preach at Prestonwood.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jack Graham
Is Jack Graham related to the Billy Graham family?
No. Jack Graham is not related to Billy Graham or his family. They share a surname and a Baptist background. Jack grew up hearing Billy’s radio program and later called him a mentor.
Where is Jack Graham now?
He is still senior pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas. He preaches there each week and teaches through PowerPoint Ministries on TBN, YouTube and podcasts.
What religion is Pastor Jack Graham?
He is a Christian and a Southern Baptist. His beliefs follow the Baptist Faith and Message (2000).
How many children does Jack Graham have?
He and Deb have three married children. Prestonwood’s bio lists eight grandchildren.
How old is Jack Graham?
He was born June 30, 1950, so he is 76 as of September 2026.
What is Jack Graham’s net worth?
There is no verified number. Estimates online range from about $10 million to $698 million, and none cite financial records.
What is Jack Graham’s salary?
It is not publicly disclosed. Online salary figures are guesses.
Where is Jack Graham from?
He was born in Conway, Arkansas, and raised in Fort Worth, Texas.
What is Jack Graham’s education?
He holds a B.S. from Hardin-Simmons University. He also earned a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
What happened to Pastor Jack Graham?
He remains Prestonwood’s pastor. He had prostate cancer surgery in 2009. He was also named in the 2022 Guidepost report, which Prestonwood disputes.
Does Jack Graham have a podcast?
Yes. Bible in a Year with Jack Graham launched in October 2022. The church says it has passed 125 million downloads.
Did Jack Graham play basketball?
No source ties Prestonwood’s pastor to basketball. Those searches likely point to other men named Jack Graham.
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