by Aaron Manaigo from johnmccain.com email updates

Franklin Graham and Billy Graham met today with Sen. John McCain at Rev. Graham's home in North Carolina. The meeting was requested by McCain, and the three men met privately for about 45 minutes. Following the meeting, Franklin, who serves as president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan's Purse international relief, issued the following statement.

"My father and I were pleased to have an opportunity to meet and visit with Sen. John McCain today. Sen. McCain's office had requested a meeting in recent months and we appreciate the effort he made to travel to my father's home. The senator and I both have sons currently serving in the military, and also have a common interest in aviation. I was impressed by his personal faith and his moral clarity on important social issues facing America today."

"My father told the senator of the time he met his father on a trip to Vietnam during the war when Admiral McCain was the commander in chief of the Pacific theater and John was being

"We had an opportunity to pray for the senator and his family, and for God's will to be done in this upcoming election."

"While as a Christian minister I am not endorsing a candidate for president, I do endorse the responsibility of men and women of faith everywhere to vote and to be involved in the political process. I encourage people to vote for the candidate at every level who best represents their values and convictions, and then to pray for those in authority over us as required in Scripture."

held as a prisoner of war. Admiral McCain invited my father to come see him in Honolulu and they got on their knees and prayed for John during his captivity; and did so again on a return trip. He expressed his gratitude for the senator's long and brave service to our nation."