U.S. Evangelist Billy Graham hospitalized with lung infection < br />

2012-08-13 21:10:02 GMT+7 (ICT)

ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA (BNO NEWS) -- U.S. evangelist Billy Graham was taken to a hospital in North Carolina Sunday for a pulmonary infection thought to be bronchitis, doctors said, adding that he is alert and resting comfortably.

Pulmonologist David Pucci said the well-known evangelist was admitted to Mission Hospital in Asheville on early Sunday morning and is being administered antibiotics after developing a 'slight fever' overnight. "Bill Graham remains vibrant, alert and in good spirits with no fever after admission to Mission Hospital," his spokesman A. Larry Ross said. "Doctors are encouraged."

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) said Graham, 93, watched a televised service at his home church, the First Baptist Church of Spartanburg, on Sunday and later enjoyed a visit from his daughter, Gigi, and one of his grandchildren. "They ate lunch together and enjoyed a relaxing afternoon," BGEA said in a statement.

On early Monday, Ross said Graham had rested well during his first night at Mission Hospital and was up having breakfast. "Billy Graham watched the Olympic closing ceremony Sunday night, prompting fond memories of crusades he held in both London and Rio over 70 years," he added.

Graham was previously hospitalized for successful treatment of pneumonia in November 2011. His staff said he has been in overall good health since his release, though he mostly remained at his home in Montreat due to his old age. Nonetheless, he is still actively involved in his ministry and is working on a new book summarizing his Gospel message over the past seven decades of public ministry.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2012-08-13

I'm amazed he is still around. Maybe God doesn't want competition upstairs.