Greg Laurie, one of America's foremost evangelists, will be honored with National Religious Broadcasters' Billy Graham Award for Excellence in Christian Communications on Friday, March 2, during the Awards Gala at Proclaim 18, the NRB International Media Convention in Nashville, Tennessee.

Laurie will receive the award named for the famed evangelist on the same day as the private funeral service for Graham in Charlotte, which Laurie will attend.

"In God's providence, the NRB Executive Committee chose Greg Laurie to receive this year's Billy Graham Award weeks ago, before it would be known that the honor would be bestowed on him on the very day of the great evangelist's funeral," said Dr. Jerry A. Johnson, NRB's President & CEO. "While the world mourns the loss of Dr. Graham, we see in the life of Greg Laurie another evangelist faithful to preach the gospel to all the world who is an innovator in communicating God's Word, following in Dr. Graham pacesetting communications footsteps."

Dr. Billy Graham, the world-renowned evangelist who passed away on Feb. 21, was a pioneer in Christian broadcasting. Graham exemplified a commitment to excellence, creativity and biblical fidelity in his use of electronic communications in furtherance of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The NRB Billy Graham Award is presented to those who effectively and creatively use multiple electronic media technologies in fulfillment of their mission, while maintaining fidelity to the message of love, redemption, and hope found in the Holy Scriptures.

"I am honored to receive this award," says Laurie. "Not only was Billy Graham the greatest evangelist who ever lived, he also was an innovator in all media platforms. Our hope at Harvest Ministries is, in our own way, to follow that example and reach as many people as possible with the Gospel in our generation, as Billy did in his."

Laurie is the senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship, which has campuses in California and Hawaii. He has authored over 70 books, including Steve McQueen: The Salvation of an American Icon, Tell Someone, Hope for Hurting Hearts, and his autobiography, Lost Boy. Laurie's book on McQueen is the basis for the movie, Steve McQueen: American Icon. Host of the nationally syndicated radio program "A New Beginning" and television program GregLaurie.tv, Laurie is also the founder and featured speaker for Harvest Crusades and Harvest America—large-scale evangelistic outreaches. The 2018 Harvest America event will take place on June 10, emanating nationwide from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Laurie's attendance at the Graham funeral will prevent him from receiving the award in person at the Awards Gala. Instead, a video message from Laurie will be shown.

The Billy Graham Award for Excellence in Christian Communications is one of 21 awards that will be presented during Proclaim 18, which takes place February 27-March 2, 2018, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville.

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