According to the Charlotte (N.C.) Observer, Franklin Graham met with 1,000 supporters in Charlotte on Dec. 3 for an annual rally and news conference regarding his ministry's Operation Christmas Child. However, some reporters asked about the furor caused by Graham's remarks in the Wall Street Journal - "The (Quran/Koran) provides ample evidence that Islam encourages violence in order to win converts and to reach the ultimate goal of an Islamic World."

Graham answered his critics with: "This is Christmas. I want to talk about kids. ... If people want to understand the religion (Islam), buy the Quran and the hadith (narration), the sayings of Muhammad, and then make your own conclusion."

Focusing on Operation Christmas Child, he advised that 5 million gift-filled shoeboxes are headed to needy children in 90 nations - one million of which are being filled by 20,000 volunteers in the Charlotte processing center ... and 150,000 shoeboxes bound for Afghanistan will be flown into Uzbekistan. Most will arrive shortly after Christmas, but since most children there are Muslim, that day has no spiritual significance for them. However, he added, "I want them to know that we love them."