Billy Graham (born 1918)
READ: Romans 10
William Franklin Graham Jr. was born in 1918 to Christian parents in Charlotte, North Carolina and grew up to become the world’s most famous evangelist. He surrendered his life to the Lord at age 16 and went onto graduate from Wheaton College where he met and married his wife, Ruth Bell.
Billy, as he liked to be known, was called to the Lord’s work. He knew this for certain, even if he didn’t have a specific long term vision. Between 1944 and 1950 he pastored a First Baptist Church in Illinois, took over the Christian radio program Songs in the Night, acted as president of Northwestern Bible College in Minneapolis, worked as a full-time evangelist for Youth for Christ, started the Hour of Decision weekly radio program, and founded the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. His ministry really took off in 1949 while conducting a tent-revival in Los Angeles. The famous newspaper publisher, William Randolph Hearst, liked Graham and sent a telegraph to his newspaper editors: “Puff Graham”. Billy was plastered all over the papers and the revival tent overflowed.
Over 100 million people have heard Billy Graham preach in person. He has touched the lives of millions more through the avenue of media. Through crusades and invitations, Billy Graham has preached all over the world and millions have come to accept Christ as their personal Saviour in response to his messages. He has been a friend and spiritual advisor to multiple presidents and has addressed the United States in times of peril. He was of the first to hold integrated revivals in the 1950s, inviting blacks and whites alike and even partnering with Martin Luther King Jr. He unashamedly used the media to spread the gospel message, desiring to use all means possible to bring the good news of Christ to the peoples of the world. He was a man of incredible integrity. Early on in his ministry, he and the men on his team committed to financial and moral accountability, taking responsibility for ministry funds and committing to never be alone with women other than their own wives. Unlike so many other media-lit evangelists of the past century, Billy Graham stands irreproachable in his conduct. Nearing age 95, Billy Graham continues to be hailed as the greatest evangelist of our times. Meanwhile, having run the race and fought the fight, he waits patiently for the Lord to call him home.
JOURNALING AND PRAYER
1. Where do you feel weak in your faith?
2. Ask God how He wants to grow your faith this summer. What does He want to do in your heart?
3. Thank God for what He has shown you, and pray that it would become a reality in your life.
