Billy Graham

Billy Graham

Evangelist Billy Graham took Christ literally when He said in Mark 16:15, “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.”

Mr. Graham preached the Gospel to more people in live audiences than anyone else in history—nearly 215 million people in more than 185 countries and territories—through various meetings, including Mission World and Global Mission. Hundreds of millions more have been reached through television, video, film, and webcasts.

Beginning with the 1949 Los Angeles Crusade, which vaulted Mr. Graham into the public eye, he led hundreds of thousands of individuals to make personal decisions to live for Christ, the main thrust of his decades-long ministry.

Born November 7, 1918, four days before the Armistice ended World War I, Mr. Graham was reared on a dairy farm in Charlotte, N.C. Growing up during the Depression, he learned the value of hard work on the family farm, but he also found time to spend many hours in the hayloft reading books on a wide variety of subjects.

In the fall of 1934, at age 15, Mr. Graham made a personal commitment to Christ through the ministry of Mordecai Ham, a traveling evangelist, who visited Charlotte for a series of revival meetings.

Ordained in 1939 by Peniel Baptist Church in Palatka, Fla. (a church in the Southern Baptist Convention), Mr. Graham received a solid foundation in the Scriptures at Florida Bible Institute (now Trinity College of Florida). In 1943 he graduated from Wheaton College in Illinois and married fellow student Ruth McCue Bell, daughter of a missionary surgeon, who spent the first 17 years of her life in China.

After graduating from college, Mr. Graham pastored The Village Church of Western Springs (now Western Springs Baptist Church) in Western Springs, Ill., before joining Youth for Christ, an organization founded for ministry to youth and servicemen during World War II. He preached throughout the United States and in Europe in the immediate post war era, emerging as a rising young evangelist.

The Los Angeles Crusade in 1949 launched Mr. Graham into international prominence. Scheduled for three weeks, the meetings were extended to more than eight weeks, with overflow crowds filling a tent erected downtown each night.

Many of his subsequent early Crusades were similarly extended, including one in London that lasted 12 weeks, and a New York City Crusade in Madison Square Garden in 1957 that ran nightly for 16 weeks.

Today, Mr. Graham’s ministry is known around the globe. He preached in remote African villages and in the heart of New York City, and those to whom he ministered have ranged from heads of state to the simple living bushmen of Australia and the wandering tribes of Africa and the Middle East. Beginning in 1977, Mr. Graham was given the opportunity to conduct preaching missions in virtually every country of the former Eastern bloc, including the former Soviet Union.

In 2013, Mr. Graham had the vision for proclaiming the Gospel across the United States and Canada, prompting the implementation of My Hope with Billy Graham, a grassroots evangelism outreach combining personal relationships with the power of modern media. Based upon a pioneering outreach that had already resulted in millions of decisions for Christ around the world since 2002, churches and individual Christians across the two countries were encouraged and equipped to pray and reach out to friends, family and neighbors using a powerful new film from BGEA. Approaching 95 years of age, Mr. Graham recorded a new video message, called “The Cross,” for the project, which was made available for use in homes and churches as a tool for sharing the Gospel.

Mr. Graham founded the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) in 1950, headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., until relocating to Charlotte, N.C., in 2003. Through BGEA’s ministry, Mr. Graham started:

  • the weekly “Hour of Decision” radio program, which was heard around the world for more than 60 years;
  • television programs that are still broadcast today on national Christian networks.
  • a syndicated newspaper column, “My Answer,” which is carried by newspapers both nationally and internationally; and
  • “Decision” magazine, the official publication of the Association, which has a circulation of more than 425,000, making it one of the most widely circulated religious periodicals in the world;

Mr. Graham wrote 33 books, many which became top sellers. His autobiography “Just As I Am,” published in 1997, achieved a “triple crown,” appearing simultaneously on the three top best-seller lists in one week. In it, Mr. Graham reflected on his life, and decades of ministry around the world. From humble beginnings as the son of a dairy farmer in North Carolina, he shared how his unwavering faith in Christ formed and shaped his career.

Mr. Graham’s most recent works included “Where I Am: Heaven, Eternity, and Our Life Beyond” (2015), “The Reason for My Hope: Salvation” (2013), “The Heaven Answer Book” (2012), “Nearing Home: Life, Faith and Finishing Well” (2011) and “Storm Warning” (2010). “Nearing Home” was selected as the 2012 Christian Book of the Year by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. Of his other books, “Approaching Hoofbeats: The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” (1983) was listed for several weeks on The New York Times best seller list; “How to Be Born Again” (1977) had the largest first printing in publishing history at the time with 800,000 copies; “Angels: God’s Secret Agents” (1975) sold one million copies within 90 days; and “The Jesus Generation” (1971) sold 200,000 copies in the first two weeks.

Mr. Graham’s counsel was sought by presidents, and his appeal in both the secular and religious arenas is evidenced by the wide range of groups that have honored him, including numerous honorary doctorates from many institutions in the U.S. and abroad.

Recognitions include the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation Freedom Award (2000) for contributions to the cause of freedom; the Congressional Gold Medal (1996); the Templeton Foundation Prize for Progress in Religion (1982); and the Big Brother Award for his work on behalf of the welfare of children (1966). In 1964 he received the Speaker of the Year Award and was cited by the George Washington Carver Memorial Institute for his contributions to race relations. He was recognized by the Anti-Defamation League of the B’nai B’rith in 1969 and the National Conference of Christians and Jews in 1971 for his efforts to foster a better understanding among all faiths. In December 2001 he was presented with an honorary knighthood, Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE), for his international contribution to civic and religious life over 60 years.

Mr. Graham was listed by the Gallup organization as one of the “Ten Most Admired Men in the World” whom it described as the dominant figure in that poll since 1948—making an unparalleled 61st appearance and 55th consecutive appearance in 2017. He also appeared on the covers of TimeNewsweekLifeU.S. News and World ReportParade and numerous other magazines and was the subject of many newspaper and magazine feature articles and books.

Mr. Graham lost his wife of nearly 64 years, Ruth Bell Graham, in June of 2007. Together they had three daughters, two sons, 19 grandchildren, 44 great-grandchildren and 9 great-great-grandchildren. Mr. Graham lived in their home in the mountains of North Carolina until his death on Feb. 21, 2018.

Watch Billy Graham Classic Sermon - Hanging Loose. “When you come to Christ, sin no longer rules—Christ rules.” Hear Billy Graham explain how committing to Jesus Christ can change your life in this 1979 message from Tampa, Florida.

Christian Motivation - WE DON’T HAVE FOREVER | Life Is Too Short To Waste. The Bible says that your life is like a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. It is important to recognize the brevity of life so that we don’t squander the time we’ve been given. Live this short life with all you’ve got! Speakers: Gary Hamrick, Billy Graham, Dale Bronner, Craig Groeschel, Joby Martin, Tommy Nelson, Joyce Meyer

Watch Phil Robertson, Franklin Graham: A Christian's ROLE in GOD'S PLAN for America. Franklin Graham and Phil Robertson join Kirk Cameron to discuss how to impact our country for Christ - both in our homes and in our communities. They explore the cultural dangers that offer an empty promise of fulfillment and examine how to model Christianity for the next generation.

Watch Billy Graham TV Special: Border Crisis: Is There Hope? Hopelessness runs rampant on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. As the crisis intensifies, hear from individuals on both sides who’ve been deeply affected and be encouraged by how churches are partnering together to bring the much-needed message of the Gospel to those hurting.

Franklin Graham's Prayer For His Grandchildren. Franklin Graham joins Kirk Cameron to discuss America's weakened church, having fallen away from the authority of Scripture and biblical preaching. Learn about the importance of voting Christian leaders into office, and what Graham personally prays for his grandchildren in America's difficult future.

Billy Graham Classic Sermon: How To Save Your Marriage. “The home is the very foundation of our society.” Hear Billy Graham explain the importance of building a marriage on the truth of God’s Word in this 1968 message from San Antonio, Texas.

Billy Graham Classic Sermon: Peace in Our Time. The Bible says in Romans 5:1, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” This New Year’s Day, hear Billy Graham explain how you can be filled with God’s peace through a relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ, in this 1975 message from Lubbock, Texas.

Watch Will Graham: Called to Go. As Christians, we are called to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and equip ourselves with the Word of God as we take the hope that we have to “the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

Hear Will Graham explain this Biblical calling and how God is using evangelistic events to change lives in unreached and isolated communities around the world.

Billy Graham Classic Sermon: Go Tell It From the Mountains. The birth of Christ was “good news of great joy” (Luke 2:10)! As we approach Christmas, join Billy Graham and special guests in snowy Colorado and discover how you can embrace the truth that Jesus came to earth to save you.

Watch Christmas with Will Graham - Joy to the World. During this special season, do you wonder if true joy and lasting peace are even possible? Despite the beautiful decorations and festive parties, are you left feeling empty and searching for more?

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