No one exactly knows how many people Reverend William “Billy” Franklin Graham, Jr., shared the gospel with. However, records from his preaching events and other public records show that he preached the gospel to more people than any other person in history.
Raised by a churchgoing family during the Great Depression, once Rev. Graham decided to follow Christ, his life was dedicated to sharing the gospel with others. He preached in tents and cathedrals. He listened to and spoke with the poor and the rich. He met with world leaders. Billy Graham Crusades were held in the United States, Canada, India, Africa, and other areas of the world. Sharing the message of God’s love and forgiveness was part of his mission.
10 Important Events in Billy Graham’s Life
1. On November 7, 1918, Rev. Graham was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. His father, William Franklin Graham, Sr., was a dairy farmer. His mother was Morrow Coffey Graham.
2. In 1934, at the age of 16, he attended a revival meeting led by Mordecai Fowler Ham and professed his “decision for Christ.”
3. In 1936, he attended Bob Jones College, then a year later, he transferred to Florida Bible Institute (now the New Trinity College). In 1940, he graduated from Florida Bible Institute and became an ordained minister by the Southern Baptist Convention.
4. On August 3, 1943, he married Ruth Bell. Graham said he was in love the moment he met Ruth at Wheaton College.
5. In 1945, the Grahams had their first child, Virginia “Gigi” Graham. They went on to have four more children: Ruth, Anne, Franklin, and Nelson.
6. In 1947, he held the first of his “crusades,” large-scale revival events that could be held indoors or outdoors, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Graham held over 400 crusades during his career, many broadcast on television and radio. He held his last crusade in New York City in 2005.
7. In 1949, he decided to “preach the gospel” to people from all walks of life.
8. In 1953, he felt so strongly about God’s love for everyone that he personally tore down the ropes that separated the white section from the black section at a crusade.
9. In 1996, the Grahams received the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor, the highest award given to civilians by the United States.
10. On February 21, 2018, he died of natural causes at his home in Montreat, North Carolina. He was 99. Prisoners in Louisiana built his casket.
10 Important Quotes by Billy Graham
1. “Christ not only died for all: he died for each.”
2. “The only hope for enduring peace is Jesus Christ.”
3. “We aren’t only called to become Christians; we are called to be Christians.”
4. “The Bible is not an option; it is a necessity. You cannot grow spiritually strong without it.”
5. “Earth’s troubles fade in the light of heaven’s hope.”
6. “God doesn’t comfort us to make us comfortable, but to make us comforters.”
7. “Nothing in our lives takes God by surprise.”
8. “I am convinced that the greatest act of love we can ever perform for people is to tell them about God’s love for them in Christ.”
9. “A suffering person does not need a lecture—he needs a listener.”
10. “No matter how dark and hopeless a situation might seem, never stop praying.”
10 Things You Should Know about Billy Graham
1. For many years, on Saturdays, Rev. Graham met with his own pastor and dear friend, Don Wilton, who pastors First Baptist Church-Spartanburg, in South Carolina.
2. Rev. Graham included popular Christian singers like Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith in his services.
3. He wanted everyone to know that they have the opportunity to “accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior.”
4. He was the fourth private citizen to lie in honor in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda in Washington, DC.
5. Known for his charisma and simple message, he preached that anyone who repented of their sins and accepted Jesus Christ would be saved.
6. Rev. Graham invited Martin Luther King, Jr. to preach at a revival in 1957 in New York City.
7. Rev. Graham was a friend to several presidents, including Dwight Eisenhower and George W. Bush. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association was incorporated in 1950 and worked with political leaders and churches.
8. Rev. Graham was listed as one of the “Ten Most Admired Men” 61 times.
9. One of Rev. Graham’s favorite Scripture verses was “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.’ (John 14:6 NIV) This Scripture is marked on the headstone at his grave.
10. According to records, he was once asked how he hoped to be remembered. His response was “As a person who had integrity, and who was faithful to his calling, and who loved God with all his heart, mind, and soul.”
Interesting Things You Probably Didn’t Know about Billy Graham
Rev. Graham was one of the most public and recorded figures of the twentieth century, and there are very few things he said or did that haven’t been discussed. However, there are things about his life that often get overlooked.
The Childhood
Born in the bedroom of a farmhouse, he was the eldest of the children and raised in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. When he was nine years old, his family moved to a new brick home. Reading was one of his favorite activities. According to historians, he learned to yell like Tarzan, which gave him a great preaching voice.
The Father
In one of his messages, Rev. Graham shares about walking with his young sons and stepping on an anthill. One of the sons noticed some of the ants were wounded, and some had died. Wondering how to respond to the question of helping the ants, he responded, “God looked at us, and we were just little ants crawling around on this little dust out here in space called the ‘earth.’ And God wanted to communicate with us that He loved us, that He was willing to pay a price for us to be saved to spend eternity with Him, and to change our lives here and give direction to us, and bring a joy and a peace and a happiness to our lives.” Rev. Graham wanted to share the love of God with his children.
The Library
When the idea of the Billy Graham Library was first presented to Rev. Graham, he was against having it bear his name. He did not want anything to get in the way of God’s message to the people. He reconsidered when the Library was described to him as a “Crusade” that would continue for many generations. “When it was presented as an ongoing ministry and that people would have the opportunity to be won to Christ, I changed my mind,” he said.
The library centers around themes of “The Man,” “The Message,” “The Ministry,” and “The Mission.” The Library building is styled after a dairy barn. The entrance to the Library is in the shape of a cross.
The Legacy
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association continues today working, sharing the message of God. Through daily devotions, television and radio, the library, the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team, and more, the message of Rev. Billy Graham continues throughout the world.
Today, son Franklin Graham continues to share the gospel message through Samaritan’s Purse, which serves the church worldwide. Samaritan’s Purse shares the love of God in such ways as collecting items for Operation Christmas Child, U.S. Disaster Relief, International Crisis Response and other efforts. Franklin Graham recently visited a field hospital in Ukraine and gave an Easter message calling for prayer and a ceasefire to the war.
Rev. Graham and his wife Ruth are buried beside each other at the foot of the cross-shaped walkway in the Prayer Garden at the Billy Graham Library.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NIV)
Father, thank You for Billy Graham and for giving him the desire to share Your message. Amen.
In His Name,
Melissa Henderson
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Keystone/Stringer
Melissa is the author of Licky the Lizard and Grumpy the Gator. Her passions are helping in the community and church. Melissa is an Elder, Deacon, and Stephen Minister.
Follow Melissa on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and at http://www.melissaghenderson.
This article is part of our People of Christianity catalog that features the stories, meaning, and significance of well-known people from the Bible and history. Here are some of the most popular articles for knowing important figures in Christianity:
How Did the Apostle Paul Die?
Who are the Nicolaitans in Revelation?
Who Was Deborah in the Bible?
Who Was Moses in the Bible?
King Solomon's Story in the Bible
Who Was Lot's Wife in the Bible?
Who Was Jezebel in the Bible?
Who Was the Prodigal Son?
