Today’s Leader of Faith
BILLY GRAHAM
Home Call : 21 Feb 2018
World Evangelist, Winner of Souls, Revivalist, Spiritual Adviser, Founder of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Counsellor, Author
Billy Graham (1918–2018) was a prominent American evangelist known for his powerful preaching and global evangelistic crusades. Over nearly seven decades, he preached to millions across 185 countries, emphasizing salvation through Jesus Christ. His ministry reached people through radio, television, and books, making him one of the most influential Christian leaders of the 20th century. Throughout his ministry, he preached to over 215 million people and it is estimated that around 3.2 million people made a decision to follow Christ through his evangelistic crusades. Additionally, his television, radio, and literature outreach impacted hundreds of millions worldwide, bringing many more to Christ beyond recorded figures. He played multiple influential roles, including preacher, bridge builder, entrepreneur, and America’s Protestant patriarch. Graham also served as a spiritual advisor to multiple U.S. presidents and was committed to racial integration and humanitarian efforts. His legacy continues through the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. He served as a trustee for the International Mission Board and SBC’s Radio and Television Commission. He openly condemned apartheid in 1973 and corresponded with Nelson Mandela during his imprisonment. He was highly honoured throughout his life, receiving numerous awards and recognition for his contributions. He was consistently ranked among the most admired people in the world. He has also received several honorary doctorates and medals.
Graham was raised on a dairy farm near Charlotte, North Carolina. He developed a love for reading and was influenced by evangelist Mordecai Ham, leading to his conversion at 16. After attending Bob Jones College briefly, he transferred to the Florida Bible Institute, where he received his calling to ministry. He was ordained in 1939 and later graduated from Wheaton College in 1943 with a degree in anthropology. He became a pastor and launched a radio program, Songs in the Night, in 1944. In 1948, he and his team established the Modesto Manifesto, a code of ethics for evangelistic work. That same year, at 29, he became the youngest president of North western Bible College, a position he held until 1952. He initially planned to become a military chaplain but instead joined Youth for Christ as a full-time evangelist, traveling extensively in the U.S. and Europe. He spoke at Inter Varsity’s Urbana Student Missions Conference nine times between 1948 and 1987, urging attendees to commit to Christ, often quoting, “No reserves, no retreat, no regrets.” He also led evangelistic meetings at universities, including Minnesota (1950–51), Yale (1957), and North Carolina (1982). In 1955, Cambridge University students invited him to lead a mission.
Graham held his first crusade in 1947 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, at age 28. His 1949 Los Angeles revival, extended to eight weeks, gained national attention, launching him into prominence. In 1953, he declined a $1 million TV contract to continue his live revivals. Major crusades included London (12 weeks in 1954) and New York (16 weeks in 1957). In 1973, he condemned apartheid in South Africa before 100,000 attendees. His 1992 Moscow event saw 155,000 people, with a quarter responding to his call. In 1995, he preached globally via satellite in 116 languages. By his final 2005 crusade in New York, he had conducted 417 crusades in 185 countries. Furthermore, he took part in many conventions held around the world in different places.
In 1950, Billy Graham founded the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) in Minneapolis, later relocating it to Charlotte in 2003. BGEA’s ministries included the “Hour of Decision” radio program (1950–2016), “Decision Magazine”, the syndicated column, “My Answer”, and “Christianity Today” (founded in 1956). It also produced over 130 films through World Wide Pictures and launched “Passageway” for youth discipleship. In 2013, BGEA initiated “My Hope With Billy Graham”, its largest outreach, encouraging Christians to share the gospel in small gatherings. The Cross video, central to this effort, aired during Graham’s 95th birthday week. Additionally, he authored many books including his autobiography, “Just as I am”.
Graham retired due to declining health, having suffered from hydrocephalus since 1992. By 2010, at 91, he had significant vision, hearing, and balance loss but made a rare appearance at the re-dedication of the Billy Graham Library. He passed away on February 21, 2018, at the age of 99, at his home in Montreat, North Carolina, after a battle with cancer and various health complications. His death marked the end of a remarkable ministry that spanned over seven decades. Graham’s passing was widely mourned, with tributes pouring in from around the world, recognizing his legacy as one of the most influential Christian evangelists in history. He was laid to rest at the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina, in a private ceremony, and his funeral was attended by family, friends, and dignitaries.