Billy Graham: A Life of Faith and Influence

Billy Graham was a prominent evangelical figure in the United States whose career spanned nearly six decades. He was an ordained Southern Baptist minister and a civil rights advocate, widely regarded as one of the most influential Christian leaders of the 20th century.

Early Life and Education

Billy Graham was born on November 7, 1918, on a dairy farm outside Charlotte, North Carolina, into a family of Scots-Irish descent. Raised by his parents in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, he attended Sharon Grammar School. Although he grew up in a devout Christian home, he had not made a personal commitment to Christ.

That changed in 1934 when, at the age of 16, he was converted during a series of revival meetings in Charlotte. After graduating from Sharon High School in May 1936, he enrolled at Bob Jones College. In 1937, he transferred to Florida Bible Institute in Temple Terrace, Florida. While still a student, he preached his first sermon at Bostwick Baptist Church near Palatka, Florida.

Ordination and Ministry Beginnings

In 1939, he was ordained by a group of Southern Baptist clergy at Peniel Baptist Church in Palatka, Florida. He graduated in 1940 with a Bachelor of Theology degree and then enrolled at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois.

While at Wheaton, he was invited to preach one Sunday in 1941 at the United Gospel Tabernacle Church. The congregation repeatedly asked him to return, eventually inviting him to become their pastor, a role he accepted.

During his time at Wheaton, he met his future wife, Ruth McCue Bell, the daughter of medical missionaries in China. They married shortly after graduation on August 13, 1943. That same year, he graduated with a degree in Anthropology.

Leadership at Northwestern Bible College

At the age of 29, in 1948, Graham became president of Northwestern Bible College in Minneapolis, making him the youngest president of a college or university in the United States. He held this position for four years before resigning in 1952.

Rise to National and International Prominence

Graham held his first crusade at the age of 28, from September 13 to 21, 1947, at the Civic Auditorium in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where about 6,000 people attended. He gained national attention after a citywide preaching crusade in Los Angeles in 1949. Originally scheduled for three weeks, the event extended to eight weeks due to overwhelming attendance.

Night after night, crowds overflowed a massive tent, later dubbed the "Canvas Cathedral." Major newspapers and magazines covered the event, and Graham quickly became a household name.

In 1954, he held a 12-week crusade in London, earning international recognition. In 1957, he led a 16-week crusade in New York City.

Global Evangelism and Crusades

For decades, he preached in stadiums and sports arenas across the United States, Canada, and around the world, including India, Africa, Australia, South America, the Middle East, and Europe.

His 1977 trip to communist-led Hungary marked a turning point in his ministry, eventually opening doors for him to preach in nearly every country of the former Eastern Bloc, including the Soviet Union, as well as China and North Korea.

Pioneering Media Evangelism

Graham was a pioneer in using modern technology to spread the Gospel, leveraging radio, television, films, and later, the internet. Beginning in 1989, his satellite crusades reached live audiences in more than 185 countries and territories, from remote tribal villages to major world capitals.

His final official crusade took place in New York City in June 2005. Graham preached the Gospel to more people in person than anyone in the history of Christianity.

Personal Life and Family

On June 14, 2007, his wife, Ruth McCue Bell Graham, passed away at the age of 87, after 64 years of marriage.

Recognition and Honors

Graham’s counsel was sought by U.S. presidents and influential leaders worldwide. He appeared on Gallup’s list of the “Ten Most Admired Men in the World” a record 61 times—more than any other person in the poll’s history.

His many honors included:

Presidential Medal of Freedom
Congressional Gold Medal (shared with his wife)
Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion
George Washington Carver Memorial Institute Gold Award
International Brotherhood Award of the National Conference of Christians and Jews
Franciscan International Award
More than two dozen honorary degrees

In 2001, Queen Elizabeth II made him an Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire. On April 10, 2013, North Carolina’s General Assembly unanimously named him the state’s "Favorite Son."

Final Years and Legacy

Billy Graham passed away from natural causes on February 21, 2018, at his home in Montreat, North Carolina, at the age of 99. On February 28 and March 1, 2018, he became only the fourth private citizen in U.S. history to lie in honor at the United States Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C.

He was the first religious leader to receive this honor. During the ceremony, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan called Graham "America's Pastor." President Donald Trump described him as "an ambassador for Christ."

A private funeral was held on March 2, 2018. Graham was laid to rest beside his wife at the foot of a cross-shaped brick walkway in the Prayer Garden at the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Billy Graham’s impact on Christianity, evangelism, and global outreach remains unparalleled. His dedication to spreading the Gospel, his influence on world leaders, and his commitment to using media to reach millions made him a defining figure in modern Christian history.

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