In
1934, 15-year old Billy Frank time attended a tent
revival in Charlotte, North Carolina. On the last verse of “Almost Persuaded,
Now to Believe,” he committed his life to Christ.
After graduating from Wheaton College and the Florida Bible Institute 30-year old Graham and his supporters erected a tent in Los Angeles. The little-known evangelist his right arm punching the air, his Southern drawl radiating warmth, his Bible open in front of him inspired the crowd with his fervor.
Newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst, told his editors to “puff Graham.” The crowds swelled. Following those weeks in Los Angeles his organization forged an unmatched, world-wide crusade.
Billy Graham established a personal reputation built on integrity. He set standards to avoid any suggestion of scandal. Among them: Graham never traveled, or met or ate alone with a woman other than his wife.
In his lifetime Graham preached to an estimated 215 million people in 185 countries and territories. He was the advisor to eight presidents; counseled numerous celebrities, athletes and world leaders and yet he remained humble…. And he never forgot the common man—the lonely, the misbegotten, the downcast.
Ken Garfield contributing editor of the Charlotte Magazine, told of receiving a letter. Garfield had just written a personal column about the loneliness and melancholy he was feeling at the time. A letter in response came from Billy Graham who wrote that he just wanted to comfort him. “It is interesting,” Graham wrote, “how even in the midst of activity, in a crowd of people, or watching an interesting movie—we can have a sudden sense of loneliness. I have always felt that this is actually a loneliness that only God can fill. There are so many things in our Christian faith that I do not pretend to understand, nor do I have quick top-of-the-head answers for."
Garfield went on to write: “Graham’s genuine concern for his fellow man allowed him to become a servant of God. The letter encouraged me to fill my lonely void with God—a simple message anyone could understand. The humble simplicity Graham demonstrated defined who he was. Counsel delivered gently and a confession of uncertainty set him apart from the blow-dried religious celebrities who even today try to woo us with pat answers and their handouts.”
After graduating from Wheaton College and the Florida Bible Institute 30-year old Graham and his supporters erected a tent in Los Angeles. The little-known evangelist his right arm punching the air, his Southern drawl radiating warmth, his Bible open in front of him inspired the crowd with his fervor.
Newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst, told his editors to “puff Graham.” The crowds swelled. Following those weeks in Los Angeles his organization forged an unmatched, world-wide crusade.
Billy Graham established a personal reputation built on integrity. He set standards to avoid any suggestion of scandal. Among them: Graham never traveled, or met or ate alone with a woman other than his wife.
In his lifetime Graham preached to an estimated 215 million people in 185 countries and territories. He was the advisor to eight presidents; counseled numerous celebrities, athletes and world leaders and yet he remained humble…. And he never forgot the common man—the lonely, the misbegotten, the downcast.
Ken Garfield contributing editor of the Charlotte Magazine, told of receiving a letter. Garfield had just written a personal column about the loneliness and melancholy he was feeling at the time. A letter in response came from Billy Graham who wrote that he just wanted to comfort him. “It is interesting,” Graham wrote, “how even in the midst of activity, in a crowd of people, or watching an interesting movie—we can have a sudden sense of loneliness. I have always felt that this is actually a loneliness that only God can fill. There are so many things in our Christian faith that I do not pretend to understand, nor do I have quick top-of-the-head answers for."
Garfield went on to write: “Graham’s genuine concern for his fellow man allowed him to become a servant of God. The letter encouraged me to fill my lonely void with God—a simple message anyone could understand. The humble simplicity Graham demonstrated defined who he was. Counsel delivered gently and a confession of uncertainty set him apart from the blow-dried religious celebrities who even today try to woo us with pat answers and their handouts.”
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