Posted on 11/07/2008 10:29:00 AM PST by lewisglad
On this day 90 years ago, a son was born to a dairy farmer just outside of Charlotte.
About 74 years ago that boy gave his life to Jesus Christ.
Billy Graham has been preaching the Gospel ever since.
Evangelist Billy Graham spent more than six decades talking about salvation and influencing people across the globe.
"The difference that he has made in the lives of people in general and in individuals has been astounding," said Fraley Memorial Baptist Church Pastor Warner Doles. "His influence, his character has affected this country probably in a way that no single individual has done."
That includes presidents, Doles said.
"He is so real and so genuine," Doles said. "He just exudes the presence of God."
Doles was 6-years-old when he went to a Billy Graham crusade in Birmingham, Ala., with more than 80,000 people attending.
"The place pulsated with excitement," Doles said.
Doles said he thinks every preacher emulates the model that Billy Graham used to some extent. Graham's preaching style tries to attract people to Christ rather than herding them, offering the grace of God in a non-threatening way, he said.
"I think Billy Graham once made the comment, ‘The world is yet to see what God can do with someone who is completely given to God' and I think Billy Graham has come the closest to that than anybody I can think of."
Books written by Billy Graham line Larry McElreath's bookshelves.
"Through his life and his ministry, his preaching, he's just had a tremendous impact, said McElreath, executive director of the Great Gaston Baptist Association. "I remember hearing him for the first time at Carter Finley Stadium in Raleigh. I've always liked his preaching because it was straightforward. It was simple."
Graham's life has been an inspiration to many ministers, McElreath said.
"My middle son who is in Indiana studying for the ministry is named Graham," said First Wesleyan Church Pastor Tim Smith. "We named him after Billy Graham."
Smith and his wife were living in Charlotte at the time, liked the name Graham and thought it would be a nice tribute to the evangelical speaker who touched so many lives.
"I think he's somebody that evangelists have always been able to be proud of. There's never been any hint of scandal in his ministry," Smith said. "I think he has a reputation for kind of a humble spirit."
Smith attended a crusade at Cricket Arena in Charlotte in 1956 but didn't remember much besides it being the first time he'd ever seen that many people at a religious event. He worked as an altar counselor at the last Graham crusade in Charlotte.
"I never expected to live this long, and it is hard to believe I have reached the age of 90," said Graham in a Billy Graham Evangelistic Association press release. "Every day is a gift from God, no matter how old we are. I have discovered that just because we grow weaker physically as we age, it doesn't mean that we must grow weaker spiritually. In fact, we ought to be growing stronger spiritually because our eyes ought to be on eternity and heaven - on the things that really matter."
Graham will celebrate his 90th birthday Friday, Nov. 7, with a private family dinner near his mountainside home outside of Asheville, according to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
"We have to accept the fact that when God calls him home, a great giant has passed," Doles said.
You can reach Amanda Millard at 704-869-1839.
For the past few months the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association - the worldwide ministry that Billy Graham started in 1950 - has encouraged individuals around the world to send Billy Graham a birthday greeting or a story of how his ministry influenced their lives.
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has received tens of thousands of these messages online and through the mail. They are being collected to share with him as part of his birthday celebration. You can send birthday greetings to Billy Graham by going to billygraham90.com.
He has his strengths, but he had his weakness too: swooming over Bill Clinton “and the ladies” and claiming there was no repression that he had seen in the old Soviet Union.
A Tribute to Billy Graham at 90 [today is Billy Graham's birthday]
Son: Billy Graham's work with presidents is ending
Back when we only had 2 TV Channels, Dad would watch Biily Graham crusades. Typical young one who was so full of himself absolutely hated being in the same room. Fast forward 30 years and I wish he preached every night. Thanks Rev Graham
“He just exudes the presence of God.”
Enough said.
No one has worked harder and been a more passionate servant of the Lord than this man.
I never watched Billy Graham, but...
Happy Birthday Billy! (and many more to come)
I was part of a crowd of over 100,000 gathered to hear him preach at Soldier Field in Chicago, circa 1960. I joined the thousands that came forward. Quite an experience.
I was touched by his words at the “Swearing Out” of the President when Nixon resigned.
That would come under “precious memories”, used to watch the crusades with my mother. Even then I recognized the crusades as good solid gospel, as opposed to that other fellow that used to shout HEAL, HEAL, (think he may have a university now).
You’re a good and brave man. Please stay well, we need you more than ever now.
BTW, I heard a tribute to Rev. Graham on the radio by George Beverly Shea, his crusade soloist.
He is still alive at 99.
Sorry, but it’s meant nothing to me.
Billy Graham is a liberal religious democrat.
I have often wondered if he voted for his fellow Baptist Jesse Helms or for the liberals who hammered at Helms.
I do not ever remember any photo ops with Jesse Helms but who knows what he did behind the curtain. I know what I know about him from growing up with relatives who see him 'god' like and they are democrats.... Then I get a reintroduction to his followers and they too are democrats first. ALLL are Bush haters which is interesting to observed in this Do You Love Jesus diatribe.
It has been an interesting life to hear the Baptist family side trash the Catholics and then to hear the Catholic family side trash everybody who is not Catholics but alllll of them have been in agreement that Jesus preached 'social justice'. And alllll salivate at the idea of somebody else getting their just desserts!!!
Sorry, but Billy dropped the torch about thirty years ago.
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