Billy Graham, whose full name is William Franklin Graham Jr., was born on November 7, 1918, in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, and he passed away on February 21, 2018. Here is a concise summary of his life:
Early Life:
- Graham was raised on a dairy farm in Charlotte, North Carolina, during a time of economic hardship in the United States.
- He made a personal commitment to Christ in 1934 during a revival meeting led by evangelist Mordecai Ham.
Education:
- After his conversion, he attended Bob Jones College (now Bob Jones University) but found it too conservative and transferred to the Florida Bible Institute (now Trinity College of Florida).
- He was ordained by a church in the Southern Baptist Convention in 1939.
- After graduating from the Florida Bible Institute, he attended Wheaton College in Illinois, where he earned a degree in anthropology in 1943.
Marriage and Family:
- While at Wheaton, he met Ruth McCue Bell, the daughter of a missionary surgeon, whom he married in 1943.
- Billy and Ruth Graham had five children: Virginia, Anne, Ruth, Franklin, and Nelson.
- Ruth Graham passed away in June 2007.
Ministry:
- Graham started his ministry by serving as a pastor in Western Springs, Illinois.
- He gained national prominence in 1949 following a series of successful revivals in Los Angeles.
- In 1950, he founded the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA).
- Graham conducted evangelistic crusades around the world, preaching to millions in over 185 countries until his last crusade in 2005.
- He was known for his simple, clear, and uncompromising presentation of the Gospel message, and he invited his listeners to commit their lives to Jesus Christ.
Impact and Legacy:
- He provided spiritual counsel to several U.S. Presidents, from Dwight D. Eisenhower to Barack Obama.
- He played a crucial role in the civil rights movement, promoting racial equality and integration.
- He authored numerous books, articulating his thoughts on faith, life, and the Gospel.
- His son, Franklin Graham, has continued his evangelistic work through the BGEA, maintaining his father’s approach to evangelism and humanitarian work.
- Billy Graham’s ministry has had a profound impact on Christianity, contributing significantly to the spread of evangelicalism globally.
Death:
- Billy Graham passed away at the age of 99 on February 21, 2018, in Montreat, North Carolina. He was laid to rest beside his wife, Ruth, at the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Honors:
- Graham received numerous awards and honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in recognition of his contributions to religion and society.
This provides a brief overview of Billy Graham’s life, highlighting key aspects of his background, family, ministry, and impact.