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I grew up attending Calvary Baptist Church in Bellflower, California, until my folks moved to the Inland Empire upon my approach to my teenage years. When we landed in Corona, my parents found Harvest Christian Fellowship, Greg Laurie's church, in Riverside. In both churches, and throughout my life, Billy Graham was an important influence. Some people called him "America's pastor". He was an evangelist like no other, and I would likely be safe in saying that in addition to people like Jerry Falwell and Chuck Smith (Calvary Chapel), Billy Graham has been the most influential voice of Christianity over the last century.
People talk about "Evangelicals," as if that is a Christian denomination. Evangelicals are Christians who do not belong to a denomination. It's the independents, the churches and Christians who are not fond of organized religion in the sense of what it has become through mega religiosity, and ritualistic hierarchies. Evangelicals are the Bible believing Christians who follow original text and basic biblical teachings. They are the children who grew up listening to Pastor Billy Graham.
Rev. Billy Graham died today at the age of 99. He was a reluctant leader who gave all of the Glory to God. He remembered his roots . . . the young man of 16 years who found Christ at a tent revival. With the message of Jesus' Love he became a warrior for Christ who ultimately became an internationally recognized figure.
Graham died at his home in Montreat, North Carolina. It's a mountainous rural setting. God's country. A fitting place for Graham to say his final farewell to the land of the living.
He retired in 2005 after a lifetime of carrying Christ's message at churches, crusades, and on the road to events and before congregations. He traveled nationwide, and worldwide. He carried Bibles to those who didn't have them, and took the message of Christ to those who had never heard it. He was a counselor to a number of Presidents, and a voice in the darkness to a number of foreign countries.
Graham was down-to-earth, genuine, and a charismatic phenomenon who spread the Gospel for no reason other than because he believed God had called him to do exactly that. He impacted lives, and made the message of Jesus Christ newsworthy.
A man of God, Graham was never haunted by scandals. He never created a megachurch. He never set up massive humanitarian projects. He never ran for political office. He simply preached God's Word.
Graham emphasized the joy that could be found in the belief in Jesus. If he did take a political stance on something, the stance was based on biblical principles. He was humorous and effective. He reached out through radio and television, and visited thousands of churhes.
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association he founded, now led by his son, Franklin, used every communications innovation possible to carry the Gospel to any willing heart on Earth. More than 214 million people in 195 cities and territories heard God's call in Graham's voice and witnessed him deliver the Gospel in person or by satellite links. His projects included founding Christianity Today magazine in 1956 and writing more than 30 books.
In 1996, Graham and his Wife, Ruth, received The Congressional Gold Medal. The Presidential Medal of Freedom was awarded to him in 1983. He was given the Templeton Foundation Prize for Progress in Religion in 1982. He even has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
As Graham got older, health became an issue. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1989. He battled broken bones, bouts of hydrocephalus and rounds of pneumonia on occasion.
He struggled, but still managed to give his sermons, though they were shorter . . . about 20-minutes at the end.
Graham's last crusade was in June 2005 in New York City. It drew 242,000 people to Flushing Meadows; 8,786 made a new commitment to Christ and thousands more renewed or rejoiced in their faith.
During retirement he continued to study the Bible, have devotions with his wife, and watch with her an endless recycling of the movie musicals she loved to watch. She became bedridden, and passed away in 2007. At her funeral in June 2007, Graham called Ruth the finest Christian he ever knew.
While his son, Franklin, continues to spread the message of God's Love, he has been accused of not being as unifying as his father.
Nonetheless, the reality is, Billy is finally with Our Lord; and surely the message to him now from the Throne of Heaven is, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful...enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." (Matthew 25:21)
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
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