Following my mother’s passing in June, I have been sorting through my parents’ files. A year and a half ago when my Dad died, we rediscovered his files. Among them was a folder labeled “Graham Billy Photo,” containing three personal letters from Billy Graham to my Dad, another letter from Ruth Graham written on behalf of her husband, and a signed photograph. All the letters are quite short but they are very warm, addressing my Dad as “my dear friend” and encouraging and complimenting my Dad’s journalistic work. Ruth Graham’s letter is equally warm and expresses “warmest regards to Pat” (my mother). Part of the background of this relationship is that Billy Graham helped to found the magazine Christianity Today, where my Dad worked for the first half of his reporting and writing career. As a reporter of national, world and religious news, my father covered Graham evangelistic crusades in the US and around the world. Dad knew Rev. Graham and his team through these connections.
I find it neat that there is such a record of their friendship. I am sure they had occasional phone calls, but the written record is special. I wonder if in today’s time, such communication might be through texts, which will not be saved for posterity. It is also important to note that although Billy Graham was a very well-known name at the time, he was regular man who responded to God’s special call on his life. God used him in a mighty way to bring the Gospel (Good News of Jesus) to hundreds of thousands of people throughout the world. Graham was not different or more holy than any of us. He is not a Saint, except in the way that all of us who follow Christ are saints of God*. I believe Graham’s crusade method of proclaiming the Gospel was effective and was used of God for that time and in those places. God uses many means to draw the lost, “sinners” as Graham boldly preached, to Himself.
With the approval of my family, I have donated Dad’s original Billy Graham letters to the Graham archives in Charlotte, NC, keeping a digital record for us. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) very graciously welcomed these papers and have been kind and professional regarding the donation to the collection. The BGEA continues its Gospel mission with many ministries, outreaches, and resources. They are currently finishing a series of outreaches, one in each state of the original thirteen colonies, called Declaration of Dependence, for our nation’s 250th year. The tour takes place in Wilmington, North Carolina on Monday, October 26. I plan to support and attend the event, continuing my parent’s legacy of sharing Gospel efforts through the BGEA.
*Christians are called saints in 1 Corinthians 14 v 33 and Ephesians 2 v 19. The Apostle Paul often addressed church members as “saints” in his letters to churches such as in Romans 1 v 7, Philippians 1 v 1, and 1 Corinthians 1 v 2.
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Part 1 – The 99 – A True Story
Several months ago, an evangelistic rally took place in the Gulf States. Will Graham, the featured speaker and grandson of Billy Graham, retold* how the ministry team prepared in the week leading up to the event. On location, they were pulling together the details and doing final set up. A couple of times, the team finished the day by eating dinner together at a Denny’s restaurant. A waitress named Stephanie served them, and the team invited her to attend the rally. She said she had weekend plans but might be able to come to one of the evenings.
The first night of the festival took place. Graham and his team met afterward. It turned out that ninety-nine attendees made spiritual decisions. This was wonderful news, but as Graham told it, he was immediately struck by the thought that one was missing! Where was the 100th person, as the parable of the lost sheep goes in Luke 15? It came to him that Stephanie, the waitress at Denny’s, was number one hundred. He began to pray for her.
The final night of the faith festival, the event staff were in place, setting up. They were taking promotional photos to post, and as one of the team screened the pictures to post, she recognized Stephanie in the arriving crowd: she had made it to the event! Later, while listening to the message, Stephanie was moved to respond to Jesus.
What joyous news and answered prayer for Will Graham and the team. Catching a bite to eat late that night with the event team, Will prayed a quick blessing over the food and rally. He also asked the Lord to show Stephanie His plan for her. Stephanie, meanwhile, texted someone else on the team. She said, ‘I finally know for sure that God has a purpose for me.’ God is at work. He finds His lost sheep and brings them into HIs fold. He is our Good Shepherd (John 10 v 11).
Photo contributed by Andrea Stockel
*My husband and I heard Will Graham tell this story at BGEA’s The Cove retreat center in Asheville, NC this past summer.