10 MORE THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT BILLY GRAHAM

10 MORE THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT BILLY GRAHAM

Once preached for more than 100 nights straight In 1957, at Madison Square Garden in New York, every night for 16 consecutive weeks

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    1. Billy Graham’s father carrying his children

      Once preached for more than 100 nights straight
      In 1957, at Madison Square Garden in New York, every night for 16 consecutive weeks, Graham preached the gospel.

    2. He became Billy to mark his conversion
      Immediately he gave his life to Christ, he faced tremendous discouragements from friends who teased him. He even changed his name from Franklin to Billy to mark his conversion, which heightened the mockeries from friends. But he was unperturbed. Also, calling him ‘Preacher Boy’ everywhere had him unruffled. Since he gave his life to Christ, he did not look back. Rather, God encouraged him when two other mates also gave their lives to Christ, thereby finding other iron by which they sharpen themselves.
    3. Helped George W. Bush quit drinking
      Former American President George W. Bush, in his 2010 book Decision Points, said the first time he met Graham in his father’s home in Maine in 1985, he was actually drunk. The following day, he had an audience with Graham who subsequently sent him a Bible and engaged him in discussion which saw him quit drinking gradually.
    4. More than a million people came to see him on one day
      In Seoul, South Korea, June 3, 1973, an estimated 1.1 million people attended the final day of a five-day crusade in Seoul, South Korea — the largest single turnout for a Billy Graham rally. More than 3.2 million attended the entire crusade, the largest gathering he’s ever had.
    5. His Mother’s Godly Influence
      Billy Graham had a godly mother who made it her duty to force the children to Church every Sunday. And whenever they couldn’t attend, she would gather them and read Bible stories which fascinated the children. More than their father, the mother contributed to their spiritual growth and strength.
      The mother assigned a Bible verse to the children every day which they learn by heart as they go to and fro their schools.
      Think of the uncountable souls saved because of this godly mum’s inspiration in the life of her children. If you’re a mum, set a good example by giving your children a good example.
    6. He became Responsible so early
      The oldest of three children, the bulk of the family chores landed on him. He woke as early as 2: am to milk about 20 cows and clear the manure daily. These he did till breakfast period in the morning. These, he said, made it tiring for him that he could barely keep his eyes open in school but for the baseball game during the lunch breaks that revived him for the afternoon’s classes.
    7. A faithful wife raised the children
      In his autobiography, Just As I Am, Graham paid tributes to his wife for her sacrifices in keeping the homestead, especially, raising the children almost all alone while he was busy winning souls for Christ.
      Most men would have loved to be around when their wives were having their first baby, but Graham missed it when their first daughter, Virginia, known as Gigi, arrived in 1945 because he was away preaching.
      “What I missed!” he wrote. “And what Ruth missed by not having me to help her. Whenever I did get home, I got a crash course in the agony and ecstasy of parenting. If Ruth had not been convinced that God had called her to fulfill that side of our partnership and had not resorted constantly to God’s Word for instruction and to His grace for strength, I don’t see how she could have survived.”
    8. Refused to participate in the 1963 March on Washington
      Billy Graham, who had refused to participate in the 1963 March on Washington, dismissed King’s belief that protests could create a “Beloved Community” in America where even “down in Alabama little black boys and little black girls will join hands with little white boys and white girls.” “Only when Christ comes again will the little white children of Alabama walk hand in hand with little black children,” he was perhaps wrong. The non-violent protests led by martin Luther King Jnr achieved desegregation of United States.
    9. Did not start a church
      Billy Graham was not tempted to start a church to get tithes and offerings. He said God met his needs with good partners. This is might not be the case with the current generation of Christian who see starting a Church as the only way to answer the call to ministry.

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