As I mentioned a few days ago, today is “Daddy Bill’s” birthday. He was born on November 7, 1918 on a dairy farm in Charlotte, North Carolina. No one (especially him) would have ever imagined the remarkable ways in which he would go on to be used by God. I am so proud of him and so thankful that God has given me such a tremendous heritage—one I have neither asked for nor deserved. Today we celebrate his life and the way he has spent it. He has preached the gospel of Jesus Christ to more people than anyone in history and I have the pirivlege of calling him “Daddy Bill.”
I asked you a few days ago (click here) to write a note of gratitude to my granddad for his birthday and then I would pass them along to him. I’m putting them all together now, but I wanted to share a few of those notes that people from all over the world wrote (it’s not too late to add a note of your own if you haven’t already–just click here).
From Doug:
First of all, years before I came to faith in Christ, it was Dr. Graham’s preaching via his televised ‘crusades’ that planted the seeds for me in terms of coming to know that I was lost and needed a Savior.
Then as the Spirit drew me to faith, it was his book, “Peace with God,” that helped me to understand how to respond to the Gospel in repentance and faith, and what it meant to follow Christ as a new believer.
Also, his own powerful preaching was an early lesson to me about the centrality and efficacy of preaching God’s Word — a lesson that has stayed with me in my own pastoral ministry.
One other thing: your grandfather’s integrity, authenticity and faithfulness (along with that of your grandmother) has always been a heartening example to me. And when there were times that non-believers would point to the failures and hypocrisies of other ‘televangelists’ in order to cast reproach on the Gospel, I could always gently remind them of Billy Graham.
And so I’m sure there are so many, many others who are like me when I say that, when it comes to your grandfather, I thank God every time I think of him.
From another Doug:
On February 14th, 1970 I went into my public school science class where a discussion of evolution ensued. The teacher told us that he was required to present evolution but if we wanted to know what he believed he would talk to us after class. When I arrived at his desk afterward he just handed me a tract entitled, “How to Find Peace with God” by Billy Graham. I put the tract in my science book and took it home. Late that night, out of curiosity I read the tract and was converted. I had never heard the Gospel before and I was both amazed at God’s love and convicted of my sin. A few years later I was called into ministry and have served as a pastor for over 25 years. Thank you Billy for sharing the Gospel through that little tract.
From Stefan:
Tullian, in many ways, your grandfather is an inspiration for me and others. His gospel messages and articles make a break through even in a small county like Bulgaria, which is often not recognized by people and hard to find on the map. I remember in 1988-89 as a young Christian, in the dark years of communism, that Christians couldn’t freely share their beliefs, have a Bible, and go to church. One Sunday night I was sitting in my room with my family and watching the most watched program in the country called “Every Sunday” aired by journalist Keviork Kevorkian. It was the only program that had 5 min. world news. That night for the very first time ever(during over 40 years of communism) a Billy Graham crusade was aired on TV for less then 10 min. It was shocking, my heart was beating hard, I was having tears of happiness–it was like breathing freely for the first time. From that time on, his gospel messages were aired every Sunday and printed in the weekly magazine. The communist government couldn’t stop it. Many Christians felt and knew that freedom from communism was near. His messages encouraged me to fearlessly share the gospel with many, and with passion, despite the many warnings that I received from the communist government.
From Greg:
I was just a little too young to have heard your grandfather speak the last time he came to Glasgow in Scotland. But people here still know the name Billy Graham, and whenever those crusades are mentioned, it’s the most natural thing to move on and talk about the gospel: because that was Billy’s main agenda. “Billy Graham? Yeah, sure I know of him! He explained the gospel to people. Do you know what that means?”
My city is still a struggling place, filled with burdened, angry people, lost in the hollowness of sin. But there are still torches burning that have not been put out. Many of those were sparked or re-ignited by Billy Graham, and when we think of his example we remember how powerful the gospel can be when only we boldly proclaim it.
The devil wants the gospel off-camera, but thank God for people like Billy who understood that it had to stay front-and-centre. Please thank Daddy Bill for his example in keeping the main thing, the Main Thing.
Happy Birthday!
From Elizabeth:
God became part of my life at a very young age – I was probably 8 when I accepted him into my heart during a summer Bible school class at my best friend’s house. But through the years, I began to rebel against God, making decisions that pulled me away from Him and living unhappily with my consequences. Many years later, in the last year of my doctoral program, I had hit the wall: My second marriage was falling apart, my middle daughter was following her own path of rebellion, my health was failing, my life seemed meaningless and I was filled with despair. Nothing was enough; nothing filled that emptiness in my heart. I tearfully got down on my knees and told the Lord I couldn’t do it on my own, that I had made a mess of my life, and that I needed him to be my sovereign Lord in my heart and in my life. On that day, I handed over my will and my life to our heavenly Father and began living my life in alignment with His will. I immediately drove to a Christian bookstore, as I wanted to start reading the Bible again and didn’t have one in the house. To my surprise, I was overwhelmed by all of the choices before me. I had no idea what to do. I whispered a small prayer, asking for God’s guidance on this very important first step. And as God is so good, he gave me an answer: I immediately remembered reading a book about angels that Mr. Graham had written when I was a teenager. Unfortunately, the store did not carry that book. I did buy a Bible and the book “Peace with God.” From that day forward, my life has been transformed. It has not been perfect yet God continues to help me grow in my faithfulness to Him through good times and bad. I thank the Lord for Mr. Graham and his decision to follow Christ wherever it took him. I also thank God for the example of Ruth Bell Graham’s life to those of us looking for an example of what a Christian wife and mother could be. And I continue to thank God for the next generation of Grahams that chose to walk by faith, living out their missions as they press on toward victory, encouraging, leading, and setting Godly examples for the world to witness. Thank you Billy Graham for your faithfulness. This generation has been blessed by it. Happy Birthday, Mr. Graham and may God continue to bless you!
From Mark:
In 1972, as a new Christian, I listened to Billy’s message from EXPLO 72. He talked about taking up our cross and following Jesus and challenged us all to do so. I was seeing this on television in my home in Pittsburgh. I was so moved by the Spirit that I went up to my bedroom where I prayed and read Scripture for hours. I committed myself to follow Christ and tell others about Jesus. The next day I shared the Gospel for the first time. A month later I arrived at college and began to let others know about Christ. Within a few months I had a call to ministry. Today I am 28 years into pastoral ministry. God used Billy as a catalyst for this life and calling.
From Sean:
I have had the privilege of meeting your grandfather several times during his visits to Jacksonville, FL. It was always amazing to be in his precence – his love for God, his faithfulness, his compassion for others, his sincerity and his humility is incredible. You truly have the sense that you are speaking to someone that has been Blessed by God – truly for God’s purposes and for God’s Glory! God’s soveriegn hand on your grandfather’s life has spoken volumes to my heart, my family (my grandfather accepted Christ watching a Billy Graham crusade) and my own faith in Christ. Thanking for sharing your grandfather with us – and Tullian I pray that God continues to Bless your life, church and ministry for His Honor and His Glory forever and forever.
God Bless! Happy Birthday – DR. Graham!
From Owen:
I am profoundly thankful for the ministry of evangelism carried out by your grandfather through the last sixty years. No man is perfect, but Billy Graham has modeled faithfulness to the evangelistic call that so many of struggle to heed. On a personal level, his example inspires me to try to push past fear and share the gospel with unbelievers. In a very practical way, his example has spurred me on to think of myself not as a weak and wimpy believer besieged by forces of darkness that prevent a powerful witness, but as a Spirit-empowered Christian who serves Christ the King and possesses all that I could ever need to be faithful and fruitful for the Lord.
Billy Graham has evoked strong emotions from different corners of evangelicalism. One need not think that he chose rightly every time to give thanks to Almighty God for his ministry. So many of us who prize right theology do far, far less than your grandfather to image Christ to a fallen world. History will remember his gospel preaching, sinners will enter heaven because of the Lord’s work through his ministry, and one day soon, the Lord will bring him to his rest.
From Polly:
I came to know Christ as my Savior and Lord when I was 16 years old as a result of listening to Billy Graham at a crusade that was broadcast on TV. I am now 54 years old, married to a wonderful Christian man and the mother of two sons, ages 23 and 18 who both love Christ. God used your grandfather in my life in my coming to know Christ and indirectly in my two sons coming to know Christ. There are not enough words to express my gratefulness to the Lord and to Billy Graham as His Instrument. Happy Birthday Billy Graham. Next to my Dad, you are one of my heroes!
I want to thank all of you who wrote in wishing my granddad a happy birthday. I know he will be mightily encouraged when he reads your notes.
