Throughout decades of ministry, God used Billy Graham to touch countless lives around the world, sharing the hope of the Gospel and inviting people to place their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
On what would have been his 108th birthday (Nov. 7), we invite you to reflect on Billy Graham’s enduring legacy through the heartfelt words of those who knew him personally.
“After attending the Pittsburgh School of Evangelism, a student said, ‘I went to Philadelphia to meet a great man [Billy Graham], and I came home with no other desire than to serve the Gospel of a great Savior.’” —Ross Busby, BGEA photographer
“I’m sure Billy could use words that I wouldn’t understand if he wanted to. But if I couldn’t understand them, then 90% of the public wouldn’t either. So he has been very clear, very plain and very simple in his ministry. He has brought people to the Lord that I sincerely believe would never have come to the Lord had he tried to show his education and his intellectual ability.” —Melvin Thomas Graham, Billy Graham’s brother
“I remember in New York at the crusade in 1957 he wanted to change the name from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) to American Evangelistic Association or some comparable title. He wanted to remove his name from it. He was outvoted unanimously by everybody on the team and on the board of directors. I think that was an indication of how the people felt who worked with him, also an indication of how he felt. He is still extremely sensitive to the wide publicity and he wishes that it could be avoided.” —Robert O. Ferm, BGEA team member
“I’ve noticed in my own life … Billy’s ability to sense people … He’s a great student of human nature. He is intuitive and I can remember two or three times when he has almost read my mind and heart.” —Leighton Ford, BGEA associate evangelist and Billy Graham’s brother-in-law
“Billy has a heart ministry that reaches the uneducated and he has an intellectual ministry that reaches the educated. And Billy has never slammed anybody … or carried on a campaign publicly against his critics. … He told me very frankly when I was talking to him one day that he would never answer his critics. He would never try to strike back at them. They had a right to criticize if they wanted to and his job was to preach the Gospel and he was going to stay at his job. … And he has never turned back. So I admire him very, very highly on account of the way he has stuck to the work to which God has called him.” —Oswald J. Smith, Founder of The People’s Church, Toronto; active in Billy Graham’s ministry
Billy Graham devoted his life to sharing the hope of the Gospel and encouraging others to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ. Today, his legacy continues through the ministry of The Cove where guests can rest, renew their faith and draw closer to God. Explore upcoming seminars and retreats at The Cove be refreshed in God’s Word.