Deb and I visited the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, N.C. last week. What an incredible experience! I was so taken by the quality of the facilities and the moving presentation of Billy’s life. Tears popped up immediately as we watched the early years of Billy’s conversion and call. Then came the Los Angeles Crusade of 1949 and soon after the world would hear the Gospel through this farm boy who grew up on a dairy farm. From those moments, we walked through the journey of the man who has preached to more people than anyone in the history of the Christian faith.
The library is not a museum but a mission to share Christ and the Good News. Walking through the library I thought about the first time I heard Billy. I was an 8-year-old boy living in a small town in Arkansas. My parents and I went to Little Rock to the 1959 Crusade. My parents went forward that day during the invitation to rededicate their lives and marriage to Christ. It was a powerful moment for me and I can still hear the refrain of Just As I Am reverberating through War Memorial Stadium.
I have always lov
ed Billy Graham. We are not related except in Christ, but he has always been a part of my life. I love him as a brother in Christ and a model of the faith.
One day Billy will be buried beside his beloved wife, Ruth, in a beautiful spot shaded by the trees at the library property. As Deb and I stood there, we held hands and I thanked God for Billy and Ruth and their influence on millions—upon us. I left the library different than when I walked in. Humbled. Grateful. Energized to proclaim Christ.
Do yourself a huge favor and visit the Billy Graham Library as soon as you can. You will be forever glad you did.
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1 comment:
Hi Pastor Jack,
I love your message here about Billy Graham's libary. I watched his daughter Ann's interview on TV last night with Mike Huckabee. I think her new book sounds like a good read. But the purpose of my comment here is to let you know that my own Dad went forward at War Memorial Stadium when Billy Graham was there back in 1987. He talked about that night many times after. It's cool to me that you have a very similar story that happened in the same place but at a different moment in time. I loved my Dad so much and was comforted to know that he went to be with his heavenly father on July 17, 2008; just about 3 weeks after he and my mom celebrated 50 years together. I would love to visit the library one of these days.
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