Who was Billy Graham? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: William Franklin Graham Jr.

Died At Age: 99

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Ruth Graham (m. 1943–2007)

father: Morrow Franklin

mother: William Franklin

siblings: Katherine

children: Anne Graham Lotz, Franklin Graham, Gigi Graham, Ned Graham, Ruth Graham

Born Country: United States

Spiritual & Religious Leaders American Men

Died on: February 21, 2018

place of death: Montreat, North Carolina, United States

U.S. State: North Carolina

Cause of Death: Natural Causes

Notable Alumni: Wheaton College, Florida Bible Institute

City: Charlotte, North Carolina

Diseases & Disabilities: Parkinson's Disease

More Facts

education: Wheaton College, Florida Bible Institute

awards: Big Brother of the Year Award for his work on behalf of children
- Templeton Foundation Prize for Progress in Religion
- Sylvanus Thayer Award for his commitment to

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1

How did Billy Graham become a famous evangelist?

Billy Graham became a famous evangelist through his powerful preaching style, international crusades, and media presence, attracting millions of followers around the world.
2

What impact did Billy Graham have on Christianity?

Billy Graham had a profound impact on Christianity by spreading the message of Jesus Christ to millions, promoting evangelical beliefs, and advocating for social issues from a faith-based perspective.
3

Where did Billy Graham hold his largest evangelistic crusades?

Billy Graham held his largest evangelistic crusades in cities around the world, including New York City, Los Angeles, London, and Seoul, where he drew massive crowds and inspired countless individuals to embrace Christianity.
4

How did Billy Graham influence American politics and society?

Billy Graham influenced American politics and society by advising presidents, advocating for civil rights, and promoting a conservative Christian worldview that shaped public discourse on moral issues for decades.
5

What is Billy Graham's legacy in the religious community?

Billy Graham's legacy in the religious community is one of a pioneering evangelist who used mass media to spread the Gospel, bridged denominational divides, and inspired a new generation of Christian leaders to continue his mission of sharing the message of salvation.

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Childhood & Early Life

He was born on November 7, 1918 on a dairy farm near Charlotte, North Carolina, to William Franklin Billy Graham Senior, a businessman and farmer and his wife Morrow Coffee Graham. He was the eldest child of the family with two younger sisters and a brother.

In 1934, at the age of 16, he attended a series of revival meetings in Charlotte by an evangelist, Mordecai Fowler Ham, which changed his personality and he decided to commit his life to Christ.

He graduated from Sharon High School in 1936 and enrolled at Bob Jones College, Cleveland but left it after a few months. In 1937, he attended the Florida Bible Institute and graduated with a bachelor degree in theology in 1940.

In December 1938, he was baptized by the church's pastor, Rev. Cecil Underwood in Silver Lake. Later, he was ordained by Rev. Underwood and other local pastors as a Southern Baptist minister in the St. John's River Association.

In 1940, he enrolled at the Wheaton College, Illinois, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in anthropology in 1943.

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Career

He served briefly as a pastor of the First Baptist Church in Western Springs, Illinois, in 1943-44. From 1948-1952, he served as the President of Northwestern Bible College in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

In 1949, a group called ‘Christ for Greater Los Angeles’ invited him to preach at their L.A. revival and people emerged in large numbers to witness this event. This extended the revival for an additional five weeks and with the heavy coverage from the wire services and newspapers, he became a national figure.

After the World War II, America’s cultural climate was under the threat of Communism. He preached against it and made evangelism a non-threatening and easy approach to overcome the fears of war and agony. People turned to spirituality for comfort and he became their leader and a ray of hope.

In 1950, he founded the ‘Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’ ministry along with his colleagues to expand their community.

He contributed significantly to the Civil Rights Movement and became one of the closest friends of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. He also held integrated crusades in Birmingham, Alabama, on Easter 1964 in the aftermath of the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church.

He held evangelistic meetings on a number of college campuses—at the University of Minnesota in 1950-51, a 4-day mission at Yale University in 1957, and a week-long series of meetings at the University of North Carolina's Carmichael Auditorium in September 1982.

He led a series of meetings in the United Kingdom, called Mission England, where he used outdoor football grounds as venues in 1984. In 1991, he held his largest event in North America on the Great Lawn of New York's Central Park.

Major Works

In 1950 he founded ‘Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’ (BGEA), a ministry to preach the gospel to a larger number of people around the world and encourage them to join their community. It included a radio program, television broadcasts and magazines. With the modernization of technology, it has also developed web portals for spreading the message of Christianity to the world.

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He has served as an active adviser to many presidents of America, from Harry S. Truman to Barack Obama. His views and ideologies on political affairs have been appreciated worldwide and influenced a lot of people and communities around the globe.

Awards & Achievements

In 1965, he was honored with the American Academy of Achievement's Golden Plate Award and Horatio Alger Award.

In 1967, he became the first Protestant to receive an honorary degree from Belmont Abbey College, a Roman Catholic school.

He was awarded the International Brotherhood Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews in 1971.

He received the American Jewish Committee's First National Inter-religious Award and Southern Baptist Radio and Television Commission's Distinguished Communications Medal in1977.

He was rewarded with Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award, in 1983.

In 1989 Graham received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

He received the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation Freedom Award, for monumental and lasting contributions to the cause of freedom in 2000.

In 2001, he was awarded the Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) for his international contribution to civic and religious life for over 60 years.

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Personal Life & Legacy

He met Ruth McCue Bell, the daughter of a general surgeon, while studying at Wheaton College. They got married on August 13, 1943, after his graduation in anthropology.

They had five children together—Virginia Leftwich Graham, Anne Graham Lotz, Ruth Graham, Franklin Graham and Nelson Edman Graham—and 19 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren.

Ruth died in 2007 due to pneumonia. She had been suffering from degenerative osteoarthritis for months before her death.

He has had Parkinson's disease since 1992 and also suffers from hydrocephalus, pneumonia, broken hips, and prostate cancer.

Facts About Billy Graham

Billy Graham was known for his sense of humor and often incorporated jokes and anecdotes into his sermons to connect with his audience.

He was a talented singer and sometimes sang hymns at his crusades, showcasing his musical abilities in addition to his preaching.

Billy Graham had a deep love for the outdoors and enjoyed fishing in his spare time, finding solace and relaxation in nature.

Billy Graham was a passionate advocate for racial equality and integration, publicly speaking out against segregation and working to bring people of all races together through his ministry.

Billy Graham Biography

You wanted to know

How did Billy Graham become a famous evangelist?

What impact did Billy Graham have on Christianity?

Where did Billy Graham hold his largest evangelistic crusades?

How did Billy Graham influence American politics and society?

What is Billy Graham's legacy in the religious community?