Happy Birthday Billy!
Evangelist Billy Graham celebrates his 90th birthday today.
He is to mark this milestone with a private family dinner near his mountainside home outside Asheville, N.C. His son, evangelist Franklin Graham, appeared on NBC’s “Today” show and said the dinner was to include barbeque, a treat his father was especially looking forward to.
For the past month, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has been encouraging individuals to bless the evangelist by sending a birthday greeting or story to him. You can read some of those messages and stories on the association Web site at www.billygraham.org.
Meanwhile Graham was recently interviewed for a news release sent out by the association.
Here is what he had to say:
“I never expected to live this long, and it is hard to believe I have reached the age of 90. Every day is a gift from God, no matter how old we are. I have discovered that just because we grow weaker physically as we age, it doesn’t mean that we must grow weaker spiritually. In fact, we ought to be growing stronger spiritually, because our eyes ought to be on eternity and Heaven — on the things that really matter.”
People familiar with the renowned preacher’s dedication to spreading the Gospel will not be too surprised to learn that he is working to complete a new book project based on his personal experience with growing older and how to be prepared emotionally and spiritually for what he says can be the most fulfilling years of life.
“I look forward to the time when I will be reunited with my wife in heaven, and neither of us will ever experience again the physical aches and pains brought about by age and illness,” he said in the association’s prepared statement.
Meanwhile, at 90 Graham continues to stay informed about the evangelistic association’s ministry under the leadership of Franklin Graham. In the past year he participated in ministry board meetings and other activities as his health allowed.
“I am proud of Franklin’s leadership of the BGEA and the way it is showing the love of Christ to a hurting world and using new technology to share the Gospel message,” he said.
Incidentally, I got to meet Billy Graham when he came for his Mission Oklahoma City in 2003 at the Ford Center. Even after five years have passed, I can still remember the trepidation I felt as I walked into the room where Graham was waiting for me.
He had agreed to an interview and I learned that he typically grants a news interview in the city where his crusade/mission is to be held.
Any nerves I had completely disappeared once we started the interview. It was like talking to a trusted friend.
The atmosphere in the room was one of complete calm — something that can’t be orchestrated. I thought about it later and wondered how they had arranged it that way.
Several months later it dawned on me that Graham set the atmosphere. I believe the calm and peace that pervaded the room was because he was totally at peace with God and a true witness to God’s grace and love in the world.
I’ve been told that people of faith should set the atmosphere — well Billy Graham did — and does.
Happy Birthday Billy!
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
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I attended the Saturday night service. I came with a friend from Tulsa because it was supposed to be his last appearance:) We had trained to be counselors at the crusade. We ended up not participating. I was shocked at my reaction to the altar call. It was so simple and sweet but I cried my eyes out watching those people come to Christ. I will never forget that service.