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
Faith leaders comment on Obama
Religious leaders and representatives of faith-based organizations are weighing in on the election of Sen. Barack Obama as the nation’s 44th president.
The National Council of Churches has responded today with a letter to the new president elect:
Dear Mr. President Elect,
Blessings on you, and congratulations. Now that the electorate has made its decision, we at the National Council of Churches urge all Americans to come together to uphold you with our hands, our hearts and our prayers.
Only rarely in our history has a president-elect faced immediate challenges of such fierce magnitude. The leaders of this Council pledge to you our unstinting support in the difficult days to come. All of us are dependent on God’s loving mercy, and we will regularly pray for you and others elected to high leadership. May your wisdom and discernment serve you well, and may your health never wane.
To read the complete letter, click here: Letter
The Rev. Billy Graham, who is nearing his 90th birthday on Friday, also has a statement, shared through a news release sent today:
“President Elect Barack Obama faces many challenges, and I urge everyone to join me in pledging our support and prayers as he begins the difficult task ahead.”
Meanwhile, The Associated Press is reporting that the Vatican said today that it hopes that Barack Obama will work to promote peace and justice in the world.
The Rev. Federico Lombardi, chief spokesman for the Vatican and for Pope Benedict XVI told The Associated Press that the Vatican hoped Obama would “work for the cause of rights and justice, finding suitable ways to promote peace in the world, fostering people’s development and dignity while respecting essential human and spiritual values.”
Other statements come from leaders that are not as conciliatory:
The Rev. Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, released the following statement regarding the Presidential election:
“Americans have made a grave mistake in electing Barack Obama to the presidency. He said during the campaign that he does not know when a human being starts to have human rights. How can one govern from that starting point of ignorance? Governing is about protecting human rights; to do it successfully, you have to know where they come from, and when they begin. The President-elect has already failed that test miserably.”I’ll post more comments and statements as they arrive.Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
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Billy Graham recovering from fall
Evangelist Billy Graham fell at his home in Montreat, N.C., and was hospitalized overnight Friday.
In a prepared statement released today, a spokesman for Graham said the famed preacher has returned home from Mission Hospital near Asheville.
A. Larry Ross, director of media/public relations for Graham, said the 89-year-old evangelist was admitted for observation Friday after he tripped over one of his three dogs and fell.
Ross said Graham suffered no broken bones in the fall. He said Graham chose to remain in the hospital rather than return home due to the lateness of the hour.
Ross said Graham’s personal physician, Dr. Lucian Rice, confirmed the fall should not pose a setback for the evangelist, who will turn 90 on Nov. 7.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
