Billy Graham - Celebrating his 93 Birthday

Evangelist Billy Graham one of the mighty vessels of God is celebrating his 93rd Birthday. He was born November 7, 1918 on a dairy farm near Charlotte, North Carolina. He in one of his interview recently said that he is nearing home. He also mentioned a scripture from Psalm 71:18 which quotes Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come. He was remembering his wife Ruth Bell who died in 2007, that their 64 years of journey on earth had been completed now he will go to meet her with the LORD.

This man of God had preached over 185 countries to over more than 210 million people during his 60-year crusade life. He had preached the Gospel to more people in a live audience format than anyone in history. He had retired from crusade life after suffering problem with his hearing but coming to pubic once in a year. His son Franklin is now into his shoes of preaching in crusades.

Is is usual for presidents of America to seek the advice of this man of God. Many presidents used to call him over before they take any decisions or for prayers. His son says that his father is same as he preaches in the crusade. Once it happened that his son needed some help and asked his father to help him out who was busy talking with the president. Then Billy graham immediately said to the president I have more important work and hung the telephone and attended his son. This is how he use to care for his family. In the picture we can see Billy Graham speaking with President John F. Kennedy at the annual prayer breakfast held in Washington, D.C.

In the above picture we can see Billy Graham, standing on a small car preaches to a crowd in London's notorious Soho district in 1966. This was the crowd which came to a movie where brother boldly testified the Gospel of Christ.

Billy Graham was married to wheaton classmate Ruth Bell on August 13, 1943 and They had five children together: Virginia Leftwich (Gigi) Graham Tchividjian (b. 1945); Anne Graham Lotz (b. 1948; runs AnGeL ministries); Ruth Graham (b. 1950; founder and president of Ruth Graham & Friends); Franklin Graham (b. 1952; administers an international relief organization called Samaritan's Purse and will be his father's successor at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association); and Nelson "Ned" Graham (b.1958; a pastor who runs East Gates International, which distributes Christian literature in China). In the picture we can see Billy Graham with his family after his return from his 'Crusade for Christ' tour in the 1950's. Clockwise from left: wife Ruth daughter's Anne, Ruth "Bunny" and Virginia.

Franklin Graham sits with his father Billy Graham before preaching during the "Celebration of Hope" at the New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana in 2006. 

Graham transferred in January 1937 from Bob Jones College to Florida Bible Institute, and then finally to Wheaton College in 1939. Graham attended Wheaton College from 1939 to 1943, when he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology. While attending college, he became pastor of the United Gospel Tabernacle and also had other preaching engagements.

Graham served briefly as pastor of the Village Church in Western Springs, Illinois, not far from Wheaton, in 1943-44.

He is happy indeed to have completed his book namely Nearing Home, and it’s about how to prepare for and face the challenges of growing old, and how to finish well. Few words which he shared in his website recently on November 3 of this Year states as follows.

The Bible says, “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations” (Matthew 24:14, NIV), and that is what I pray for. It fills me with gratitude to know that God is using our ministry—through modern advances in communication—to reach more people with the Gospel today, in more countries, than ever in the history of BGEA.

God has allowed me to preach in person in over 185 countries during my lifetime, and I would like to preach again, but for now don’t have the strength to stand before an audience.

Wishing him greetings on his birthday let us all pray for this Man of God to gain strength in his old age as the scripture in Isaiah 40:31 says "but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."