LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
Reflection Essay: Billy Graham’s America
Submitted to Dr
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
THEO 650-DO6 LUO
Public Theology
By
GRIER
May 04, 2022
Table of Contents
Reflection Essay: Billy Graham's America ....................................................... 3
Bibliography… ............................................................................................... 8
Module 8 Reflection Essay: The Life and Ministry of Billy Graham: You will write a three-page essay
outlining the life and ministry, various public and Christian arenas in which Billy Graham ministered. Note the lines
he transcended, politically, personally, racially, and religiously.
Billy Graham, that name is well known by Politicians, Presidents, Civil Rights Leaders,
theologians, scholars, preachers, want to be great preachers, and just plain common people all
around the world. One of the greatest and greatest evangelists in all time, also his life of
ministries around the world has left a lastly impression of messages on salvation on enormous
people. William Franklin “Billy” Graham was born in 1918, on the outskirts of Charlotte, North
Carolina, on November 7, 1918.1 Graham was the first of four children born to Frank and
Morrow Graham; his parents were of Scottish heritage and were active in the Associate
Reformed Presbyterian Church in Charlotte.2However, a well-known evangelist, Dr. Mordecai
Ham came to Charlotte for citywide meetings, yet Graham was around seventeenth. He became
convicted and seen the need for God ‘s forgiveness and publicly made a commitment of his life
to Jesus Christ.3
Graham felt the need for further education, particularly the Bible he shortly went to Bob
Jones College and transferred Florida Bible Institute (FBI). During Graham time at FBI, he
sensed God was calling him to become a preacher.4Graham at first resisted and only after a
period of deep spiritual struggle he commit himself to that calling. Graham after graduation, he
enrolled in Wheaton College. Graham burden for evangelism continued to grow, although he was
a pastor at a small Baptist church in nearby Western Springs, Illinois,” however, he resigned,
1 Grant Wacker, America Church History, Vol.78. No.3 (USA. Publisher Cambridge University Press, September
2009), pp.489-511 pages
2Benjamin K. Forrest, Kevin L. King Bill Curtis, Dwayne Milloni, A Legacy of Preaching, Volume Two- Enlightenment
to the Present Day, :(Grand Rapid, Michigan: Zondervan, 2018). 444.
3 Forrest,.444.
4 Forrest,445.
from the church to become the first evangelistic for Youth for Christ.5 However, Wacker,
remembered his parents and him going to Madison Square Garden to here Graham; he wondered
what was the big deal about Graham, but while there he noticed after Graham had preached
thousands of people surged forward to give there lives to God. Wacker says he never understood
what the big whoop over Graham was about6 The author wrote he soon realized, however,
Graham’s core constitutions the millions of preponderantly white, middle-class, moderately
conservative Protestants we might call “Heartland American”, as he emphasis’ they did not share
his puzzlement, in fact, they knew exactly what the big whoop was all about.7
Throughout history of the Christian church, some individuals have been called and gifted
by God to be evangelists. Frequently confronting cultural, ecclesiastical, and social barriers,
furthermore, these evangelists sought to build up the church by reaching out to those whom Jesus
Christ was unknown and urging them to commit their lives to him.8 Most have labored in
obscurity. However, some evangelists have been notices unexpected public recognition and
influence, such was the case with Billy Graham (1918-2018).9 Graham during over sixty years of
public ministry spoke face-to-face to more people than any other person in history. Graham
desires was strongly moved with compassion he has ferment urgency to see sinners get saved,
and central to Graham/s thinking was conviction that he had been called by God to and
evangelist.10
5 Ibid.,445.
6 Wacker. 489.
7 Ibid.
8Ibid.
9 Ibid.
Graham had a turning point his public ministry occurred in 1949, several hundred
churches in Los Angeles, California area invited Graham to hold a united evangelistic
campaign.11According to, Wacker slightly more two eras roughly from 1948 to 1971 Graham
moved from leader to celebrity to icon, as a matter of fact, the author mentioned Graham retained
that iconic status into the new millennium. 12 Graham held over four hundred major campaigns
in stadium and other large venues across the world. Forrest mentioned it has been estimated that
during his long career formal retirement 2005 Graham spoke face-to-face to nearly 215 million13
people, with hundreds of millions more being reached through television, in fact, this subject
has watched evangelist Graham preached certainly it was a great message on salvation, however,
other venues were video, film, books, and webcasts. Graham’s’ “understanding of the
importance of preaching rested on at least five foundational principles.”
The first was his conviction that the Bible and the Bible alone, was the authoritative and
inspired Word of God. Apart from the Bible the evangelist has no message, second foundational
principle undergirding Graham’s preaching was his belief that the gospel was true, therefore
could be proclaimed with full confidence in its veracity, third, foundational principle in
Graham’s view of preaching was the relationship between biblical preaching and the work of the
Holy Spirit, though apart from the Holy Spirit the evangelist is powerless, fourth foundational
principle in Grahams understanding of the importance of preaching can be stated simply; before
people can respond to the gospel, they must hear the gospel and fifth , the evangelist is under
divine orders, so God has commanded that his gospel must be preached to the ends of the earth,
and those orders are to be obey, regardless of circumstance, opposition, discouragement, or
human frailty. Forrest mentioned “we engage in evangelism today not because we want to, or
11 Forrest.446.
12 Wacker.490.
13 Forrest.446.
because we like to, but because we have been told to. We are under orders; We have no choice.14”
That said, Graham had a memorable message “The Call to Decision,” he felt the gospel always
called a sinner to make a decision. Surely he use those words as an invitation especially at his
2005 New York Crusade.15Though, Graham always looked for opportunities to preach in place
with limited Christian witness, for instance, he returned repeatedly to counties that historically
had strong Christian ties but were now in the grip of militant secularism, however he was warned
by many not to go in Soviet Union, and Eastern Europe fearing they used him for propaganda
purposes.16A reporter told Graham he is being used for propaganda by those Counties; however,
Graham replied, he was using them for his propaganda. Graham, favor words was the Bible says,
he knew the Bible also had the power to reach across every kind of cultural barrier. Graham’
says” He had the privilege of preaching the Gospel on every continent (Hallelujah) and most of
the countries of the world. And God takes His Word in the message and drives it supernaturally
int the human heart. 17
Graham’s foundation to his conviction was Paul’s statement in Eph. 4:11-12 “And he
gave some, apostles; and some prophets; and some, evangelists and some, pastors, and teachers
for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ
(KJV). Graham was older, the nation’s expanding social vision influence him conversion formed
that only firm foundation for enduring social progress. Two things did change Graham growing
conviction that the movement from individual conversion to social reform required international
implementation and that the gospel, full realized required structural as well as spiritual
solutions.18 Graham moved to politic, yet many disagreed with that; they felt he should stay with
14 Forrest.451.
15 Ibid 453.
16 Ibid.
17 Ibid.450.
18 Wacker.508.
evangelism. However, three events defined Graham’s posture to social engagement, one was the
Vietnam war, civil rights, and the last one a cluster of issues broadly concerning global justice.
Yet, Graham acknowledged that in times past he had fallen into political partisanship especially
during the Nixon years, but repeatedly he said he regretted it.19 Graham says the church is also
called to express Christ’s love by acts of mercy, reconciliation, and service. We must have a
burden for the needs of people that goes beyond just concern and results in action.”20
In conclusion, Graham warned people not to confuse their feelings with historical facts
about Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection, in light of that fact, our feelings change and mislead us
Graham pointed out, but the truth of the gospel never changes and never deceives. Christ work is
fact, His cross is fact, His tomb is fact, and His resurrection is fact and trusting Him for your
eternal salvation is trusting in a fact.”21
Bibliography
19 Wacker.508.
20 Forrest.447.
21 Ibid.449.
Forrest Benjamin K. Kevin L. King Bill Curtis, Dwayne Milloni, A Legacy of Preaching,
Volume Two- Enlightenment to the Present Day. Grand Rapid, Michigan: Zondervan,
2018.
Wacker, Grant America Church History, Vol.78. No.3. USA. Publisher Cambridge University
Press, September 2009), pp.489-511 pages.
