LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
Billy Graham’s America: Reflective Essay
Submitted to Dr. Dietmar Schulze,
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
THEO 650– D05
Public Theology
by
April D. Brown
May 13, 2021
Billy graham’s America by Grant Wacker retells the life and ministry of Billy Graham.
Wacker tells of Graham’s ascension to the platform along with the many struggles of his life.
Wacker begins by telling of his first time hearing Graham speak stating, “As a kid, I never could
figure out what the big whoop over Graham was all about. I soon realized, however, that
Graham's core constituents—the millions of preponderantly white, middle-class, moderately
conservative Protestants we might call "Heartland Americans"—did not share my puzzlement.
They knew exactly what the big whoop was all about.”1
Wacker soon found out what all the fuss was about when it came to Billy Graham. He
describes Graham’s status as going from leader to icon within the following two decades “He set
multiple attendance records, including 1,120,000 in Seoul in 1973 (at that time, possibly the
largest religious gathering on record).”2 Graham’s influence was so great across the nation that
his mail didn’t require an address “Just "Billy Graham" scratched on an envelope.”3
It was hard to understand how Billy graham became so accomplished through his life and
ministry. The author recounts Graham was “Bom in 1918, he grew up near Charlotte, North
Carolina, in the bucolic obscurity of a dairy farm.”4 Wacker then goes on to discuss the “middle
years of his career” during these years graham was at the center of scrutiny. Graham was
exposed to the public as a racist due to a remark he made about Jews in President Nixon’s office,
“Outsiders, noting Graham's flaws and failures, subjected him to merciless criticism.”5 Many
1 Wacker, Grant. "Billy Graham's America." Church History 78, no. 3 (2009): 489-511.
2 Ibid.,
3 Ibid.,
4 Ibid.,
5 Ibid.,
Americans believed he was interested in nothing more than “having his name in the newspaper”
or they felt he was a “counterfeit”.
With all of the scrutiny he faced, Graham never gave up on sharing the Good News of
Jesus Christ. Every time someone would knock him down, he would get back up. He didn’t care
what others had to say, he only cared that the Gospel message was being preached and lives were
being changed.
Throughout Graham’s life he went on to change lives through the Word of Jesus at his
crusades and even received two medals from the government, “he Presidential Medal of Freedom
in 1983 and, with his wife, Ruth Bell Graham, the Congressional Gold Medal in 1996.”6 Wacker
goes on to summarize the life and ministry of Graham, recounting his being named “America’s
Pastor” in the 70’s. Graham made John 3:16 the focus of all of his sermons, “whatever the stated
text, the actual text of every sermon was John 3:16.” He endured many criticisms for this being
called “simple minded” although he called it clarity of his purpose.
Graham went on to launch his missions’ network in the 60’s, demonstrating his
entrepreneurial side he “invested his considerable organizational skills and financial resources in
the founding or support of a host of parachurch institutions.’7 Wacker goes on to say, “Graham's
parachurch instincts led to a growing openness toward other traditions—an openness that the
historian Michael Hamilton aptly called "cooperative evangelicalism.”8
Throughout Graham’s ministry Wacker say he was “eager to work with believers
anywhere” and that “He led millions of evangelicals to embrace the Christian world beyond their
door, a globe filled with vibrant Anglicans in Britain, fervent Catholics in Poland, and exuberant
6 Ibid.,
7 Ibid.,
8 Ibid.,
charismatics in Africa. Jews too.”9 Wacker concludes by summarizing the final years of
Graham’s ministry before he retired. He recounts the many crusades led by the Evangelist that
impacted countless lives throughout the world.
In conclusion, this writer believes that Wacker did well at recounting the life and ministry
of Billy Graham. He provided pertinent information that allows the reader to truly understand not
only the ministry of Reverend Graham but also the suffering he endured in the name of Jesus.
Billy Graham was a highly influential icon within and outside of the Christian community. He
led countless crusades and changed millions of lives. He transcended lines politically, personally,
racially, and religiously.
9 Ibid.,
