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LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
JOHN W. RAWLINGS SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
Reflection Essay: The Life and Ministry of Billy Graham
Submitted to
Dr. Malcolm Hester
THEO 650
Public Theology
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The Life and Ministry of Billy Graham
Billy Graham is considered one of the most influential religious figures in US history and
one of the most famous evangelicals in the world. During his lifetime, Graham preached the
gospel to hundreds of millions of people around the world and earned his love, respect, and
appreciation from thousands through his charisma, sincerity, and righteousness. However, the
main lesson that one can take from the life of Billy Graham is the need to adapt to the demands of
modernity while maintaining the fundamental principles of his faith.
Billy Graham has become one of the most famous and beloved preachers of the gospel for
his charisma, simplicity, sincerity, and education. A farmer's son, Graham, discovered the path of
evangelism after hearing Mordechai Ham's preach as a child, which prompted him to go to
college.
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Graham graduated from Wheaton College, Illinois, which helped him gain a wide range
of knowledge and develop his unique style of preaching.
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The peculiarity of his speeches was that
he always sincerely and simply conveyed messages to the audience. Graham believed that
sincerity helps pave the way for the souls and hearts of people, converting them to God. The
central idea of all his speeches was that Jesus loves all people, so all who choose the path of
serving the Lord will be saved.
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This message helped Gramm attract more and more people by
preaching the gospel to them, listening to their problems, and treating all people as equals.
1
. Michael Long, The Legacy of Billy Graham: Critical Reflections on America's Greatest
Evangelist (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2008), 4.
2
. Long, “The Legacy of Billy Graham,” 117.
3
. “Billy Graham: Six Things He Believed,” BBC, February 18, 2018,
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43144752
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A feature of Graham was the approach that he made central to his life and career, namely
the acceptance of any opportunity to transmit the Word of God, as well as the expression of love
and respect for all people, regardless of their background and past. For this reason, Graham was
one of the first to appear on radio and television, which gained popularity in the United States.
However, he did not join the so-called "televangelists" who sharply criticized homosexuals and
other unconventional trends at the time.
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Moreover, Graham's position allowed him to carry out "crusades" both in the United
States and around the world. For example, in 1992, Graham became the first religious leader to
visit North Korea, and he was a regular guest of Africa, Asia and met with Soviet officials.
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Graham has preached to an audience of 210 million people in over 185 countries and has also
been a member of global missions and meetings such as the BMS World Mission and Global
Mission.
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In his speeches, Graham often made references to pop culture, met with Hollywood
stars, politicians, and even gangsters as he believed that anyone could take the right path and
accept faith in Christ. This openness, sincerity, and modernity allowed Graham to win people's
trust, which helped him preach the Gospel and turn others into the faith.
Moreover, Graham's modernity was manifested not only in the methods and approaches to
preaching but also in the positions that he defended. For example, Graham was one of the first to
protest against racial discrimination and refused to speak for a segregated audience.
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He was also
4
. Long, “The Legacy of Billy Graham,” 33.
5
. “Billy Graham: Six Things He Believed,” BBC, February 18, 2018,
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43144752
6
. “Profile: Billy Graham William (Billy) F. Graham,” Billy Graham Evangelist Association,
accessed June 11, 2021, https://billygraham.org/about/biographies/billy-graham/
7
. “Billy Graham: Six Things He Believed,” BBC, February 18, 2018,
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43144752
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a friend of Martin Luther King and supported the Civil Rights Movement.
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In addition, Graham
was familiar and close with many American presidents and was partly involved in politics. In
fact, for many years, Graham acted as an unofficial adviser to the president, although he later
expressed his regrets about getting too deep in political affairs.
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Nevertheless, this position and
understanding of the social and political life of society were also crucial in the life and ministry of
Graham. In this way, he could convey the Gospel to people by interpreting important issues for
them through the Word of God.
At the same time, despite his participation in the political, cultural, and social life of
society. Billy Graham never changed his rules and always had as his primary goal the preaching
of the Gospel and the conversion of people to faith. Graham did not express ideas that contradict
the fundamental ideas of Christianity, always treated other people with respect, and showed
himself as a faithful husband.
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Consequently, Graham maintained a balance between traditional
principles of faith and current trends, making him an example of a religious figure for many
people.
Therefore, the life and ministry of Billy Graham demonstrate an essential lesson for all
religious figures of our time. A preacher should be direct and honest with people, show them
respect and attention. A preacher must understand and participate in important events in the life of
society to find a place for religion in the hearts of people. A preacher must use all available means
to spread the word of God to all who are ready to hear it. In this way, more and more people will
find their hope, meaning, and salvation in faith.
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. See note 7 above.
9
. See note 7 above.
10
. See note 7 above.
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Bibliography
“Billy Graham: Six Things He Believed”. BBC, February 18, 2018.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43144752
“Profile: Billy Graham William (Billy) F. Graham.” Billy Graham Evangelist Association.
Accessed June 11, 2021. https://billygraham.org/about/biographies/billy-graham/
Long, Michael. The Legacy of Billy Graham: Critical Reflections on America's Greatest
Evangelist. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2008.
