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| The Billy Graham Library as seen during the spring. (Picture credit: billy grahamlibrary.org) |
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| The Billy Graham Library as seen decorated for Christmas. During the weeks preceding December 25th, the library conducts many programs and offers carriage rides around the grounds of the library. (Picture credit: billygrahamlibrary.org) |
In 1934 (at the age of 16), Graham made a faithful commitment to Christ during a revival meeting, and honored this agreement by attending the Florida Bible Institute. He graduated in 1943 from Wheaton College in 1943 and accepted his first pastor seat in Illinois.
Following this acceptance, Graham began preaching around the United States and, as he grew in popularity, Europe, as well. He became widely recognized as a powerfully charismatic evangelist and, in 1949, conducted an eight-week crusade in Los Angeles.
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| The site of Billy Graham's first Crusade in Los Angeles during 1949. The Crusade stretched out for eight weeks and attracted over 350,000 individuals. Seventy-two services were held. |
The 1949 Crusade provided Graham with detailed media attention, furthering his popularity and prestige. Through media outlets such as the radio, the newly-emerging television and the print media, Graham was able to spread his message literally around the world.
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| Graham has been featured on numerous magazine covers, including Time Magazine (above.) |
Billy Graham has led Crusades in Australia, Russia and Norway, among many other countries. This international recognition has given him the confidence and support to establish the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in 1950 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (In 2003 this Association moved to Charlotte, NC.) This organization helped to organize Graham's many ministries, some of which have included weekly radio broadcasts, televised crusades, newspaper columns, evangelistic films and an international aid organization, all geared towards spreading the gospel of Christ. Graham has also authored over thirty books, many of which have won numerous awards.
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| Graham's autobiography, Just as I am. |
Billy Graham remains one of the most popular Christian personalities of United States history and has even gained widespread popularity in the secular world. In addition to his other ministries, he has served a spiritual advisor to every U.S. President since Dwight D. Eisenhower.
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| Billy Graham (center) with son, Franklin Graham (right) and President Barack Obama (left) in 2010. (Photo credit: Billy Graham Evangelistic Association website. More images of Graham with various Presidents may be found at http://www.billygraham.org/articlepage.asp?articleid=1926) |
Through his masterful use of media communication, Graham and his ministry have brought much recognition to Southern culture. He demonstrates the product of what has traditionally been labeled the “Bible Belt,” a traditionally conservative, evangelical Protestant region in the Southernmost United States. Religion has always been important in the South, due in some part to the recurrence of personalities such as Billy Graham.
If you would like to learn more about Billy Graham, try following the links below:
1.) The link directly below will direct you to an archive of Graham's Crusades, ranging from the late 1940s to the mid 2000s.
http://www.billygraham.org/audio-archives.asp
2.) This address refers you to the website for the Billy Graham Library, a museum located in Charlotte, NC that documents the life of this renowned Charlottean.
http://www.billygrahamlibrary.org/
3.) The last link will direct you to the Billy Graham Evangelisitc Association homepage. An organization founded by Graham in 1950 and serves in all areas of ministry, from disaster relief to evangelizing.
http://www.billygraham.org/default.asp
4.) The link directly below will direct you to a video clip filmed during Graham's 1949 Los Angeles Crusade. Some highlights are offered below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEMdPTRdvEI
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