The Daily Brief:
SPECIAL EDITION
Honoring Dr. Billy Graham
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
"Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints."(Psalm 116:15)
United in the Kingdom of God . . . under the Cross of Christ
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An Obituary for Dr. Billy Graham
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Billy Graham, Evangelist to the World, Dead at Age 99
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 21, 2018-Evangelist Billy Graham died today at 7:46 a.m. at his home in Montreat. He was 99.
Throughout his life, Billy Graham preached the gospel of Jesus Christ to some 215 million people who attended one of his more than 400 Crusades, simulcasts and evangelistic rallies in more than 185 countries and territories. He reached millions more through TV, video, film, the internet and 34 books.
Born Nov. 7, 1918, four days before the armistice ended World War I, William Franklin "Billy" Graham Jr. grew up during the Depression and developed a work ethic that would carry him through decades of ministry on six continents.
"I have one message: that Jesus Christ came, he died on a cross, he rose again, and he asked us to repent of our sins and receive him by faith as Lord and Savior, and if we do, we have forgiveness of all of our sins," said Graham at his final Crusade in June 2005 at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in New York.
While Graham's primary focus was to take this message to the world, he also provided spiritual counsel to presidents, championed desegregation, and was a voice of hope and guidance in times of trial. In 2001, he comforted his country and the world when he spoke at the National Cathedral in Washington, following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. At three global conferences held in Amsterdam (1983, 1986, 2000), Graham gathered some 23,000 evangelists from 208 countries and territories to train them to carry the message of Jesus Christ around the world.
During the week of his 95th birthday in 2013, Graham delivered his final message via more than 480 television stations across the U.S. and Canada. More than 26,000 churches participated in this My Hope project, making it the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association's largest evangelistic outreach ever in North America. (Billy Graham Evangelistic Association) Read more about the life of Dr. Graham here.
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Statement by Franklin Graham
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Franklin Graham Statement on His Father's Passing
My father Billy Graham was once asked, "Where is Heaven?" He replied, "Heaven is where Jesus is and I am going to Him soon!" This morning, at the age of 99, he departed this world into eternal life in Heaven, prepared by the Lord Jesus Christ-the Savior of the world-whom he proclaimed for nearly 80 years. He will be missed by our family, his colleagues, faithful ministry partners, and, yes, many around the world. But what joy he has to be welcomed by God the Father, and be reunited with my mother in the presence of Jesus who speaks peace to eternal souls.
What about you? When you depart this world do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity? You can know this today. Jesus said, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). The one who comforts weary souls has given us this promise, "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me . . . I go to prepare a place for you . . . I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also" (John 14:1-3).
- Quote from Franklin Graham February 21, 2018
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Anne Graham Lotz: Daddy is Home
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STATEMENT by ANNE GRAHAM LOTZ
Regarding the death of her father, Billy Graham
My Father's legacy is one that encompasses the world . . . and engulfs my own life. When I think of him, I don't think of Billy Graham, the public figure. I think of my Daddy. The one who was always a farmer at heart. Who loved his dogs and his cat. Who followed the weather patterns almost as closely as he did world events. Who wore old blue jeans, comfortable sweaters, and a baseball cap. Who loved lukewarm coffee, sweet ice tea, one scoop of ice cream, and a plain hamburger from McDonald's. Who was interested in everything and everyone, from the small to the great. Whose mind remembered details that even a computer would have trouble recalling.
But when I think of him I also think of his message because he was immersed in it. Saturated in it. He was his message . . . a simple man who had responded to God's love by placing his faith in Jesus, receiving the assurance that his sins were forgiven, that he would not perish, but would have everlasting life. Simple faith. Faith that now matters more than anything else.
For years, over his head as he preached was the banner that quoted the words of Jesus: I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Jesus completed that sentence by saying that no one comes to the Father but by Me. Based on what Jesus said, Daddy is safely with the Father. In Heaven. Daddy not only claimed Jesus as the only Way to God, he lived by the Truth publicly on platforms and privately behind closed doors, and is now enjoying real Life.
(Please read the rest of Anne's eulogy by going here.)
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Statement by CBN
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Billy Graham Dies at Age 99 Leaving an Eternal Legacy of World-Changing Evangelism
Rev. Billy Graham, the world-renowed evangelist whose ministry changed the lives of hundreds of millions of people, has died at age 99 at his home in North Carolina.
Graham's impact transformed America's religious life and reached around the world. He eventually became a counselor to presidents and the most widely heard Christian evangelist in history.
Spokesman Mark DeMoss says Graham, who had long suffered from cancer, pneumonia and other ailments, died at his home in North Carolina on Wednesday morning. But Graham wanted the world to know, he's not really dead, he's just moved to heaven.
This famous quote from Billy Graham sums up his perspective on eternity: "Someday you will read or hear that Billy Graham is dead. Don't you believe a word of it. I shall be more alive than I am now. I will just have changed my address. I will have gone into the presence of God."
(Read more here.)
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Statement by Cal Thomas
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Cal Thomas: The Billy Graham I knew
In my long career in journalism, I have met many famous people, but none of them impressed me as much as William Franklin "Billy" Graham. The reason had less to do with his fame and movie star looks; it was his humility that was so attractive, so refreshing, so like the One he faithfully served.
My conversations with him quickly turned to me. He wanted to know about my family, how I was doing. Politicians do this, too, but often it is a manipulative technique. With Graham, it was real. It is why so many loved him, including those who do not share his faith.
At his peak - which lasted longer than most - Graham was offered political power and movies. He turned them all down, believing he had been called to "preach the Gospel - Jesus - and do nothing else." (Read more here)
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A Commentary by Bill Wilson
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A Commentary by Bill Wilson:
The Daily Jot
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
"Even So Billy Graham Lives on"
Just got the word that Billy Graham had died at his home in North Carolina after battling cancer, pneumonia and other ailments. Arguably the most well-known evangelist, he was 99. There will be a lot written about Billy Graham over the next few days. Many will honor his lifetime commitment from 2 Peter 3:9, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." Others will try to tear down his longstanding reputation. I have had some small heated conversations over those detractions, but for me personally, Graham lives on as a good and faithful servant to the Lord.
My wife Chris attended one of his Crusades at Cleveland Stadium in Ohio when she was 12. She describes it as a "once in a lifetime" opportunity to hear him preach the word "the way only he does it." She didn't go down for the altar call because she was already saved, but recalls that there were hardly anyone in their seats when the call was made. This is the profound impact of a man who committed his life to telling others of the good news of the gospel. From earthly kings to the poor and less fortunate, Graham stood as a reminder of the light of Christ and how knowing Christ can turn your life around, provide hope, direction, love, truth, and most of all, eternal salvation.
Before I first went into ministry, I believed the Lord was calling me to evangelize. I began to read everything I could get my hands on to find out about spreading the word of God and those who did it well. From the Wesleys' to Billy Sunday to Dwight Moody to Reinhard Bonnke to Smith Wigglesworth to D. James Kennedy, I read them all. But the one who I read the most was Billy Graham. He had a simple message and a powerful delivery. He was not fancy or showy. He was direct, to the point, and believable. As AP writes in announcing his death, "Graham reached more than 200 million through his appearances and millions more through his pioneering use of television and radio. Unlike many traditional evangelists, he abandoned narrow fundamentalism to engage broader society."
Now there are a few Christians out there trying to make some sort of spiritual sense out of Graham's death. Some are saying it is a sign of the coming rapture. Others are reading into his death and making predictions. I think it is obvious Graham died before the rapture. We are all still here and he has gone on to the Lord naturally. So yes, the rapture will come after Graham's death, but there is a whole lot of prophecy to be fulfilled before the return of the Lord and the gathering up of the saints. For me, there is no spiritualization of Billy Graham's death. He walked as a man, talked as a man, lived as an example to the rest of us. He wanted all to have the opportunity to arrive at their appointed time where he is today. That's the significance of his life and death as I see it.
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
www.dailyjot.com
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A Tribute from IFA
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BILLY GRAHAM DIES AT 99
- Intercessors for America
In a statement to The Christian Post, Will Graham, the grandson of Billy Graham (whose full name is William Franklin Graham Jr.) and the son of Franklin Graham, said: "My grandfather once said, 'One day you'll hear that Billy Graham has died. Don't you believe it. On that day I'll be more alive than ever before! I've just changed addresses.' My friends, today my grandfather moved from the land of the dead to the land of the living," Will Graham declared. "We mourn that he is no longer with us physically here on earth, but we don't grieve as those who have no hope. My grandfather invested his entire life in sharing the promise of eternity through Jesus Christ, and today he had the opportunity to realize that hope himself, kneeling before his Savior and hearing the words, 'Well done, good and faithful servant.' My family appreciates your prayers now and in the days ahead." Billy Graham is survived by his five children - Virginia, Anne Morrow, Ruth Bell, William Franklin, III, and Nelson Edman - 19 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
Billy Graham was born Nov. 7, 1918, in Charlotte, N.C., and raised on a dairy farm. He graduated from Wheaton College in Wheaton, Ill. - home of the Billy Graham Center Museum and where he met his wife, Ruth McCue Bell, the daughter of a missionary surgeon to China. They were married for over 60 years until Ruth's death in 2007. Graham, a Southern Baptist, has preached the Gospel to more people in live audiences than anyone else in history. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association estimates that he has preached live to nearly 215 million people in more than 185 countries and territories, and hundreds of millions of more people through television, video, film and webcasts. He has led hundreds of thousands of individuals to make personal decisions to commit their lives to Jesus Christ, according to BGEA. (Read more)
> > > We at Capitol Hill Prayer Partners join with our friends at Intercessors for America in offering this prayer:
- Father, we thank You for Billy Graham, his witness and example. We lift up his family in this time of grieving and celebrate his all You have done through his life.
- "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'" (Matthew 25:21)
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