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WH E A T WHEATON O N WHEATON COLLEGE ALUMNUS BILLY GRAHAM: 1918-2018 ON JUNE 11, 1962, BILLY GRAHAM DELIVERED THE ISSUE SPECIAL COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS, TITLED “FRONTIERS TO CONQUER,” TO WHEATON’S CLASS OF ’62. PICTURED IS A SELECTION OF THE NOTES FROM WHICH HE SPOKE. HIS MESSAGE CONTAINED A LIST OF HIS DEBTS TO WHEATON COLLEGE. BILLY GRAHAM CENTER ARCHIVES. CREDIT: BILLY GRAHAM LITERARY TRUST. WHEATON.EDU/MAGAZINE Special Issue: BILLY GRAHAM (1918 - 2018) VOLUME 21 // SPECIAL ISSUE 2018 WHEATON contents 2 ILLY GRAHAM wife, he said, Wheaton broadened his loved Wheaton President’s knowledge of the church and gave him College, and he a new understanding of the social im- loved to tell peo- Perspective plications of the gospel. Wheaton also B ple about it. gave him an appreciation for the im- When I visited portance of scholarship and a world- him at his home in Montreat a few wide network of friends in ministry. years ago, it didn’t take him long to But the primary debt that Dr. Gra- DR. PHILIP G. RYKEN ’88 4 THE GLOBAL EVANGELIST AND HIS ALMA MATER start reminiscing about his happy ham wanted to acknowledge was that BILLY GRAHAM ’43, COLLIN HANSEN days as an undergraduate. PRESIDENT Wheaton gave him a reason for his LITT.D. ’56 LEFT 10 HEAVEN BENT LOW Wheaton College conjured up many hope in Jesus Christ. DR. EDITH BLUMHOFER memories for him—not only spiritual, That hope never left him. As I men- A LEGACY IN THE 13 CAMPUS MEMORIAL but also romantic. tioned, when I visited Dr. Graham HEARTS OF PEOPLE 14 HE LED ME TO HEAR THE WORD Billy told me about seeing Ruth Bell he wanted to talk about his time at DR. JEFFRY C. DAVIS ’83 THROUGHOUT THE 14 WHAT PREACHERS DO ’43 for the first time, sitting on the Wheaton. But he mainly wanted to DR. DAVID K. GIESER ’71 porch of Williston Hall. He also told talk about Jesus, and the hope of see- WORLD. READ ON 16 THEN & NOW me about their first date. They went to ing his Savior in heaven. As we read FOR REFLECTIONS 18 THE INTERNATIONAL BILLY GRAHAM see a performance of Handel’s “Messi- Scripture, prayed, and spoke about DR. MARK NOLL ’68 ah.” Billy was so smitten that he tried the glory to come, Billy’s countenance ABOUT GRAHAM’S 22 WORLD ON FIRE to hold Ruth’s hand that night. Twice. visibly brightened. His joy was rising. LIFE OF 24 MR. GRAHAM’S SPOKESMAN A. LARRY ROSS ’76 But she pushed him away both times! What a homecoming it must be for PROCLAIMING THE 26 A NOTE FROM THE BGC DIRECTOR More than 70 years later, I could tell him now—as it will be for us soon, when GOOD NEWS OF DR. ED STETZER how thrilling it was for him to chase the Jesus calls us to come, just as we are. 27 BGC SCHOLARSHIP: A GLOBAL LEGACY woman he loved. I also understood CHRIST AND HIS 28 INSIDE THE GRAHAM LEGACY how ideal their partnership was. From KINGDOM. KATHERINE HALBERSTADT ANDERSON ’90 the very first night, Ruth proved that 31 OUR LAST VISIT she would be equal to every challenge DEBBIE DAVIS SMITH ’80 of their extraordinary life together in ministry. BENEDICTION / 32 It was at Wheaton that Dr. Graham “THE PRIMARY met Dr. V. Raymond Edman hon— “Prexy”—who became one of his DEBT THAT DR. most trusted mentors. He also began GRAHAM WANTED Volume 21, Special Issue, 2018 to attract a passionate following as a TO ACKNOWLEDGE EDITOR Charles V. Audino M.A. ’16 EDITORIAL CONSULTANT Allison Althoff Steinke ’11 DIRECTOR OF MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS Kimberly Medaglia DESIGNERS Katie Alford ’10, Mary preacher; students, faculty, and staff WAS THAT Leiser EDITORIAL ADVISER Cindra Stackhouse Taetzsch ’82 WHEATON COLLEGE PRESIDENT Dr. Philip G. Ryken ’88 PROVOST Dr. Margaret DuPlissis Diddams ’83 VICE PRESIDENT FOR flocked to downtown Wheaton to hear FINANCE Dale A. Kemp VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT DEVELOPMENT Dr. Paul O. Chelsen ’91 VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADVANCEMENT, VOCATION, AND ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT Dr. Kirk D. Farney M.A. ’98 his sermons at the Masonic Temple. WHEATON GAVE CHIEF ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT OFFICER Silvio Vazquez EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT Marilee A. Melvin ’72 CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATORS Bernd Schifferdecker ARCHIVAL MATERIAL When Billy Graham came back to HIM A REASON FOR Billy Graham Center Archives, Wheaton College; Billy Graham Evangelistic Association; Billy Graham Literary Trust; Wheaton College Archives, Buswell Library campus for Commencement in 1962, EMAIL [email protected] WITH FEEDBACKAND he recounted his “Debt to Wheaton.” HIS HOPE IN JESUS STORY IDEAS. TO ACCESS ADDITIONAL CONTENT, Wheaton MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED WINTER, SPRING, AND AUTUMN BY WHEATON COLLEGE. Wheaton MAGAZINE IS PRINTED ON 30 PERCENT POSTCONSUMER RECYCLED FIBER. In addition to providing him with a CHRIST.” VISIT WHEATON.EDU/MAGAZINE BERND SCHIFFERDECKER ILLUSTRATION BY © 2018 WHEATON COLLEGE, WHEATON, IL | WHEATON.EDU | 501 COLLEGE AVE., WHEATON, IL 60187-5593 | 630.752.5779 | [email protected] WHEATON.EDU/MAGAZINE 4 & His Alma Mater How Wheaton shaped Billy Graham, and why his legacy at Wheaton will endure by Collin Hansen BY HIS OWN ADMISSION, Billy Graham’s undergraduate career had an ominous start. After compiling a less-than-impressive high school resume, Billy racked up enough demerits in one se- mester at Bob Jones College to alarm the administration. He transferred to Florida Bible Institute, where he loved the con- centrated study of God’s Word. But when he wanted to switch schools again, this time to Wheaton College, few of those credits would transfer. Of more immediate concern, the Graham family could not afford the school’s tuition. Still, Billy’s mother had long prayed he would attend Wheaton, and God made a way. Two university benefactors met Billy and saw something special in the young but gifted preacher. They Over decades pledged to provide the first year of tuition and board. Yet they of ministry, couldn’t help the lanky Southerner immediately find his niche at Wheaton, hundreds of miles from his North Carolina home. Wheaton’s “On Wheaton’s elm-shaded suburban campus 25 miles due west most famous of Chicago’s downtown Loop, I felt like a hick,” Billy remembered in his autobiography, Just As I Am. alumnus left Billy would not graduate a rube. The renowned evangelist’s for his alma Wheaton years opened his eyes to God’s work in many denom- inations around the world. The school gave him a strong intel- mater a legacy lectual foundation. Most importantly, at Wheaton he met Ruth of gospel Bell ’43, L.H.D. ’75, his dynamic, devoted wife. Over decades of ministry, Wheaton’s most famous alumnus left for his alma ma- simplicity, ter a legacy of gospel simplicity, moral integrity, and academic excellence. moral A personable new student like Billy didn’t struggle to adjust for integrity, and long. On top of his studies, he agreed in 1941 to became the pas- tor of the United Gospel Tabernacle, which met in downtown academic Wheaton. Between 200 and 300 students and faculty packed excellence. “The Tab” in downtown Wheaton to hear Billy preach in his first regular pulpit. Wheaton’s challenging academics stretched Billy, who spread himself thin filling pulpits across the Midwest on many week- ends. When on campus he learned much about anthropology, his major. “Anthropology would give me empathy for people in social settings different from my own and an understanding of social customs and primitive religions,” said Billy, who also con- sidered majoring in Bible or public speaking. “A focus on anthro- pology would give me a liberal arts education in the best sense, PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BILLY GRAHAM EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION GRAHAM EVANGELISTIC OF THE BILLY PHOTO COURTESY obliterating any condescending notions I might have toward WHEATON.EDU/MAGAZINE 5 1 The United Gospel Blanchard 2 Hall Tabernacle, The “Tab” Per Billy Graham’s 120 W. WESLEY suggestion, on April 22, Billy Graham served as pastor for the “Tab” from 1942, Dr. Edman began September 1941 until June 1943. This independent Williston the practice of ringing congregation included both people from the town the Tower bell every day and from Wheaton College, with college students Hall at 5 p.m. It was rung predominating. Dr. V. Raymond Edman HON resigned as The evangelist said the “most throughout World War pastor in 1940 when he became president of the College, precious spot on the campus II as a reminder to pray and recommended Graham as his replacement. This was for me is the tree in front of 3 for those in service, and the first church (or organization) for which Graham had Williston Hall where I met my for peace. At that time, primary responsibility. wife Ruth.” The Daily Journal Blanchard Hall housed (Oct. 5, 1959) classrooms, offices, a men’s dormitory, and the library. Graham took most of his classes here. A WALKING TOUR In the library, sometime in late 1940, with many FROM THE TIME HE WAS A STUDENT, Rev. Billy Graham ’43, LITT.D. ’56 remained involved in the life of the suggestions from friends and shushings from the College—often speaking on campus, being elected to the Scholastic Honor Society in 1951, receiving an honorary librarian, he composed doctorate in 1956, leading a week-long evangelistic campaign on campus in 1959, and serving on the Board of Trustees. and delivered a note to His influence at Wheaton continues today through the Billy Graham Center. Here are a few of the local stops he would Ruth Bell ’43, asking her remember and why.

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