WH E A

T WHEATON O N WHEATON COLLEGE ALUMNUS BILLY GRAHAM: 1918-2018 GRAHAM: BILLY ALUMNUS COLLEGE WHEATON

ON JUNE 11, 1962, BILLY GRAHAM DELIVERED THE SPECIAL ISSUE 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. out on their first date.

people from backgrounds other than my own.” Professors all I want to do is win souls.’ Little ter in the mid-1970s. Since the Cen- “Probably Graham’s strongest influence on Wheaton such as Alexander Grigolia helped develop his respect for did we know how God would an- ter opened, Wheaton has developed was the main direction of his entire career—to keep a academic accomplishment. swer that prayer.” graduate programs in missions, evan- simple but profound message of the need for Christ gelism, theology, and biblical studies, right at the center of his ministry,” said Mark Noll ’68, But no one at Wheaton would influence Billy Graham more For as much as Wheaton gave Bil- among others. In 2017, 375 graduate professor of history emeritus. “He provided an exam- than a missionary kid named Ruth Bell. ly Graham, the evangelist gave students from 40 states, 18 countries, ple of how to prioritize Christian life in the world. Other back much more in subsequent and 20 denominations prepared at things are important, but nothing is as important as “If I had not been smitten with love at the first sight of Ruth decades. His most visible legacy Wheaton for various types of ministry. the encounter with Christ. A college can be interested Bell, I would certainly have been the exception,” he recalled. is the Billy Graham Center, one in a lot of things. Wheaton College, too, could have a “Many of the men at Wheaton thought she was stunning.” of Wheaton’s signature buildings The 35,000 or so visitors to the Bil- mission focused on Christ and his kingdom without a since it opened in 1980. Billy raised ly Graham Center each year may not lot of the baggage inherited from previous generations. Their marriage would give Billy his most trusted adviser, a millions of dollars to open the cen- learn much about these graduate That was a tremendous gift to the College.” partner who challenged his assumptions and shared with ter, then gave it to the College. studies, but they do hear the gospel. him her overseas experience. He never did persuade his During Billy’s initial visit to the first- If the Billy Graham Center had only been dedicated, Presbyterian wife to become a Baptist. But their marriage Wheaton has reaped “enormous floor Billy Graham Museum, he char- it would have still left an important legacy. During the would become a model of cooperation that typified Billy’s benefit” from what has become acteristically complained that the Center’s dedication in 1980, Billy explained how then ministry to the ends of the earth. the “single largest gift of resourc- museum featured too much of him. President Hudson Armerding ’41 presented to him the es ever committed to the College,” Today the museum guides visitors idea of the Center. Louisville, Minneapolis, and Char- Before Billy Graham graduated in 1943, he left a lifelong im- said David Johnston, who twice through the history of evangelism and lotte had wanted to store his records, but Billy wanted pression on many classmates. served as the Center’s interim di- concludes with a brief gospel presen- a Center that would host conferences and train lead- rector. Graham took particular tation delivered by video from Billy. ers to carry the gospel to millions. He asked trusted “Our senior year a number of us fellows, including Billy, were interest in graduate education The simple gospel, juxtaposed in the colleagues, “What institution of the world could best praying every Friday night in each other’s rooms,” Dr. Sam- through the Center. Wheaton Col- same building with serious theologi- carry out the vision we had?” They settled on Wheaton. uel Faircloth ’43 said. “I will never forget Billy stretched out lege educated about 200 graduate cal study, typifies Billy Graham’s con- “Wheaton had a long history of unswerving dedication full-length between the bunks on the floor face down. As we students when Billy began talking tributions to the broader evangelical to the theological concepts we hold, to the world vision

prayed, he pounded the floor asking God to use him, ‘Lord, with his alma mater about the Cen- BUSWELL LIBRARY OF WHEATON COLLEGE ARCHIVES, PHOTOs COURTESY movement. we hold, to the academic excellence we believe in, and

WHEATON.EDU/MAGAZINE 7 Graham Field This was the site for most of the evening meetings of the 1959 Wheaton Crusade. Hundreds of students, faculty, and staff served as ushers, counselors, and members of the choir for the evening meetings. 6 Volunteers from 130 Chicago-area churches joined them. Eighteen VOLUME 21 // SPECIAL ISSUE 2018 thousand folding chairs were set up on the field for crowds totaling WHEATON 101,000 people for the week. Rev. Allan Billman, pastor of the Gary Memorial Methodist Church in Wheaton, said at the time, “Our church should never be the same again.” The Daily Journal (Oct. 10, 1959) 8

712 Howard Street (THE ATTIC) Along with four other young men, Billy Graham lived on the second floor of this private home, owned by Gus and Anna Hansen, during his junior and senior years. “Billy was the kind of boy that would come home happy in the afternoon and go up to his room. I would hear him walking back and forth, back and forth. I could hear him talking and talking . . . I have an idea that he was just practicing 7 his message for the Sunday service.” From a 1975 Billy Graham interview with Anna Hansen by Dr. Lois Ferm. Center On September 13, 1980, Billy Graham gave the dedication speech for the Center, Pierce almost exactly 40 years after he attended his first Chapel classes at Wheaton. Both the The daily chapel services were Library of Congress and Yale held here, as well as numerous University offered to be the 4 other campus events, including repository for his personal a performance of Handel’s papers. Instead of accepting “Messiah” that would be Billy these offers, Graham and Ruth’s first date. The 1943 and his colleagues at the Wheaton Revival also took Billy Graham Evangelistic place here. Special services led Association (BGEA) decided by Harold P. Warren turned into to create an institution that three days of continuous prayer would serve the church as and confession by students and a center for evangelism. faculty. Graham was part of a Wheaton College group of six students that had volunteered the land for the been praying for a revival on Center and was accepted campus. because of its continuing 5 commitment to Christ and his kingdom.

to the social concern that we have,” Billy told the masses “Who among the evangelicals can ing Wheaton professors, an important media outlets are quick to point out, his fame as a preacher assembled in front of the new Center on a warm Septem- stand up to the great secular or nat- outlet for their study and reflection. of the gospel never moved him beyond the simple gospel, or ber day. He warned them not to abandon core theological uralistic or atheistic scholars on The relationship between Wheaton caused him to abandon his lifestyle of obedience to the Lord beliefs. In case anyone misunderstood, he rattled off what their own terms of scholarship and and CT only grew closer when the mag- Jesus Christ,” said Marilee Melvin ’72, executive assistant he had in mind: the infallible Word of God, Adam and Eve’s research? Who among the evangeli- azine moved next door to Carol Stream. to the Wheaton College president. “Billy Graham’s ministry fall in Eden, Jesus Christ’s virgin birth, vicarious atonement, cal scholars is quoted as a normative went on straight as an arrow through the decades, thanks bodily resurrection, and Christ’s impending return. Then, source by the greatest secular author- “It’s so fortunate that Billy went to to wise and biblically based decisions he and his team made over the noise of a passing train, he delivered a powerful ex- ities on history or philosophy or psy- Wheaton College, because it was thor- early on about finances, relationships, and priorities. The hortation. “Therefore as Moses charged succeeding gener- chology or sociology or politics?” Malik oughly biblically orthodox but at the Grahams’ lifelong witness and ministry has blessed Whea- ations, so today I charge future generations of Wheaton Col- asked as the simple gospel preacher same time thoughtful and academi- ton College greatly because of their loyalty to the Lord Je- lege trustees, faculty, staff, and students: This Center has looked on. “For the sake of greater cally quite good,” said Harold Myra, sus Christ.” been dedicated this day to the glory of God and the advance- effectiveness in witnessing to Jesus co-author of The Leadership Secrets ment of the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ. So be it.” Christ himself, as well as for their own of Billy Graham and former CEO of President Philip G. Ryken ’88 is confident Billy Graham’s sakes, the evangelicals cannot afford Christianity Today. Billy tapped Dr. legacy will continue to influence the church and society for Yet Billy’s message might not have been the most memo- to keep on living on the periphery of Carl F. H. Henry ’38 as the first editor. generations for come. rable one that day. The keynote speaker was Charles Ma- responsible intellectual exercise.” Another Wheaton graduate, Dr. Har- lik, the Christian statesman who helped craft the Universal old Lindsell ’38, succeeded Dr. Henry “Wheaton’s ongoing connection to Billy Graham is an im- Declaration on Human Rights. Malik delivered an academic Billy Graham never followed his in 1968. These leaders from the fabled mense privilege, blessing, and responsibility,” President charge to match Billy Graham’s call to theological fidelity. Wheaton years with further theolog- World War II era at Wheaton encour- Ryken said. “His faithful witness inspires every member of “With great gentleness and magnanimity of soul, but also ical training. Late in his life he often aged each other in ministry as God our community to share the gospel faithfully and persuasive- with great courage, Malik took us evangelicals straight to said he regretted this choice. With a used them each to build his church. ly. At the same time, his advocacy for Christ-centered higher the woodshed,” Mark Noll recounted in The Scandal of the keen sense of his weakness, he spent Their prominence and faithfulness, in education calls us to intellectual excellence. We praise God Evangelical Mind. Christians must avoid the dangers of an- the rest of his life encouraging others turn, bolstered the College they loved. that the legacy preserved in his letters and sermons remains ti-intellectualism, Malik warned. They must win minds, not to pursue academic excellence. Chris- with us as a sacred treasure for the church worldwide.” just souls. tianity Today, founded by Billy in 1956, “Billy Graham brought renown to gave many evangelical leaders, includ- Wheaton because, as many secular

WHEATON.EDU/MAGAZINE 9 with presidents and royalty. Some 600,000 people had come forward in that Heaven Bent Low first decade in response to Graham’s invitation to come to Christ. The crusades were only one part of an extraordinary story that touched Global endeavors of a ‘true son of Wheaton’ millions of lives everywhere. It included as well the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (1950), the Hour of Decision radio broadcast (1950), the Hour of Decision television broadcast (ABC, 1951), a syndicated Billy Graham “My Answer” newspaper column (1951), World Wide Pictures, and more. Crusade hymns influenced wider hymnody. Secular journalists concurred that Graham was dynamic and humble. Christian reporters often added “an instrument of the Holy Spirit,” but no one seemed able to provide a full explanation for what they called “the Gra- ham phenomenon.” Billy Graham Graham displayed a sure instinct about people and identified early Clifford Barrows and George Beverly Shea as the two men he wanted beside him on Wheaton Crusade crusade platforms. With pianist Tedd Smith, Barrows and Shea gave Gra- DATES: September 27–October 4, 1959 ham’s endeavors a signature sound that featured congregational singing, mass LOCATION: Wheaton College choirs, Shea’s solos, and the invitation hymn, “Just As I Am.” As the ministry MEETING PLACES: Centennial Field, Centennial Gym- grew, associate evangelists and other staff joined each crusade. nasium, other buildings on campus.

The Wheaton Connection SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1959 Attendance: 18,000 Journalists noted Graham’s first-decade accomplishments, but they paid little THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1959 heed to his whereabouts on the weekend his second decade of crusades began. Attendance: 16,500 En route to his long-anticipated October 1959 Crusade in Indianapolis, Indi- SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1959 ana, Billy Graham detoured to Wheaton, Illinois, where President V. Raymond Attendance: 21,000 Edman had invited Graham to conduct fall chapel special services to launch TOTAL ATTENDANCE: 101,000 the college’s centennial celebration. INQUIRERS: 2,812 Graham’s Los Angeles Crusade had opened on Sunday, September 25, 1949. He began an eight-day crusade on the campus of his alma mater, Wheaton Col- Choir: 800 volunteers lege, on Sunday, September 27, 1959. The site of this crusade was the college’s ½ from the College Centennial Field (currently occupied by Fischer Hall and adjacent property). ½ from local churches Graham’s life since his graduation in 1943 had, by any measure, modeled the college motto: “For Christ and his Kingdom.” Counselors: 1,300 volunteers When the wider community learned of Graham’s coming for the fall chap- 25% from Wheaton College student body el special services, requests for a more ambitious event poured in. Graham 75% from local churches suggested an area-wide effort based on the Wheaton College campus. Such an approach would permit student participation and allow them to see a cru- sade firsthand. Some 130 churches in Wheaton and neighboring communities recruited choir members, counselors, and ushers, and the 1959 annual fall special services became an event to remember. In a pre-crusade press conference, Graham acknowledged a personal debt to Wheaton College: “When I arrived at Wheaton,” he told local journalists, “I BY DR. EDITH L. BLUMHOFER, PROFESSOR OF HISTORY EMERITA was green, narrow, and provincial. Wheaton’s students come from all over the world, representing many cultural backgrounds. Immediately my horizons BILLY GRAHAM’S REMARKABLE CRUSADES began unostentatiously in a tent in were broadened. My spiritual roots were pushed deeper. My social concern downtown Los Angeles in 1949. Ten years later, the press reviewed the breath- was amplified—it was the first institution I had attended where Negroes were taking pace of the evangelist’s rise from obscurity to global fame. A long list of on an equal footing with the whites.” crusades following hard on the eight-week Los Angeles event established Billy Graham as a man with a message for the times. Those in London (1954—the first A True Son of Wheaton overseas crusade), New York’s Madison Square Garden (1957), and Australia and New Zealand (1959) were high points of his first decade. Around these larger en- With a population of 25,000 and 1,600 students on the College’s campus, deavors, Graham conducted scores of crusades and rallies at home and abroad. Wheaton may have been the smallest community to host a Graham Crusade,

He preached to overflow audiences in the world’s largest arenas and conversed BUSWELL LIBRARY OF WHEATON COLLEGE ARCHIVES, PHOTO COURTESY but Graham’s team provided the same level of support they offered for major

WHEATON.EDU/MAGAZINE 11 “He was always a person of the greatest integrity and I saw the Holy Spirit working in him.”

Graham wrote to Edman that his team had found at Wheaton “the warmest hospitality we have ever known.”

of 1962. Billy Graham never conducted an- other Wheaton Crusade, but he maintained firm ties to his alma mater as a trustee and crusades around the world. Graham’s staff trained counsel- occasional speaker. ors, Cliff Barrows directed a mass choir, and George Bever- In the 1970s, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association ly Shea sang solos that seemed, one student remarked, to chose Wheaton College as the repository for its ministry “Over my years of relationship be directed personally to each hearer. Graham’s associate records. The BGEA provided most of the funding for the with Billy, I have seen him as an evangelists conducted daily chapel services in the new Cen- construction of the Billy Graham Center to house an archive example in every phase of his tennial Gymnasium. The public was welcome, and chapel documenting Graham’s evangelism, a library focused on life of what Wheaton stands for attendance averaged 3,000, but compounded by live cov- missions, revivals, and evangelism, a museum to tell Gra- as an institution, serving Jesus erage on WMBI. ham’s story and present the gospel to every visitor, and oth- Christ and advancing his king- The opening service on Sunday afternoon drew 18,000. er programs to advance evangelism. The goal was to make dom.” Thursday evening attracted 16,500 teenagers to a youth the Center “a vigorous living extension of Billy Graham’s Bill Pollard ’60. Pollard has served night. Wheaton College students constituted nearly half of ministry.” Graham spoke at the groundbreaking in 1977 and as a director and chairman of the Cliff Barrows’ 1,000-voice choir and 250 of the 1,000 coun- at the dedication in 1980. Executive Committee of the Billy selors. Wheaton ROTC directed traffic, and the old College Graham Evangelistic Association and is a trustee emeritus of Wheaton College. gym served as Crusade headquarters. From Wheaton to Eternity Inclement weather forced the final Sunday service in- doors. Centennial Gym accommodated 5,000, and the Col- When Graham’s long career ended, crusade music lingered, lege wired six nearby buildings for closed circuit television. indelibly woven into crusade memories. In his heyday, thou- “Over the years I had the greatest respect for Mr. More than 16,000 crammed in, but nearly 10,000 more had sands serenaded Graham at airports, train stations, and Graham. He was always a person of the great- to be turned away. All told, attendance reached 101,000, and hotels around the world with crusade favorites “Blessed est integrity and I saw the Holy Spirit working counselors prayed with 2,812 inquirers. More than 60 per- Assurance,” “To God Be the Glory,” and “How Great Thou in him. He was always kind to me, concerned cent of these represented first-time commitments to Christ. Art.” When Graham died on February 21, a different crusade about my family, and appreciative of what I was The Wheaton Crusade set the tone for a memorable cen- hymn welled from grateful hearts around the globe. People contributing to the Crusade meetings (a very tennial year. A message from Billy Graham and a live record- recognized “Just As I Am” as Graham’s legacy, a metrical small part).” ing of the Crusade choir singing “All That Thrills My Soul is expansion on the gospel he preached. A few days later in Jesus” featured on a centennial album and gave the Crusade the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, the program honoring Graham John Innes ’63. Innes was a Billy Graham team musician for 43 years as an organist a place in college centennial memories. From Indianapolis featured just one song: “Just As I Am.” It was featured as and pianist and was the designated Graham wrote to Edman that his team had found at Whea- the postlude at Graham’s private funeral service as well. pianist for Billy’s memorial service. ton “the warmest hospitality we have ever known.” “Heaven Graham, the “true son of Wheaton,” would have approved. Photo courtesy of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. bent low,” he wrote, “and its music will always echo in our After all, he devoted his life to preaching and modeling that Dr. Samuel Faircloth ’43. Faircloth, one of ➝ hearts. It is with great pride that I consider myself a true coming “just as I am” made possible a life devoted to Christ Graham’s Wheaton classmates, attended son of Wheaton.” and his kingdom. Graham’s memorial service on campus. After graduating from Wheaton, Faircloth had a The Wheaton Crusade heightened area interest in a cru- long ministry career as an Army chaplain, a sade in Chicago, a dream that became a reality in the spring BUSWELL LIBRARY OF WHEATON COLLEGE ARCHIVES, PHOTO COURTESY Association Graham Evangelistic and the Billy Satola Gabi Photos by missionary, an educator, and a pastor.

WHEATON.EDU/MAGAZINE 13 VOLUME 21 // SPECIAL ISSUE 2018

WHEATON

14

Billy Graham Led Me to Y PARENTS, KEN and Hear the WITNESSING WHAT Kay Kirk Gieser, were Word of God Speak PREACHERS DO recently married, and M my dad was soon to Recounting the friendship of P. Kenneth (Ken) Gieser ’30 graduate from North- BY DR. JEFFRY C. DAVIS ’83 and Catharine (Kay) Kirk Gieser ’31 with Billy and Ruth western Medical School when they PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH AND DEPARTMENT CHAIR; began applying to mission boards to DIRECTOR OF INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES Graham serve in Africa. It was April 1934 and there were few At age 12, I watched a Billy Graham Cru- By Dr. David K. Gieser ’71 opportunities for new missionaries to sade secretly in our basement. The TV set Africa. With no openings in Africa, my became a pulpit, and Dr. Graham spoke Chairman of the Wheaton College Board of Trustees father learned of an opportunity with directly to me, with heartfelt passion. His the Southern Presbyterian Mission in trademark phrase—“The Bible says…”— China. A man named Dr. Nelson Bell encouraged my confidence. He believed needed an intern to serve alongside the Word of God to be living, convict- him. ing people of their sins, and offering Mom and Dad arrived via freight- life-changing redemption through Jesus. er in Shanghai in September of 1934. What he preached rang true. Yet, I Their home had not yet been built, so, could not truly surrender my life to Christ. for their first eight months in China, Like Langston Hughes, in “Salvation,” “I my parents lived in the home of Vir- was saved from sin when I was going ginia and Nelson Bell. My dad worked on thirteen. But not really saved.” After at a hospital in Tsing Kiang Pu, and it all, my family and I attended church re- was there that both of my brothers, ROYAL ALBERT Billy pointed to Royal Albert Hall and said that he was “going to come back some day and fill it.” Photo courtesy of Royal Albert Hall. ligiously (though no one spoke of a rela- Richard ’59 and Charles ’61, were born. HALL 1947 tionship with Jesus). And I even recited Dr. Bell knew very little about Whea- the Sinner’s Prayer once when my zeal- ton College. As his two daughters, ous cousin pressured me to do it (though Rosa and Ruth, were approaching Dad would accompany Ruth to hear his way, he stopped in London where without genuine conviction). college age, Dr. Bell learned that my Billy Graham preach. Billy was on a preaching tour. My Dad Throughout high school, I continued parents had attended Wheaton and My Dad recalled wondering, giv- stayed with Billy at the Cumberland to watch Billy Graham with fascination. his interest grew. en Ruth’s soft-spoken, Presbyterian Hotel, and each night they’d travel to Then, one night before graduation, I at- In a letter from Ruth Graham to background, “how she could be so en- area churches. tended a wild party and found myself me shortly before her death, she con- amored with a loud, hard-hitting Bap- One rainy evening on the way back feeling utterly empty inside. I drove home firmed that her father was impressed tist preacher who filled the Masonic to the hotel on the upper deck of a in desperation, and then I taunted God with Ken and Kay Gieser, and—so the Temple so that there was standing London bus, Billy pointed to the Royal in my room: “If you’re real, speak!” Grab- story goes—if they went to Wheaton room only every time he spoke.” Albert Hall and, as reported in my fa- bing the Bible from the shelf, I opened it College, that was where Rosa and Ruth Even so, in 1943, Mom and Dad at- ther’s diary, Billy said that he was “go- randomly, and my eyes fell on Hebrews would go. Dr. Bell said, “It is a good col- tended their wedding in Montreat, ing to come back some day and fill it.” 4:12—“For the word of God is living…able lege and stands unswervingly, even ag- North Carolina. “Having seen no more than 60- to judge the thoughts and intentions of gressively, for the truth.” But finances In 1947, my Father was on his way to 70 people in his meetings up to that the heart.” The fear of the Lord came over were tight for the Bells. My mom and provide surgical services for a month time,” my father wrote in his diary, “I me, and I shut the book immediately. I dad felt the nudge of the Spirit and at the Kano Eye Hospital in Nigeria. On said something I wished I could re- realized Dr. Graham was right—the Bible gave $200 toward Ruth’s expenses at tract: ‘Billy, preachers don’t do that does speak. Wheaton. sort of thing.’” Not long afterward, I earnestly gave When my parents returned and During the summer of 1966, my Dad, my life to Christ. Eventually attending settled in Wheaton in 1940, Ruth and “ I SAID SOMETHING Mom, and sister, Patricia ’65, and I Wheaton College, I visited the Billy Gra- Rosa were well along in their studies were sitting in Earl’s Court, London, ham Center, where I learned more about at the College. I WISHED I COULD amid a capacity crowd of 18,000 peo- the man that God had used to bring me Ruth began mentioning to my folks RETRACT: ‘BILLY, ple. By the time that month-long Cru- to a saving knowledge of his Son. I re- her interest in a tall Southerner, a man PREACHERS DON’T sade was over, more than one million main indebted to this humble Wheaton who was preaching every Sunday eve- people had heard Billy’s message. alumnus, and grateful for his faithfulness ning in the Old Masonic Temple in DO THAT SORT OF Preachers don’t do that sort of

to God’s calling upon his life. K. GIESER ’71 OF DAVID PHOTO COURTESY downtown Wheaton. So, my Mom and THING.’” thing.

WHEATON.EDU/MAGAZINE 15 VOLUME 21 // SPECIAL ISSUE 2018

WHEATON

16

WHEATON AS PREPARATION: Then Read how Wheaton prepared Billy Graham for his career, and find out what he believed sets a Wheaton education apart today.

What are you most thankful for from your time at Wheaton College? Now What characteristics set Wheaton students apart from When I went to Wheaton College in the 1940s, it was nearly 100 students at other universities? years earlier that it was founded by Pastor Jonathan Blanchard as an anti-slavery school. Harriet Beecher Stowe’s brother was Back in the 1980s, I had the opportunity to come back to in the first graduating class. So I received a much broader view Wheaton for a Chapel service, and I was so moved as Pres- of life at that point. There has always been at Wheaton the great ident J. Richard Chase led the students in prayer for our redemptive gospel they believed in, but also a social emphasis. ministry on secular campuses. It was remarkable seeing At Wheaton, I made friends with black students, and I recall students at Wheaton praying for fellow students elsewhere. vividly one of them coming to my room one day and talking with Prayer is key to our effort to communicate the Gospel and deep conviction about America’s need for racial justice. That win men and women to Christ. influenced me tremendously—to go to school with black people I talked one time to the president of Harvard University, for the first time in my life. and asked him what the greatest need was at Harvard. He Also, I studied anthropology at Wheaton, which was a strong said, “The students to be committed.” He didn’t say to what, department with great professors. At that time, I never dreamed but I believe that it’s true. Across college campuses, there’s I would be traveling all over the world or how much I could use cul- a feeling among students that they don’t have a purpose; tural anthropology to understand how other people live. It would some of them don’t have meaning in their lives. Students give me a tolerance for other backgrounds, which I believe God are searching for something and they don’t know what it has used mightily as we proclaimed the gospel around the world. is. That something is God, and they won’t find the complete In my time at Wheaton, I would listen to the missionary speak- answer until they come to know God. ers as they came, and I was so inspired. I just thought, “My good- I know there are countless students at Wheaton being ness, we can go out and win the world for Christ!” inspired, just as I was, to be used by God to bring hope to I believe God worked all of these things together back then to the hopeless, helping people around the world know what prepare the way for our ministry in the years to come. it means to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. ILLUSTRATION/phto BY Name Here ILLUSTRATION/phto BY Name Here ILLUSTRATION/phto BY ALL ANSWERS COMPILED BY THE BGEA FROM EXCERPTS OF REV. BILLY GRAHAM’S PAST SPEECHES, PRESENTATIONS, AND WRITINGS

WHEATON.EDU/MAGAZINE 17 angle, it is almost certain that an even forthcoming preaching mission by Bil- Baptist, their modest-sized sanctuary greater and longer-lasting impact ly Graham. Then, when we arrived in was jammed to the rafters, and more The International came from what he did outside of the Oradea, it was even more remarkable than 30,000 additional listeners gath- United States. to see the Romanian Baptists almost ered outside the church to hear the I was privileged to hear Graham literally on fire with anticipation for sermon broadcast over loudspeakers. preach on a number of occasions. Yet the chance to watch Graham preach Graham’s message featured his none of these occasions left an impres- on transmissions from Hungary’s standard themes—the need for Christ, Billy Graham sion anything like Jerry and Claudia state-owned television. In particular, the blessings of salvation, the possibil- By Dr. Mark Noll ’68, The worldwide audience of millions that watched the fu- Root and I received in July 1989 during they were busily arranging for ethnic ity of choosing now to follow Jesus— neral of Billy Graham on March 2, 2018, saw much they a trip to Romania organized by Coach Hungarians to watch with them who and all without obvious reference to Professor of probably expected and perhaps a few things they did not. Don Church ’57 and sponsored by the could provide simultaneous transla- the Communist regime or its harsh History emeritus Among the latter might have been the participation of Wheaton Alumni Association. It was tion of Graham’s message (already treatment of Christian believers. Yet three individuals who were by no means famous in the the last summer before the dramatic, translated from English into Hungar- in his public statements during the United States. but peaceful revolutions that brought ian) from Hungarian into Romanian. trip, he spoke positively of Roma- Sami Dagher, who brought a tribute, is a Lebanese church planter who cooper- down Communism in Eastern Europe. nia’s rich religious heritage, and he ated with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) on many occasions. We had flown into Budapest, Hun- BEHIND THE referred generally to the importance Robert Cunville, who offered a prayer of thanksgiving, is from the Khasi tribe gary, where we then caught a train for of basic human rights. Later reports and a native of Nagaland in northeast India. Cunville coordinated Billy Graham’s Oradea in Transylvania. At the Second IRON CURTAIN revealed that Graham also cautioned preaching tour there in 1977. Rev. Billy Kim Litt.D. ’92, who offered his own me- Baptist Church in Oradea, Wheaton Then we found out more interesting Romanian authorities against the re- morial, was the first Asian-born president of the Baptist World Alliance; he was faculty had, for several summers, details. Four years earlier, Billy Gra- gime’s plans to level the Second Bap- also Billy Graham’s translator when in 1973 the American evangelist addressed been helping with the church’s exten- ham had been allowed to preach in tist Church building in Oradea on a a crowd in Seoul estimated to include 1.1 or 1.2 million people (pictured below). sive program of lay theological edu- seven Romanian cities, including Ora- pretext of urban renewal. The presence of these three at the funeral reflected a crucial aspect of Billy cation. But before we could get on the dea, where one of the pastors at the Our Romanian Baptist hosts en- Photos Graham’s preaching career that has not received the attention it deserves. train in Budapest, we were amazed at Second Baptist Church, Paul Negrut, joyed some friendships with ethnic courtesy of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Almost everyone knows how important Graham’s life and ministry became seeing big posters plastered all over had coordinated the evangelist’s vis- Hungarian Baptists who also lived Association for proclaiming the gospel in the United States. But, considered from a wider the Hungarian capital announcing a it. When Graham preached at Second in Oradea. But tensions between Hungarian-speaking and Roma- nian-speaking groups in Transylvania had always been high. Only two years before we arrived in Oradea, the Ro- manian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu had initiated attacks on ethnic Hun- garian villages, and these attacks were fueling heightened ethnic tensions na- tionwide during that summer of 1989. Yet for the chance to hear Billy Graham preach on television, the Hungarians and Romanians in Oradea were coop- erating to an unprecedented degree. A second salient fact comes in a splendid essay by William Miller, one of Graham’s most reliable biographers. It is found in a book arising from a conference organized at Wheaton by Edith Blumhofer, director of the Insti- tute for the Study of American Evan- gelicals (Billy Graham: American Pil- grim, ed. Andrew Finstuen, Anne Blue Wills, and Grant Wacker, from Oxford University Press, 2017). Miller’s chap- ter, “God’s Ambassador to the World,” includes a striking fact concerning

ILLUSTRATION/phto BY Name Here ILLUSTRATION/phto BY Name Here ILLUSTRATION/phto BY Graham’s preaching in Hungary that

WHEATON.EDU/MAGAZINE 19 summer of 1989. For his final service, about 110,000 people jammed Buda- pest’s largest stadium; at the invita- tion, 27,000 people came forward to receive Christ or reaffirm their com- mitment. It was the largest proportionate re- sponse Graham ever received in his entire ministry. In Hungary. Before the fall of the Iron Curtain. STREETS OF Billy Graham at an Four notable conclusions can be LONDON 1954 open air market. drawn about Billy Graham’s interna- tional activities, which are treated here in ascending importance.

MINISTRY Graham returned from a meeting in W. Bush and Bill Clinton before being unprecedented publicity for a positive preached in Baptist, Orthodox, and Then at three International Con- the Soviet Union to say that he had allowed to preach in North Korea. image of Christianity in a society that Catholic churches, with representa- gresses for Itinerant Evangelists AMID INNOVATION witnessed scant religious persecution. A striking example of the long-term had become increasingly secular; and tives of these communions—who had held in Amsterdam in 1983, 1986, and Graham’s overseas crusades used The media fur flew, with much tut-tut- effects of this political involvement, in even a measurable decline in crime es- almost nothing to do with each other— 2000, Graham and his team directly technological innovations that gave ting about the evangelist’s political na- fact, concerns North Korea. Partly as pecially in places where the campaign cooperating! stimulated cooperation, encourage- his gospel message an ever-expand- iveté. This occasion was probably one a result of those Billy Graham visits, had been concentrated. In 1972 Graham experienced a tep- ment, and inspiration among men and ed hearing. A 1954 London Crusade of the few times when Graham spoke Samaritan’s Purse, directed by Frank- When in 1973 Graham preached id welcome in Northern Ireland, but women whose callings most closely at the Harringay Arena was the first incautiously; it probably helped him lin Graham, has been able to bring hu- at the first large integrated religious Catholics along with Protestants matched the evangelist’s own. In Wil- time the Graham team had used tele- frame the more judicious remarks he manitarian relief into that otherwise event in South Africa, observers not- warmly greeted his short preaching liam Miller’s estimation, the 2000 phone lines to send the evangelist’s made during his 1985 visit to Roma- sealed-off communist nation. ed a similar advance in strictly King- tour in the Republic of Ireland where gathering assembled “representatives message to other locations. When nia. Yet obsessive attention to this one However important Billy Graham dom terms. In his sermon, Graham Catholic-Protestant conflict went of more countries around the world he returned to London in 1964 for a moment can obscure how wide, and al- was for political history, believing affirmed, “Christianity is not a white back nearly, it seemed, to the dawn than any event, religious or secular, crusade at Earl’s Court, his messages most always productive, Graham’s in- observers should recognize his even man’s religion.” But beyond these of time. in the history of the world.” In all like- were broadcast live with closed-circuit formal political activities were. greater significance for salvation his- words, as a Zulu participant said, The number of such notable oc- lihood, no single evangelist—whether television, another first. Two decades tory. With much less publicity, at least “Even if Billy Graham doesn’t stand casions could be multiplied beyond from Lebanon, Nagaland, Korea, or later in 1985, on another return visit to A GLOBAL AMBASSADOR in the United States, than for political up to preach, this has been enough counting where Graham crusades the far reaches of Africa, Latin Amer- England, the BGEA deployed satellite questions, Graham’s overseas effec- of a testimony.” But of course he did stimulated a new sense of the body of ica, Asia, and the Pacific—will ever technology for the first time to broad- A big book would be required to do this tiveness in more strictly Christian preach, and the preaching, along with Christ working in its divergent mem- achieve the recognition that came to cast the evangelist’s sermons. subject justice, but a few highlights terms was dramatic. Individuals who efforts to prepare for the preaching bers for common kingdom purposes. Billy Graham. But as they returned to Evangelical Christianity in its mod- stand out. As a young 34-year-old, were converted, or who confirmed and follow-up its effects, advanced the Yet even this extraordinarily import- their places of ministry, these itiner- ern form may be said to have begun Graham was sent by the Pentagon to their faith, during his 1954 London cause of Christ. ant result of Graham’s ministry can- ant evangelists multiplied the work of with the spectacular revival tours of visit American and allied troops fight- crusade or in the Australian meetings not touch the supernally significant the much more famous Graham many George Whitefield in the eighteenth ing the Korean War. The visit brought of 1959 included many individuals who FELLOWSHIP AND international gatherings that Gra- times over. century. Through the modern media, some comfort to the soldiers, but Gra- later became leaders of their church- SOCIAL RENEWAL ham helped plan, where he regularly What Jerry and Claudia Root and Graham was Whitefield redivivus, ham also reported that his chance to es—and churches of several denom- keynoted, and that the BGEA took the I experienced in Hungary and Roma- brought back to life. view Korean believers who had en- inations. Australian historians with Finally, almost everywhere Billy Gra- lead in funding. The World Congress nia in 1989—and what the presence of dured dislocation, impoverishment, many connections to Wheaton Col- ham preached, his appearances stim- on Evangelism in Berlin (1966) and Sami Dagher, Robert Cunville, and Bil- THE NEWS MEDIA and violent persecution affected him lege, including Mark Hutchinson and ulated Christian fellowship and pro- the International Congress on World ly Kim represented at Billy Graham’s even more. He went as a quasi-official Stuart Piggin, have carried out de- vided long-lasting encouragement for Evangelization in Lausanne (1974) funeral—was not the only permanent A second regular feature of Gra- U.S. representative; he returned with tailed research on the effects of Gra- believers to work together for evange- were landmark events in the history of mark of Billy Graham on history. It is, ham’s overseas activity has received a deeper appreciation for the suffering ham’s 1959 crusade in their country. lism, social renewal, and the strength- modern Protestantism that magnified however, hard to imagine that any oth- more attention than any other. When church worldwide. In a 1989 article, “Billy Graham in Aus- ening (or the creation) of Christian East-West fellowship, prompted a vast er marks will endure for the cause of Graham traveled on behalf of the Unit- As a regular practice, Graham often tralia, 1959—Was It Revival” published organizations. As we witnessed in Ro- array of regional and global coopera- Christ and his kingdom as much as ed States government—or was per- conferred with high governmental of- in volume six of Lucas: An Evangelical mania in 1989 with Hungarian and Ro- tive initiatives, and gave evangelicals the mark left by the international ceived to be acting as an informal Am- ficials either before or after his over- History Review, Piggin summarized manian believers overcoming ethnic in the Majority World an influential Billy Graham. bassador Extraordinaire—the world seas preaching missions. As only one the evidence: a striking leap in church antagonism to watch television with platform for instructing their brothers press paid attention. The high point example, in 1992 and 1994, the evan- attendance, church membership, and one another, so Romania experienced and sisters from the shrinking “Chris-

of this attention came in 1982 when gelist met with Presidents George H. enrollment in theological seminaries; March 11, 1954 LOOK magazine, John Vachon, photos BY on a larger scale in 1985 when Graham tian West.”

WHEATON.EDU/MAGAZINE 21 on Fire

Evangelism is especially We are all broken sinners in need of the BILLY GRAHAM’S CRUSADES BEGAN in Los Angeles in 1949, 2 urgent today. 4 and wrapped up with the last official crusade in New York Gospel. City in 2005. In 1959 he led a crusade on Wheaton College campus, and his 1973 crusade in Seoul, South Korea, drew WE HAVE LEARNED that the evangelistic harvest is always ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT truths I learned as an more than 1 million people, the largest gathering of humans urgent. But, there seem to be periods of special urgency in evangelist preaching around the world is that the gospel cuts for a religious purpose up to that moment in time. history when it can be said with peculiar relevance, “the fields across every cultural, political, and social barrier. The human Call centers around the country, including one at Whea- are white unto harvest.” I believe that we are in such a period. heart doesn’t change. The human heart is filled with sin. We Because of technology, this is the most critical period in modern have broken God’s commandments. We are estranged from ton College, fielded phone calls from people responding history—not just for world events, but for the advancement God. We are separated from God. We need reconciliation and to Billy Graham’s televised crusades. Since 1984, the Bil- of the kingdom of God. And, that should give us a sense of the only reconciliation is the cross and the resurrection, and ly Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) reports that urgency greater than anything the church has ever experienced. repentance and faith. Wherever I have been, I know that the Wheaton’s call center alone answered more than 93,000 We stand at the heart of a world revolution. Our world is on fire, gospel works because God made it for the whole human race. calls, with more than 37,000 of these callers making com- and man without God cannot control the flames. The gospel speaks to people at a university, a street corner, a mitments to Christ. tribal village, a stadium, a cathedral, or anywhere. The basic Given the longevity and global reach of Billy Graham’s needs of the human heart are still the same. evangelistic experience, we wondered what wisdom he might offer to spark the next generation of evangelists. Following are five essential insights—compiled by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA)—excerpted from Believe the Bible his past speeches, presentations, and writings. is God’s inspired, Never change the authoritative Word— 5 message. 3 even though you may not

understand it all. MY ENCOURAGEMENT for the next generation of evangelists is this: never change the message. When the gospel We are our own greatest of Jesus Christ is presented with authority—quoting from the very Word of God—He takes that message and drives it threat to evangelism. IN 1949, I was high up in the Sierras in California at a 1 supernaturally into the human heart. conference center for a speaking engagement. Some of the other speakers there would sort of smile at the fact that I was We tried to preach it in the context of the group to whom IN MANY WAYS, the greatest threat to modern-day naive when it came to the Scriptures. I began to doubt, and say, we were talking. We tried to use something the audience is evangelism is ourselves. The church, at times, has lost sight “Well, maybe I’m wrong to believe the Bible and accept it as it is.” acquainted with to illustrate a spiritual truth, but the spiritual truth remains the same. The gospel never changes. of the legitimacy and importance of evangelism. One of the I went out into the woods one moonlit night. The mountains greatest needs in the world church today is the recovery of were beautiful. I came to a stump of a tree. I opened the Bible, belief in the necessity of evangelism. and I said, “Lord, I do not understand this. There are many Our greatest need for God’s people today is true spiritual things in here that appear to be contradictions. There are things Photo courtesy of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association revival–a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the church, a in here that I cannot interpret properly. And, these men are ALL ANSWERS COMPILED BY THE BGEA FROM EXCERPTS OF REV. BILLY GRAHAM’S profound repentance and turning from sin, and a deepening telling me that I am wrong in accepting it by faith. But I do, I PAST SPEECHES, PRESENTATIONS, AND WRITINGS. commitment to God’s will in every area of life. Evangelism is the accept this book by faith. I cannot understand it all, I cannot fruit of revival among God’s people. If we have little interest in explain it all, but I accept it by faith.” And, that was it. From that reaching our world for Christ, it shows that the work of revival moment on I went totally on the basis of faith. (or renewal) needs to begin in our own hearts. Many scholars would disagree with my point of view, but I never had a doubt from that moment on. The Bible is God’s inspired, authoritative Word, and I do not understand it. I was asked questions throughout my ministry that I would never be able to properly explain in an answer. But, I accepted by faith that there is an answer and that I am to do my best to be faithful to God in prayer, Bible study, and ministry.

WHEATON.EDU/MAGAZINE 23 preciation for the school’s mission to train young men and counters with his strength of character and commitment women for leadership in every area of society. He was espe- was in connection with the first network television interview cially grateful that the school’s liberal arts approach to edu- I arranged for him on NBC’s Today. Assuming he would want cation, integrating faith and learning across all disciplines, to have a word of prayer before he went on the air, when we enabled him to major in anthropology. As a result, he was arrived I informed his long-time traveling associate, Dr. T. W. equipped for his life’s work with a better understanding of Wilson, that I had pre-arranged a private area off the green world religions and a foundational empathy for people from room for us to commit the interview to the Lord. Mr. Graham’s all cultures. “The first thing Billy did when he got up this morning was to start praying in his room,” Dr. Wilson replied gracious- A GLOBAL WITNESS ly in what became an important teaching moment for me. “He prayed during breakfast and in the car on the way over People often ask me what one word describes Billy Graham’s from the hotel. He is praying right now and will continue to by A. Larry Ross ’76 Spokesman witness, but I have to use three: faithfulness (to his calling), pray his way through this interview. Let’s just say Billy tries authenticity (the same person on-on-one as in the pulpit), and to keep himself prayed up all the time.” integrity (doing the right thing, beyond doing things right). I I learned many such exemplary lessons about the respon- THROUGHOUT HIS DECADES-LONG PUBLIC ministry, Bil- based on our shared theological, intellectual, and missional was reminded of that parallel paradigm by Dr. Jim Pleudde- sibility and opportunities we have as followers of Christ to ly Graham, Wheaton’s best-known alumnus, established a heritage of Wheaton. Mr. Graham explained that Whea- mann ’65, M.A. ’71, in his challenge to Wheaton Associates live lives pleasing to and effective for the Lord before a benchmark of behavior and belief, and modeled integrity ton College was founded, in part, as an anti-slavery school during my 35th class reunion in May 2011. watching world. Another of these was Mr. Graham’s bold and humility as an extraordinary example of how to finish before the Civil War, and that the first graduating class in- “The number one problem today is the disconnect be- gospel witness through both word and deed whenever pos- well. cluded the brother of Harriet Beecher Stowe. He highlight- tween truth and life,” he said. “Knowing the truth is nec- sible—including in every media situation—for which God I first heard Mr. Graham preach when I was just nine ed the institution’s long history combining social concern essary, but not sufficient; neither is being able to discern honored his faithfulness. years old as a young face in a record-setting crowd of with the strength of the biblical gospel, stressing that the culture.” While it is standard procedure for an interview subject 116,000 at the closing service of his 1962 Chicago Cru- College had never deviated from its mission over the years. Recognizing Wheaton College exists to help build the to count to ten or recite what he had for breakfast during a sade. From where I sat with my folks near the top cor- Mr. Graham further emphasized the seminal influence church and serve society worldwide, Dr. Pleuddemann lik- microphone check before a broadcast, Mr. Graham would ner of Chicago’s Soldier Field, he appeared as a speck our alma mater had on his life, noting that he met his wife ened that mission to a split-rail fence, with the top bar rep- always quote John 3:16 from the New Testament. When I on the stage more than a quarter mile away. Due to the Ruth and gained perspective on his calling and career while resenting the truth of theological orthodoxy and the bot- asked him why, he replied, “Every time I do an interview, I sweltering, 100-plus degree heat, I don’t recall a thing on campus. He also credited Wheaton as the place where he tom symbolizing cultural relevancy (to which I would add try to work the gospel into the conversation; but if, for some he said—only my incredible, unquenchable thirst. At started in evangelism, pastoring a local church as a student, a middle rail of intellectual integrity, based on conversa- reason I don’t have that opportunity, at least I know that the the time, I couldn’t yet envision the extent to which my life and from which he begin his evangelistic ministry, working tion with President Philip Ryken ’88). Since a fence must cameraman heard it.” would be impacted by Mr. Graham. I never imagined that for Youth for Christ, headquartered in nearby Chicago. be joined by posts, he concluded a Wheaton education pro- the house in which I grew up while my father taught in the What I didn’t know at the time, but later observed on vides that connection between truth and life, preparing stu- A PARTING CHALLENGE Wheaton College Graduate School would later be razed countless occasions through the years, was that beyond dents to be whole and effective Christians in today’s world. in order to build the Billy Graham Center; or that I would providing a passionate primer on the educational facility I immediately realized this as the legacy of Billy Graham, a On my last visit with Mr. Graham to the Wheaton campus have the privilege to serve as Mr. Graham’s spokesperson that provided an intellectual and spiritual turning point in man consistently reported to preach with a “Bible in one for his 50th class reunion in 1993, he gave a special challenge and media representative for more than three decades, his life, Mr. Graham leveraged our connection during that hand and a newspaper in the other.” For him, the fence post to graduating seniors in his commencement address. “Your beginning in 1981. interruption as a sensitive and suitable gospel witness. that connects truth and cultural relevancy is the Word of generation will bear the brunt of the future’s uncertainties,” I began serving Mr. Graham in 1981, handling media and God. Throughout his ministry, he has invoked his signature he said. “You can count your days, but with Jesus Christ as A PROUD WHEATON HERITAGE public relations for him and his ministry. Just prior, I was phrase, “The Bible says,” to emphasize and demonstrate your Savior and Lord, you can make your days count.” again in the crowd on a beautiful fall day in 1980, when he how Scripture speaks to personal problems and societal Billy Graham—Wheaton’s favored son, America’s pastor, I first met Mr. Graham not long after I graduated Wheaton, came to campus to dedicate the Center bearing his name. issues. evangelist to the world and my mentor and friend—made his while working for organizers of a hotel convention in Mem- At that time, there was an undercurrent of student protest Like the Apostle Paul at the Areopagus in Athens, Bil- days count; and he finished well, remaining faithful to his phis during the summer of 1976. After his prayer breakfast and numerous articles in The Wheaton Record expressing ly Graham faithfully traveled to the “Areopaguses” of our calling to preach the transformational message of the gospel address to thousands of Holiday Inn franchise owners, I fol- concern that Wheaton’s motto, “For Christ and His King- day—the world’s arenas and stadiums. At each crusade he throughout his public ministry. His influence was so broad lowed the conference director backstage where Mr. Graham dom,” would be replaced by, “For Graham and His Center.” temporarily turned these temples to the gods of entertain- and his impact so far-reaching, we won’t know this side of was about to take a photo with their entire corporate board. But nothing could be further from the truth. Having a ment and sport into cathedrals, to make the previously un- heaven the extent of his legacy, no matter how clearly de- “Billy Graham, there is a young man here who went to front-row seat for more than three decades observing all known true God known to crowds seeking to quench a spir- fined. And it is not likely we will see another like him in our the same college as you and would like to meet you,” the God accomplished around the world through Mr. Graham’s itual thirst far beyond my physical craving for something to generation. director said. faithfulness, I know there has been no better ambassador of drink at Soldier Field years ago. In his gracious, non-judgmental style, Mr. Graham broke Wheaton College, and no greater representative for living FOR MORE THAN 32 YEARS, LARRY ROSS ’76 SERVED AS THE PRIMARY MEDIA out of the lineup, shook my hand, and turned to the group to do all things “For Christ and His Kingdom.” A COMMITMENT TO THE GOSPEL SPOKESPERSON FOR BILLY GRAHAM. that included some of the most influential men in the hos- Over the years Mr. Graham and I had several conversa- pitality industry. For several minutes, he nostalgically en- tions comparing our respective experiences as Wheaton Mr. Graham considered every moment an opportunity to

lightened them about our common background and beliefs, students. On more than one occasion he expressed his ap- ASSOCIATION GRAHAM EVANGELISTIC OF THE BILLY PHOTO COURTESY serve the Lord and share His gospel. One of my early en-

WHEATON.EDU/MAGAZINE 25 VOLUME 21 // SPECIAL ISSUE 2018

WHEATON

26 The Billy Graham Scholarship: A Global Legacy

I will never forget the email I received from Wheaton saying that I had received the Billy Graham Scholarship. I wouldn’t be able to attend the College without this scholarship. It was one of the happiest days in my life.” 1975 — Evgeniya Fazletdinova M.A. ’17, Psy.D. ’22 SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM BEGAN S EXECUTIVE DI- A Note from Later, I taught at the Billy Graham rector of the Cen- School of Missions, Evangelism, and ter that bears his Church Growth at Southern Seminary. the Billy COUNTRIES WHERE OUR name, it’s hum- While there, I always thought about SCHOLARS ARE MINISTERING A bling to carry on Graham Center what it meant to carry the legacy of the legacy that Rev. Graham in all that we did. Afghanistan, Albania, Australia, Rev. Billy Graham ’43, Litt.D. ’56 left. Director Today, serving at the Billy Graham $650,000 Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangla- And yet, that is what we are all called Center at Wheaton College, we are TOTAL SCHOLARSHIPS PER YEAR desh, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia, Brazil, to do. Once when Graham was lead- DR. ED STETZER asking ourselves how we work in line Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, ing a global forum of evangelists, he The Billy Graham Distinguished Chair of with the values, tone, and approach of Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, was asked, “Who will be the next Billy Church, Mission, and Evangelism Rev. Graham, and how we can repre- Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Graham?” He swept his arm out over Executive Director, Billy Graham Center sent Jesus well. QUICK FACTS Republic, Democratic Republic of the large gathering and he simply said, While there may be no “next” Bil- • BGC Scholarships were created Congo, Denmark, Dominican Re- “They will.” ly Graham, our hope is that the Billy from the 1974-78 budget public, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, It’s hard to overstate Graham’s Graham Center would have the pas- • There are five scholarship catego- Ethiopia, France, Gabon, Germany, global impact. His influence has gone sion for evangelism and reaching peo- ries: International Christian Leader, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guy- far and wide, but Graham’s ministry ple that Rev. Graham had. International Furloughing Mission- ana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indone- has deeply impacted me personally It’s a legacy worth carrying forward. ary, North American Furloughing sia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, as well. Missionary, Pre-field Missionary, and Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, I planted my first church among Urban/Ethnic Ministry Worker Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, the urban poor at the same time the • In the last four years, over $250,000 Lebanon, Liberia, Macau, Macedonia, Billy Graham Crusade in Buffalo, New NUMBER OF BGC has been added to the program’s Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, York, began. We brought people to the endowment Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozam- crusade from the community we were SCHOLARS SINCE THE • The very first BGC scholars were bique, Nepal, New Zealand, Nige- serving. While there, I approached PROGRAM’S INCEPTION from South Africa, Kenya, and Aus- ria, Norway, Pakistan, Papua New some of the crusade workers to see if tralia Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, I could get the names of a few people • In 2017, we celebrated 50 Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rus- who made a decision to follow Christ Urban/Ethnic Ministry sia, Rwanda, Sao Tome & so we could help follow up with them. scholars Principe, Scotland, Sene- Originally, the crusade workers 1,060 gal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, turned us down because we weren’t re- Singapore, Slovakia, ally a church yet—and they were right. “I PLANTED MY South Africa, South We were just an idea. I kept pushing, FIRST CHURCH 71 Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, NUMBER OF NATIONALITIES and eventually they relented and gave AMONG THE URBAN Swaziland, Switzer- us the names of a few families. That REPRESENTED BY BGC land, Taiwan, Tajikistan, may not sound like much, but it’s a POOR AT THE SAME SCHOLARS Tanzania, Thailand, The big deal when you are planting a new TIME THE BILLY Netherlands, Togo, Tunisia, church. 113 Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, Unit- GRAHAM CRUSADE So, my ministry began connected to NUMBER OF COUNTRIES ed Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, a Billy Graham Crusade. IN BUFFALO, NEW LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BGC SCHOLAR PROGRAM Venezuela, Vietnam, Wales, Zambia, YORK, BEGAN.” AT: WHEATON.EDU/BCGSCHOLARSHIPS REACHED BY OUR SCHOLARS and Zimbabwe

WHEATON.EDU/MAGAZINE 27 Inside the “When he Graham Legacy got up in the Few knew Rev. Billy Graham like his youngest sister, Jean Graham Ford ’53, and her husband Dr. Leighton Ford ’52—his colleague for 30 years. Together they offer personal reflections, as well as inside perspective on the evangelist’s pulpit, Billy significant contributions to the church and society. was very By Katherine Halberstadt Anderson ’90 authoritative in his “I BELIEVE GOD HAS GIVEN YOU A CALL, and if you stay hum- Leighton remembers of the Crusade, “It went on for weeks ble, he will use you.” and weeks. Newspapers across the country picked up the preaching, With these words of encouragement and an arm around the story, and there were clippings all over the bulletin boards shoulder, Rev. Billy Graham made a lasting impression on a here at Wheaton about this young evangelist who was mak- but around 17-year-old Youth for Christ director named Leighton Ford ’52. ing such an impact.” home, he was Leighton had invited Billy to speak in his hometown of Cha- A few years later, Billy officiated at Leighton and Jean’s tham, Ontario, and that invitation changed the course of his life, wedding. After Leighton finished seminary, Billy called on gentle and as he would later become Billy’s brother-in-law, colleague, and him to galvanize local church leaders in preparation for the lifelong friend. At the time, Leighton could not have known how 1957 New York Crusade, the largest effort yet. It was a job kind.” God would use that dynamic young man to lead more than 400 Leighton felt honored to accept at the age of 24. He went crusades, missions, and evangelistic rallies around the globe, on to serve as associate evangelist and vice president with JEAN GRAHAM FORD ’53 becoming in the process one of our nation’s best-known reli- the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) from 1955 gious leaders. to 1985. Before the New York Crusade, Billy held a retreat for the Beginnings team. “At a Sunday morning meeting, someone suggested that we draw a circle and ask God to start a revival right world, and they began to engage the world in a new way, not Early on, Billy and Jean Graham’s mother set her sights on Whea- there in that circle,” Leighton said. “Billy was the first to go just through Billy, but through many different thinkers and ton College, not only for Billy, but for all their children. “She and to his knees, not to show off, but just to say, ‘Lord, it has to influences, including colleges like Wheaton. For many years, Daddy prayed that Billy would go to Wheaton no matter what . start with me.’ That was his attitude the whole time.” Billy’s voice was the most prominent, and it was a voice that . . They wanted all of us to go,” Jean said. Throughout the years, Billy demonstrated love and con- spoke for Christ and for our biblical faith.” Fourteen years his junior, Jean wrote in an article for Kodon, cern for their family. When their adult daughter, Debbie, was Billy also brought “an integrity to the work of evangelism” Billy Graham meets Leighton “Billy was really my pal when I was a little tot. I shall never forget undergoing tests for cancer, for instance, she looked down through his humility, and the ways he handled money, his Ford ’52 for the first time. Photo courtesy of the Billy the day he left for Wheaton, for I thought my heart would break.” a long hall and saw her Uncle Billy waiting for her. “They fell organization, and his personal life. Graham Center Archives What does she wish people understood about her famous into each other’s arms, and she’s said since, that was the The evangelical issues over which Billy had the greatest brother? greatest sermon he ever preached,” Jean said. influence were “the centrality of Christ and the cross, unity “When he got up in the pulpit, Billy was very authoritative in Volumes have been written, and will continue be written in Christ, and an ongoing vision for world evangelization,” his preaching, but around home, he was gentle and kind.” She about Billy Graham, a prolific and best-selling author in his Leighton noted. With these themes in mind, Billy convened remembers he often collected wildflowers for their mother, and own right. Perhaps fittingly, the final project of Wheaton’s the first International Conference on World Evangelization when Jean contracted polio at 12, though he and Ruth had just Institute for the Study of American Evangelicals produced in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1974, which drew global Chris- driven back to Western Springs, Illinois, “He came right back to a collection of scholarly essays about Billy on topics rang- tians together, and challenged the American church to real- Charlotte on those little two-lane roads to be with me.” ing from his influence on the course of the Cold War, to his ize that “evangelism and social responsibility are partners, At Wheaton Jean experienced a spiritual rebirth under the political and social vision. not competitors,” he said. teaching of Dr. Harold Ockenga, and also met Leighton, who Following are Leighton’s insights into the significant ele- If there is one piece of his influence on evangelicals that credits Wheaton with giving him a global vision. After a “disas- ments of his brother-in-law’s career and legacy. is most often forgotten, Leighton believes it is perhaps his trous” first date, the pair fell in love simultaneously at a restau- support of scholarly endeavors. “Billy was not a scholar, but rant on North Avenue after attending a church service together A New Voice Wheaton deepened and broadened his faith, and gave him in Chicago. a respect for and an understanding of the importance of Leighton applied to Wheaton at Billy’s suggestion. During his Rev. Billy Graham changed and shaped evangelism and scholarship, which is why he was so instrumental in help- first month on campus he said, “I went to hear Billy preach—and evangelicalism in several key ways. ing to start Christianity Today. He was also interested in he preached powerfully in the basement at his church in West- “Billy took our faith and made it ‘front page,’ so that it be- supporting Fuller Seminary, which began in those days, as ern Springs.” That very night in 1949, Billy left for Los Angeles gan to have an influence that was not there in 30s and 40s,” well as Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, a decade or to start what became his first history-making campaign. Leighton said. “Evangelicals had been separate from the so later,” he said.

WHEATON.EDU/MAGAZINE 29 When it was time to go, our last request was simply, “May we pray for you?” A Chaplain to Presidents

The first President who Billy got to know well was Dwight Eisenhower. Leighton recalled, “When he was running for President, Ike told Billy, ‘I feel that God has called me to lead a spiritual revival that we need in this country after all the drain that the war has taken out of us. And I don’t quite know how I’m supposed to do that.’” The two met frequently, even toward the end of his life. “Billy was with him at Walter Reed Hospital just before the at us as we leaned in, we saw a glimmer of recognition and end, and Ike asked him as he was leaving, ‘Tell me one more greeted him. We relished the opportunity to express our time, how can I be sure that I’m going to be with the Lord in love for him and his family and catch him up on our latest heaven?’ So Billy prayed with him,” Leighton said. A PRESIDENTIAL LEGACY grandchildren. I held back tears as I looked into the face Billy met with many presidents since that time, and en- of a man who had humbly lived a life of sacrifice in service joyed close relationships with Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nix- United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower (above, at left) is to Jesus Christ. I held the hand that had held up the Bible one of many presidents Billy Graham met with over the years. on, George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton. “I many times in every sermon of every crusade, as he boldly know he had a deep influence on President George W. Bush and confidently proclaimed, “The Bible says…” in terms of his commitment to Christ. He knew them all, but I He was absolutely sure of the truth of the Word of God. would say he was closest to President Nixon,” Leighton said. with those who came forward at his crusades. He also held I silently prayed that I would share that same belief in the Because of this friendship, Watergate was one of the hard- schools of evangelism for church leaders, and the BGEA unshakable authority of the Word of God with the tenacity est times Billy had ever personally experienced, according sent out great quantities of the Living Bible and Bible study of this man of God. to William Martin’s A Prophet with Honor. materials. A picture of Billy’s beloved Ruth caught my eye. It was Billy has been criticized at times for stepping into politics. While researching America’s Pastor: Billy Graham and the taken on the front lawn, and she was flanked by some of her However, Leighton noted, “He always felt he was there most- Shaping of a Nation, Dr. Grant Wacker, professor of church grandchildren whom she had pulled close. The Blue Ridge ly to be a pastor . . . in the tough times and the good ones.” history at Duke, analyzed the letters that came to Billy— Mountains she loved so well framed them in greens and yel- sometimes as many as 10,000 a day. “Grant realized these lows. I felt an ache of longing to see her again, to hear her A Cultural Influence people were writing to Billy as their pastor, with questions stories, and to giggle at her wit, which was one of her most not about the big issues of the world, but about their lone- charming features. How many times had I cherished mo- Very selective about the topics he would address, Leighton liness, depression, or specific family problems,” Leighton ments with her, whether in person or by reading her books said poverty and racism were two cultural conversations said. “Though he wasn’t a pastor of a church, he really was OUR LAST VISIT and poetry? over which Billy had an influence. “Billy grew up, of course, in a pastor to America.” WITH BILLY GRAHAM Her impact on my life had been timely and profound. a region where segregation was socially (and sadly, theologi- Ruth’s story had many similarities to my own: Hectic years cally) assumed to be the norm,” he said. “But his convictions A Calling By Debbie The last time I saw Billy Graham he of raising our brood of five children with a husband often changed well before 1954 [when the Supreme Court ruled was resting. Leaning back, his eyes gone for stretches of time that seemed endless. A Wheaton Davis Smith ’80 that segregation was illegal]. Early in the 1950s he refused to He provided spiritual counsel to presidents, shaped the were closed. My husband Michael and graduate who wanted to marry a man dedicated to serving preach in segregated arenas and stadiums, even personally world’s perceptions of evangelists, and unified evangelicals pictured with I sat down next to him as his assistant, God, preferably in foreign missions. I found great solace and taking down the ropes that usually separated the races.” around the globe, yet all the while, several things remained who had become a dear friend over the wisdom from Ruth’s indomitable courage and laughed at her Michael W. At times, Billy’s relationships with the Presidents influ- central to Billy Graham’s life and ministry. Humble to the years, announced that we were there. creative antics in raising her five with a husband who trav- enced his ministry. Such was the case when President Lyn- end, during his last years Billy told Leighton that if he were Smith and I took note of this small room in the eled on the “Lord’s business.” Her dependence on prayer don Johnson called on the evangelist to help with his “War to preach again, it would be on the theme, “God forbid that house that Billy and Ruth had built in only solidified my commitment to do the same, and her faith- Billy Graham on Poverty.” As a result, Billy studied every verse in the Bible I should glory save in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ.” the 1950s from salvaged log cabins. fulness to train up her children in the Lord was my model. on the subject. He later credited Johnson with “making him Through video, Billy was able to do just that in a 30-minute at Graham’s Framed family photographs sat on the If she could do all that and survive, so could I! go to the Scripture and preach about God’s concern for the program called “The Cross” that aired across the country 90th birthday bookshelves nestled between books When it was time to go, our last request was simply, “May poor,” Leighton said. the week of his 95th birthday. and Bibles. A large window looked out we pray for you?” Billy nodded and smiled and Michael and When Leighton asked Billy what he’d like Jean to say at celebration. into a neat courtyard, with the forest I each held one of his hands and took turns blessing our A Pastoral Presence his memorial service, with labored speech, the evangelist rising behind. I wanted to memorize friend. Then I let the tears fall, as I returned the favor he replied, “I’d like her to say that I did what I thought I should.” this place and these moments, be- had so many times given to us: praying over us, releasing In an era of mega-churches and congregational-growth “And what was that?” Leighton asked. cause I knew that our friend—on earth blessing and protection. strategizing, Leighton said that for as much as Billy want- “Preach the Gospel,” Billy answered. for 98 years—would surely be going Although Michael would see him twice more before he was ed to reach as many as possible with the gospel message, In three words, this was his mission. Leighton believes his home sometime soon. welcomed home to heaven, that was to be my last visit. We “From the beginning he was committed not just to getting brother-in-law would want Wheaton students and alumni Could this be our last time together left with a deep sense of peace and a lasting impression of decisions, but to making disciples.” He partnered with the to remember that in the same way God called Billy, “God is this side of heaven? our friend Billy Graham: surrounded by love from family and

Navigators ministry, asking key people to lead the follow-up calling each of them to be what He is shaping them to be.” Buswell Library College Archives, of the Wheaton Photo courtesy SMITH ‘80 AND DEBBIE DAVIS OF MICHAEL W. PHOTO COURTESY As Billy opened his eyes and looked friends and attended to by his loving, heavenly Father.

WHEATON.EDU/MAGAZINE 31

WH E A

T WHEATON O N WHEATON COLLEGE ALUMNUS BILLY GRAHAM: 1918-2018 GRAHAM: BILLY ALUMNUS COLLEGE WHEATON

ON JUNE 11, 1962, BILLY GRAHAM DELIVERED THE SPECIAL ISSUE 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)