Billy Graham Timeline
November 7, 1918: Billy Graham was born
November 1934: Billy Graham came to faith at a Mordecai Ham crusade in Charlotte, N.C.
Spring 1937: Billy Graham preached his first sermon at a small Baptist church in Palatka:, Fla.
Spring 1938: Billy Graham accepted God’s call on his life to be a preacher
Fall 1940: Billy Graham enrolled at Wheaton College and met Ruth Bell
Summer 1943: Billy and Ruth graduate Wheaton, get married, and Bill accepts pastorate at Western Springs Baptist Church near Chicago
January 1944: Billy Graham begins hosting weekly Songs in the Night radio program on WCFL in Chicago, with Bev Shea as primary musical performer
July 1945: Billy Graham became Youth for Christ’s first official field representative
September 1947: Billy Graham’s first city-wide crusade in Grand Rapids, Mich., followed through the years by more than 400 crusades across six continents.
1947: “Calling Youth to Christ,” Billy Graham’s first book is published.
September 1949: “Christ for Greater Los Angeles” Crusade catches the attention of newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst. The resulting national and international news coverage launches Billy Graham into prominence.
September 1950: The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) becomes incorporated in Minnesota.
November 1950: First “Hour of Decision” radio program airs.
September 1951: “Hour of Decision” television broadcasts begin airing over the ABC network.
October 1951: BGEA releases its first film, “Mr. Texas,” which is followed by more than 130 other films through the years.
December 1952: First “My Answer” Column runs.
October 1956: The first issue of Christianity Today is published. June 1957: ABC broadcasts live meetings of the New York City Crusade in Madison Square Garden
November 1960: First issue of Decision magazine
May 1962: Billy and Ruth Graham start a radio station with the goal of leading as many people as possible into a personal and dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ.
1980: TV Telephone Ministry begins, which has aided hundreds of thousands in beginning a relationship with Jesus Christ.
June 1985: BGEA used satellite technology to broadcast meetings in Sheffield, England to 51 locations in Great Britain.
September 1988: Billy Graham Training Center in Asheville, N.C., launches first programs, held in what is now Chatlos Memorial Chapel.
June 1989: BGEA used satellite technology to broadcast meetings from London, England to 250 locations in the United Kingdom.
November 1991: BGEA used satellite technology and video to transmit meetings from Buenos Aires, Argentina, to 20 Spanish-speaking countries.
May 1993: BGEA officially dedicates the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove in Asheville, N.C., for the purpose of Bible training of Christians.
March 1995: BGEA simultaneously broadcasts the Crusade in San Juan, Puerto Rico, via satellite in 48 languages to thousands of locations worldwide.
1996: BGEA launches the ministry’s flagship website: www.BillyGraham.org.
2000: Franklin Graham named CEO of BGEA.
2001: Franklin Graham named president of BGEA and announced the move of headquarters from Minneapolis, Minn., to Charlotte, N.C., the city where Billy Graham was born.
2002: BGEA launches the “My Hope” ministry of home-based crusades, resulting in more than 10,000,000 people worldwide making decisions for Christ.
2002: BGEA deployed the Rapid Response Team to minister to hurricane survivors in Lafayette, La. They have since deployed more than 150 disaster zones, including hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, fires and shootings.
2004: BGEA opened newly built headquarters building on Billy Graham Parkway in Charlotte, N.C.
2005: Billy Graham held his final Crusade, in New York City.
2007: Billy Graham lost his wife of nearly 64 years, Ruth Bell Graham, and she was buried at the newly-opened Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, N.C.