William (Billy) F. Graham, Jr.
Evangelist and Chairman of the Board
Evangelist Billy Graham took Christ literally when He said in Mark 16:15, “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.”
Mr. Graham has preached the Gospel to more people in live audiences than anyone else in history—nearly 215 million people in more than 185 countries and territories—through various meetings, including Mission World and Global Mission. Hundreds of millions more have been reached through television, video, film, and webcasts.
Since the 1949 Los Angeles Crusade vaulted Mr. Graham into the public eye, he has led hundreds of thousands of individuals to make personal decisions to live for Christ, which is the main thrust of his ministry.
Born November 7, 1918, four days before the Armistice ended World War I, Mr. Graham was reared on a dairy farm in Charlotte, N.C. Growing up during the Depression, he learned the value of hard work on the family farm, but he also found time to spend many hours in the hayloft reading books on a wide variety of subjects.
In the fall of 1934, at age 15, Mr. Graham made a personal commitment to Christ through the ministry of Mordecai Ham, a traveling evangelist, who visited Charlotte for a series of revival meetings.
Ordained in 1939 by Peniel Baptist Church in Palatka, Fla. (a church in the Southern Baptist Convention), Mr. Graham received a solid foundation in the Scriptures at Florida Bible Institute (now Trinity College of Florida). In 1943 he graduated from Wheaton College in Illinois and married fellow student Ruth McCue Bell, daughter of a missionary surgeon, who spent the first 17 years of her life in China.
After graduating from college, Mr. Graham pastored The Village Church of Western Springs (now Western Springs Baptist Church) in Western Springs, Ill., before joining Youth for Christ, an organization founded for ministry to youth and servicemen during World War II. He preached throughout the United States and in Europe in the immediate post war era, emerging as a rising young evangelist.
The Los Angeles Crusade in 1949 launched Mr. Graham into international prominence. Scheduled for three weeks, the meetings were extended to more than eight weeks, with overflow crowds filling a tent erected downtown each night.
Many of his subsequent early Crusades were similarly extended, including one in London that lasted 12 weeks, and a New York City Crusade in Madison Square Garden in 1957 that ran nightly for 16 weeks.
Today, Mr. Graham and his ministry are known around the globe. He has preached in remote African villages and in the heart of New York City, and those to whom he has ministered have ranged from heads of state to the simple living bushmen of Australia and the wandering tribes of Africa and the Middle East. Beginning in 1977, Mr. Graham was given the opportunity to conduct preaching missions in virtually every country of the former Eastern bloc, including the former Soviet Union.
In 2013, Mr. Graham had the vision for proclaiming the Gospel across the United States and Canada, prompting the implementation of My Hope with Billy Graham, a grassroots evangelism outreach combining personal relationships with the power of modern media. Based upon a pioneering outreach that had already resulted in millions of decisions for Christ around the world since 2002, churches and individual Christians across the two countries were encouraged and equipped to pray and reach out to friends, family and neighbors using a powerful new film from BGEA. Approaching 95 years of age, Mr. Graham recorded a new video message, called “The Cross,” for the project, which was made available for use in homes and churches as a tool for sharing the Gospel.
Mr. Graham founded the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) in 1950, headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., until relocating to Charlotte, N.C., in 2003. Through BGEA’s ministry, Mr. Graham started:
- the weekly “Hour of Decision” radio program, which was heard around the world for more than 60 years;
- television programs that are still broadcast today on national Christian networks.
- a syndicated newspaper column, “My Answer,” which is carried by newspapers both nationally and internationally; and
- “Decision” magazine, the official publication of the Association, which has a circulation of more than 425,000, making it one of the most widely circulated religious periodicals in the world;
Mr. Graham has written 33 books, many of which have become top sellers. His autobiography “Just As I Am,” published in 1997, achieved a “triple crown,” appearing simultaneously on the three top best-seller lists in one week. In it, Mr. Graham reflects on his life, and decades of ministry around the world. From humble beginnings as the son of a dairy farmer in North Carolina, he shares how his unwavering faith in Christ formed and shaped his career.
Mr. Graham’s most recent works include “Where I Am: Heaven, Eternity, and Our Life Beyond” (2015), “The Reason for My Hope: Salvation” (2013), “The Heaven Answer Book” (2012), “Nearing Home: Life, Faith and Finishing Well” (2011) and “Storm Warning” (2010). “Nearing Home” was selected as the 2012 Christian Book of the Year by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. Of his other books, “Approaching Hoofbeats: The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” (1983) was listed for several weeks on The New York Times best seller list; “How to Be Born Again” (1977) had the largest first printing in publishing history at the time with 800,000 copies; “Angels: God’s Secret Agents” (1975) sold one million copies within 90 days; and “The Jesus Generation” (1971) sold 200,000 copies in the first two weeks.
Mr. Graham’s counsel has been sought by presidents, and his appeal in both the secular and religious arenas is evidenced by the wide range of groups that have honored him, including numerous honorary doctorates from many institutions in the U. S. and abroad.
Recognitions include the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation Freedom Award (2000) for contributions to the cause of freedom; the Congressional Gold Medal (1996); the Templeton Foundation Prize for Progress in Religion (1982); and the Big Brother Award for his work on behalf of the welfare of children (1966). In 1964 he received the Speaker of the Year Award and was cited by the George Washington Carver Memorial Institute for his contributions to race relations. He was recognized by the Anti-Defamation League of the B’nai B’rith in 1969 and the National Conference of Christians and Jews in 1971 for his efforts to foster a better understanding among all faiths. In December 2001 he was presented with an honorary knighthood, Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE), for his international contribution to civic and religious life over 60 years.
Mr. Graham is regularly listed by the Gallup organization as one of the “Ten Most Admired Men in the World,” whom it described as the dominant figure in that poll since 1948—making an unparalleled 59th appearance and 53rd consecutive appearance in 2015. He has also appeared on the covers of Time, Newsweek, Life, U.S. News and World Report, Parade and numerous other magazines and has been the subject of many newspaper and magazine feature articles and books.
Mr. Graham lost his wife of nearly 64 years, Ruth Bell Graham, in June of 2007. Together they had three daughters, two sons, 19 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren. Mr. Graham resides in their home in the mountains of North Carolina.
Born
William (Billy) F. Graham, Jr.
November 7, 1918
Charlotte, North Carolina
Parents
William Franklin Graham, Sr. (deceased 1962) and Morrow Coffey Graham (deceased 1981)
Married
Ruth McCue Bell, 1943 (deceased 2007)
Children
Virginia, 1945
Anne Morrow, 1948
Ruth Bell, 1950
William Franklin, III, 1952
Nelson Edman, 1958
Grandchildren
19 grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren
Residence
In the mountains of western North Carolina
Education
Graduated, Florida Bible Institute (now Trinity College of Florida), 1940
B.A., Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois, 1943
Vocation
- 1939: Ordained to the ministry by Peniel Baptist Church, Palatka, Fla. (a church in the Southern Baptist Convention)
- 1943-45: Pastor, The Village Church of Western Springs (now Western Springs Baptist Church), Western Springs, Ill.
- 1945-50: Charter Vice President, Youth for Christ International, Chicago, Ill.
- 1947-52: President, Northwestern Schools, consisting of three institutions: a liberal arts college, Bible school and theological seminary
- 1950 — : Founded Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Minneapolis, Minn.
- 1950 — : Began weekly “Hour of Decision” radio program, which was heard around the world for more than 60 years
Published
- 1947: Calling Youth to Christ
- 1952: Author of syndicated newspaper column “My Answer” carried by newspapers across the country with a combined circulation of 5,000,000 readers
- 1953: I Saw Your Sons at War
- 1953: Peace With God — over 2 million copies sold in 38 languages, revised and expanded in 1984
- 1955: Freedom from the Seven Deadly Sins
- 1955: The Secret of Happiness
- 1958: Billy Graham Talks to Teenagers
- 1960: My Answer
- 1960: Billy Graham Answers Your Questions
- 1965: World Aflame — The New York Times and Time magazine Best-Seller Lists for several weeks
- 1969: The Challenge
- 1971: The Jesus Generation
- 1975: Angels: God’s Secret Agents — Publishers Weekly & The New York Times Best-Seller Lists (21 weeks each); Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) Platinum Book Award
- 1977: How to Be Born Again
- 1978: The Holy Spirit — ECPA Gold Book Award
- 1981: Till Armageddon — ECPA Platinum Book Award
- 1983: Approaching Hoofbeats: The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse — The New York Times Best-Seller List; ECPA Gold Book Award
- 1984: A Biblical Standard for Evangelists
- 1986: Unto the Hills
- 1987: Facing Death and the Life After — Christian Booksellers Association Best-Seller List (21 weeks)
- 1988: Answers to Life’s Problems
- 1991: Hope for the Troubled Heart
- 1992: Storm Warning
- 1997: Just As I Am
- 2002: Hope for Each Day
- 2003: The Key To Personal Peace
- 2005: Living in God’s Love: The New York Crusade
- 2006: The Journey
- 2008: Wisdom For Each Day
- 2010: Storm Warning
- 2011: Nearing Home: Life, Faith and Finishing Well
- 2012: The Heaven Answer Book
- 2013: The Reason for My Hope: Salvation
- 2015: Where I Am: Heaven, Eternity and Our Life Beyond
Awards and Honors
The following is a partial list of the numerous awards received by Mr. Graham:
- Ten Most Admired Men in the World from the Gallup Poll since 1948 a total of 59 times, including 53 consecutive in 2015—more than any other individual in the world, placing him at the head of the overall list of those most admired by Americans for the past six decades
- Clergyman of the Year from the National Pilgrim Society
- Distinguished Service Medal of the Salvation Army
- Who’s Who in America annually since 1954
- Freedoms Foundation Distinguished Persons Award (numerous years)
- Gold Medal Award, National Institute of Social Science, New York, 1957
- Annual Gutenberg Award of the Chicago Bible Society, 1962
- Gold Award of the George Washington Carver Memorial Institute, 1964, for contribution to race relations, presented by Senator Javits (NY)
- Speaker of the Year Award, 1964
- Golden Plate Award, American Academy of Achievement, 1965
- Horatio Alger Award, 1965
- National Citizenship Award by the Military Chaplains Association of the U.S.A., 1965
- Wisdom Award of Honor, 1965
- Big Brother of the Year Award, at the White House, Washington, D.C.,1966, for contribution to the welfare of children
- The Torch of Liberty Plaque by the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith, 1969
- George Washington Honor Medal from Freedoms Foundation of Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, for his sermon The Violent Society, 1969
- Honored by Morality in Media for “fostering the principles of truth, taste, inspiration and love in media,” 1969
- International Brotherhood Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews, 1971
- Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of Broadcasters, 1972
- Franciscan International Award, 1972
- Sylvanus Thayer Award from United States Military Academy Association of Graduates at West Point (The most prestigious award the United States Military Academy gives to a U.S. citizen), 1972
- George Washington Medal Award for Patriotism from Freedoms Foundation of Valley Forge, 1974
- Direct Selling Association’s Salesman of the Decade award, 1975
- Philip Award from the Association of United Methodist Evangelists, 1976
- First National Interreligious Award, American Jewish Committee, 1977
- Distinguished Communications Medal, Southern Baptist Radio and Television Commission, 1977
- Jabotinsky Centennial Medal presented by The Jabotinsky Foundation, 1980
- Religious Broadcasting Hall of Fame award, 1981
- Templeton Foundation Prize for Progress in Religion award, 1982
- Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award,1983
- National Religious Broadcasters Award of Merit, 1986
- North Carolina Award in Public Service, 1986
- Good Housekeeping Most Admired Men Poll, 1997, #1 for five years in a row and 16th time in top 10
- Congressional Gold Medal, highest honor Congress can bestow on a private citizen, 1996
- Inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame by the Gospel Music Association –the first non-musician to be inducted, 1999
- Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation Freedom Award, for monumental and lasting contributions to the cause of freedom, 2000
- Honorary Knight Commander of the order of the British Empire (KBE) for his international contribution to civic and religious life over 60 years, 2001
- Charlotte Broadcast Hall of Fame, inaugural class, 2015
- Many honorary degrees