130516 ALR BG Legacy Site Interview Bullets - Major Lytton taping

I. THE MAN - Consistent Character

· Evangelist Billy Graham was a man whose prophetic voice influenced three generations as “God’s Ambassador,” “Evangelist to the World” and “America’s Pastor.” But he did more than just preach the Gospel – he lived it.

· For more than 32 years, I have had the privilege of serving as director of media/public relations and spokesperson for Billy Graham. Though the hundreds of sermons I have heard him preach during this time have been a blessing to me spiritually, more importantly, he has been an example to me personally of what God can do through a life totally yielded to Him.

· In an era where confidence in institutions is crumbling, and even religious organizations are being scrutinized and Christian leaders criticized for lack of integrity, Mr. Graham stood as an example of how to finish well.

· During an arguably unparalleled period of divisiveness in America and our world, there is, perhaps, no other individual who has been able to unite diverse people like Billy Graham has. But he never compromised his character or integrity nor watered down his message to achieve consensus or reach critical mass.

· Mr. Graham modeled spiritual, moral, and financial integrity. After more than six decades of public ministry, he personally, and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association corporately, sustained an impeccable reputation among within the faith community and among mainstream audiences.

· This came about through a remarkable combination of God’s providence and protection; Mr. Graham’s personal moral, spiritual and financial integrity; a strong board; responsible stewardship; a capable staff; and a singular focus on evangelism.

· “USA Today” noted that in modern times – especially during the so-called televangelist scandals of the 1980s -- Billy Graham became known as much for what he did not do as for what he did. Grant Wacker, professor of Christian history at Duke University, noted “his personal gifts were immense: honesty, humility, savvy, a rich voice and Hollywood looks, sexual and financial integrity, administrative skills.”

· My longtime pastor in Dallas defines success as “when those who know you best, love you the most,” and that certainly holds true for Billy Graham. In an era where confidence in institutions is crumbling, and even religious organizations are being scrutinized or Christian leaders criticized for behavior inconsistent with their beliefs, he long modeled courage, character and conviction and stood as an example of how to finish well.

· Through the years, many reporters have asked me to sum up Billy Graham’s life and legacy in one word. But in response, I have to use four: humility, integrity, authenticity and love -- each of which I have observed consistently in my travels with him.

o Mr. Graham and I shared a common spiritual heritage as graduates of Wheaton College in suburban Chicago that provided him with an inspiration to integrate faith and learning and influenced him to form an expanded worldview consistent with the school’s motto, “For Christ and His Kingdom.”

· Many people aren’t aware that Mr. Graham did not major in Bible or theology, but rather Anthropology. Building on the school’s long, unswerving dedication to the theological precepts and world vision he held, he remained faithful to the Gospel message, yet sensitive to social concerns.

· Billy Graham’s roots are interesting (RM):

o His parents were Presbyterian.

o He came to Christ as the result of a revival. So he had the influence of revivalism.

o He was discipled by a group of fundamentalist, fire-brand Baptists saw and evangelistic gift

o He ended up at Wheaton College, which was the Harvard of Christian education. He became exposed to a lot of missionaries and thinking Christians who had traveled the world; when he could’ve become very narrow, he started to become broad in the best sense of the world.

o He never lost his historic commitment to the gospel, but he became sensitive to social concerns.

o And he became more inclusive as he realized that it wasn’t the denomination, but the local church that was the key in terms of key pastors and people who preached Jesus and the Gospel. He was willing to say, ‘I will come in. I will be her guest preacher.’ In other words, he was their guest, they were not his guests – it’s a pretty big difference.

o Mr. Graham was always aware of his vulnerability and humility, and was the first to admit his weakness –he didn’t try to hide what he couldn’t do. Jim Daley, President of Focus on the Family wrote, “He was a man of consistent character, who boldly and bluntly admitted error”:

§ Mr. Graham often said that his two regrets were that:

1) he didn’t study more and speak less, and

2) that he didn’t spend more time with family

David Aikman: “Graham’s achievement lay in his consistent faithfulness to his original sense of God’s calling on his life, despite nearly overwhelming temptations at times to do something more lucrative, more glamorous, and less exhausting.”

Aikman also said that, “The test of BG’s character lay not in adversity but in how he coped with success.”

· In February 2013, the iconic publisher Chicken Soup for the Soul, released the first-ever book focused on an individual, rather than a topical theme, entitled, “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Billy Graham & Me,” a compendium of 101 contributions from world leaders and impact players, including every living US President, providing anecdotal insights into Mr. Graham’s character and influence:

· President Obama addressed Billy Graham’s friendliness and modesty, describing him as a man who was warm and welcoming to all, while

· President George W. Bush revealed how the evangelist helped him strengthen his understanding of faith --– beyond self-improvement to following the example and principles of Jesus.

· President Bill Clinton discussed Billy Graham’s influence for positive change in this country, including the impact on him as a young man of the evangelist’s early integration efforts in the Deep South that has stuck with him to this day.

· President Jimmy Carter is among the many contributors who reference Mr. Graham as the most influential spiritual leader in their lives, through his humble, forgiving treatment of others.

· Henry Kissinger described the first time he heard Mr. Graham speak, at Madison Square Garden in 1957 – initially out of skeptical curiosity. To his surprise, he found himself not only impressed, but also deeply moved by how Mr. Graham touched some profound spiritual yearning among the crowd, prompting him to attend a second time to test whether his initial impression was authentic. Though he didn’t share his faith, Dr. Kissinger said he had immense regard for Mr. Graham. “I found the man and his moral and spiritual force powerful and compelling,” he said. “He is a strong but humble man, with a generous and compassionate heart that is open to every human being of every religious faith and to those who profess to have none. His moral and ethical values and spiritual enlightenment that transcends doctrine have always touched me deeply. These qualities will be his lasting legacy to the world”.

· Dr. Richard Land

Noted that Billy Graham often said the first thing he will ask when he gets to heaven is, “Why me?” and opined it was because he was one of the few men who have ever lived who could have withstood the adulation he has had and not let it go to his head.

· Steve Case

- Said Mr. Graham was like a Forest Gump movie - someone who managed to be present at every pivotal moment in history for decades. He was a witness to history.

- Touchstone of BG’s life was simplicity in both his personal life and message

- But he always pushed the envelope of technology to reach more people with the message

· Grandson Will Graham, also and evangelist

o Shared advice he was given by his grandfather. “Will, pray, pray, pray, and study, study, study. Looking back, I wish I had done so much more of both.” He said he often wondered how his grandfather, who spent more time in prayer and study than anyone he ever met, feels inadequate in those areas? His response: “I wish I knew the Bible as well as your grandmother did. She knew it better than anyone I have ever met.”

· Kathy Lee Gifford said that the last time she saw Billy Graham and his wife Ruth was when they were given the Congressional Medal of Honor. During his acceptance speech, Mr. Graham told the audience, “Look all around you. We’re in this auspicious hall with all of these incredible busts of amazing people. Do you know what they all have in common?” The all sat holding their breaths. “They’re all dead,” he continued, “In spite of their accomplishments and in spite of the place they hold in history, they are all dead. And do you know what everyone of us has in common?” Again, we held our breaths. “We’re all going to die,” he said. Mr. Graham asked the questions, “Where are you going, and what have you left behind to impact the Kingdom of God?” [KT1] That day, after all, for him was not about Billy Graham getting an award. It was about using every opportunity to turn people’s eyes to what mattered, their personal relationship with the Living God.

· …GOD USED BOTH BILLY GRAHAM’S ABILITY AND AVAILABILITY. I HAVE OBSERVED 13 character traits of Billy Graham -- A BAKER’S DOZEN -- not to pay tribute to a man or a ministry, but to glorify God. These are characteristics that God has allowed me to see in one of his choice servants that are benchmarks for all of us as Christians.

Boxers or Briefs

1) Integrity – not two BG’s, same over dinner as on TV or in Pulpit. He walks his talk.

2) Authenticity over ability – which God can use. People say, “I can’t do that, I’m not Billy Graham,” but his power and authority came not from his ability, but his authenticity and availability.

a. Hands across America

b. South Dakota – preached ½ a verse when it started raining

3) Bold witness at every opportunity – DISTINCTIVE TO MAKE POSITIVE POINTS FOR THE GOSPEL IN ANY MEDIA SITUATION.

4) Humility – Gulf war, spent night with Bushes, turned down media ops. He is still awed by the opportunity and gives God all the credit. Despite opportunities for ambassadorships and movie roles, he has stayed with his calling and “this one thing I do.”

5) Never critical of others in ministry – An important lesson I have learned is to never form an opinion of another Christian leader from something I have heard or read in a media account, which may not accurately reflect exactly what a person said or believes.

(Example: Jim Bakker).

6) Man of prayer – “Today”

7) He never lost sight of individual

(Ex: Long Island, Ron Hutchcraft)

8) Man of Great vision – GB – it takes a man of God to see the early movement of the hand of God

9) Never answered his critics – One reason is that no matter what he did, he was often criticized.

(Ex: Bristol; misquoted in Soviet Union)

10) Emphasized what groups have in common, rather than what divides

a. Catholic leadership – not sheep stealing

b. Jewish leaders – not proselytizing

11) Sensitive to non-believers; never condemns

a. Ruth and smoking

b. Focused, single-minded in purpose – this one thing I do

(Despite numerous opportunities and offers in government, business, entertainment and politics -- including ambassadorships and movie roles – he remained true to his calling. Like the The Apostle Paula, evangelism has been “this one thing I do.”

12) Never afraid to say, “I don’t know”

a. Nation galvanized in corporate grief

i. OKC Bombing

ii. Persian Gulf War

iii. Columbine

iv. Death of JFK, Jr.

v. Clinton at Congressional Gold Medal ceremony – “BG does not presume to be a know it all, but is aware of his own humanness and leaves it up to God.

Anecdotes:

Humility

In July 1999 I accompanied Mr. Graham to the local NBC affiliate in Jacksonville, where he did a remote interview with Katie Couric on Today. While waiting in the green room, the floor producer asked me if he would be willing to sign her copy of his recently published memoirs, Just As I Am.

Despite symptoms of Parkinson’s that made writing difficult, he was happy to oblige, which so touched the young woman that she asked Mr. Graham if she could pray for him. That moved me deeply, as it was the first time in my quarter century of traveling with him that someone took such an initiative, rather than asking him to offer a prayer on his or her behalf.

After the producer left the room, Mr. Graham turned to me and said genuinely, “I have never understood why in the world anyone would want my autograph.” At first I thought he was joking, but then realized his puzzled sincerity was reflective of his self-identification as “a country boy called to preach,” who could not fathom why the Lord chose him to be blessed with such spiritual responsibility and global opportunity.

As best I could, I tried to clarify for Mr. Graham what his inscription in her book meant to that young woman and others who made similar requests through the years, explaining his obvious influence and the significant impact of his ministry on her, since she had made a faith commitment at one of his crusades as a teenager. To my surprise, he responded, somewhat matter-of-factly, “I have only asked for one autograph in my whole life.”

Now it was I who was flummoxed, as I sat in stunned silence trying to determine who that individual would have been, going over in my mind myriad celebrities, influencers and world changers Mr. Graham had met during his travels.

At first I thought it was Babe Ruth, whom I knew he greeted after a ballgame when he was twelve years old. My second candidate was President Truman, whom he met on his first visit to the White House in the early 1950s. Or possibly it was Winston Churchill, who summoned the young evangelist to his chambers after his successful mission at Wembley Stadium in 1954 to ask him the secret of gathering such huge crowds (which Billy Graham explained was due to the Holy Spirit, not anything he had done).

When I sheepishly turned to Mr. Graham and asked if any of these individuals had been worthy of such a request, he said, “No.” Acknowledging I would probably never be able to guess, he explained, “It was John Glenn. He and I sat next to each other at the March 1998 TIME magazine 75th anniversary gala at Radio City Music Hall honoring all living cover subjects.

“As we got up to leave, John asked me for my autograph,” Mr. Graham continued. “I replied, ‘I’ve never asked anyone in my whole life to sign something. Could I have yours?’ And so we swapped autographs!”

Integrity

Among the many examples of Mr. Graham’s personal, spiritual and financial integrity, I remember when he kicked off the twelve-week, six-city Mission England tour the summer of 1984 in Bristol, west of London. In their coverage of the opening service, local papers appealed to their readers’ British reserve through articles criticizing the “emotionalism” of the American evangelist’s meeting. Their evidence was the fact that the choir sang softly during his invitation for people to come forward to make a faith commitment.

So for only the second time in the history of their ministry, before the start of the meeting the next evening, Mr. Graham told program director Cliff Barrows to refrain from having the choir sing during the invitation. But the next day, the headlines in the paper read, “The emotionalism was in the silence,” and Mr. Graham decided that if he was going to get criticized, they should at least do it right, and they went back to the choir accompaniment for the rest of the mission -- and ever since.

Authenticity

In August 2005, just two months after he had preached his final crusade in New York City, I went to visit Mr. Graham at his log cabin home in western North Carolina. On the flight to Asheville, I reflected on an observation shared by a pastor friend that every individual needs three things in order to find fulfillment in life: someone to love, something to do and something to anticipate.

As I drove up the mountain to call on Mr. Graham, I realized that for the first time in more than six decades the evangelist had only two out of three of those elements. He still had Ruth, his marriage and ministry partner of then sixty-one years; he was working on a new book and remained regularly engaged with the ministry he founded; but he could not look forward to another crusade planned for the near future.

I knew that Billy Graham always believed and lived what he preached, but I wondered how that applied to his current life stage. What mindset would I encounter in the forward-thinking evangelist, who had always focused on the next thing and who had been a part of current events on the world stage since the Truman administration?

While sitting together on his back porch for several hours, eventually watching the sun start to set over his beloved Blue Ridge Mountains, I asked Mr. Graham how he felt. He replied, “I have never been more at peace in my life. My wife Ruth has been there for me as I traveled the world in itinerant ministry. But with her recent medical needs, it is now time for me to take care of her. God has enabled me to do that, and I am looking forward to spending more time together.” Ruth passed in 2007.

During my most recent visit to Mr. Graham’s home, despite physical limitations of his own, I found him once again filled with passion and purpose. As he sat in his favorite chair in the den, he told me how he felt called to deliver one more sermon about the need for renewal in the Church and revival across America.

It was obvious that, though his body might be physically weakened, the heart of the evangelist continued to beat. He had already selected his text, Galatians 6:14, which he had posted in big letters on the wall beside him and recited to me, “’May I never boast, except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ…’” In his characteristic authenticity and transparency, he then stressed that when he gets to heaven he is going to lay any awards and rewards received in this life at the feet of Jesus.

Leadership with Love

Several years ago I had the opportunity to share the story about Mr. Graham and John Glenn at the TIME gala with a former bureau chief of the magazine. He smiled, acknowledging that he was at that event, and told me I needed to know “the rest of the story.”

He then informed me that the black-tie dinner in question was held in March 1998, during the period following President Bill Clinton’s impeachment by the House of Representatives. Minutes before the event was scheduled to begin, organizers were in crisis mode, as iconic sports figure Joe DiMaggio had refused to sit next to the President at the head table.

Further, no other celebrity or marquee figure in attendance would accept that offer and they seemed reluctant to be photographed with him in the midst of the political kerfuffle. When Billy Graham was approached about the situation, he declared, “I'll sit next to the President. He's my friend!

I. THE MAN - Unique Personality

· Renowned Influence

· It has been said the world will not see another like Billy Graham in our lifetime. In fact, his influence was been so broad and his impact so far-reaching we won’t know, this side of heaven, the extent of his legacy, no matter how clearly defined. Media reports through the years have portrayed him as a man of consistent conscience, compassion, and peace, who never veered from his calling to faithfully preach the Gospel.

o Former Texas Governor Connolly said, “BG is more than a preacher, more than an evangelist, more than a Christian leader – in a greater sense, he has become our conscience.”

o Biographer William Martin described Mr. Graham as, “A true American hero, who walked with royalty and had renowned, unprecedented media attention for decades, but was still a small-town boy who was astounded anyone would see him as special.”

o President George H. W. Bush called him, “America’s Pastor.”

Anecdotes-

I had the privilege to attend BG’s 50th Reunion with his class from Sharon High School. He have heard people say about celebrities, “I knew Billy Graham before he was Billy Graham,” and in this case, it was true – they all knew him as “Billy Frank.”

Harry Benson – TIME/Life photographer who came over with the Beatles. Surrounded by chaos but lived in the calm of their hotel and limousines. When I come into a hotel room, I open the curtains. Mr. Graham once told me that when he arrives at a hotel, he closes them.

Favorite food – McDonald’s hamburger – consistency in a life of constant change.

I. THE MAN - Servant Leadership

Beyond Humility, Integrity, Authenticity and Love, other Billy Graham attributes as described by CSS contributors

Counter-intuitive, inclusive approach to ministry

Possessed a genuine faith, from which he derived peace, strength & hope Friendly and modest

He served to strengthen people in their personal faith

Spiritual generosity (universal message of love and hope)

Unique influence – access to people in powerful positions

Impact on culture – (Bernice King, John Lewis – commitment to civil rights/racial equality

Unwavering friend

Kind, gentle and loving

Forgiving

Did not ostracize or condemn, but remained true to his own religious compass

Compassionate

Cared for those in need of caring

Mission was to help us on our journey to salvation

Boldness at every opportunity to share the Gospel

A man of prayer

Never answered his critics

Was modest and unassuming, lacking self-importance

Genuine

Generous with his time – willing to speak with anyone

Remained true to his calling.

II. THE MESSAGE - Powerful Preacher

o By God’s grace and through his faithfulness to the call on his life, Rev. Billy Graham had an unprecedented ministry spanning more than six decades. During that time he preached the Gospel to more people in live audiences than anyone in history – nearly 215 million individuals in more than 185 countries and territories across the globe. Countless billions more were reached by television, radio, literature and film around the world.

· Preaching with “a Bible in one hand and a newspaper in the other” constantly put Mr. Graham at the intersection of faith and culture. He always contextualized his message, showing how the Word of God speaks to personal and societal problems.

· Four milestone sermons in Mr. Graham’s ministry solidified his influence on the national psyche -- beyond church or crusade audiences:

o First, when he presided over Richard Nixon’s funeral and preached the Gospel to all living presidents in attendance and a worldwide audience via CNN, BBC and many national television networks

o The second benchmark was his address at the Statewide Prayer Service for the families of victims of the Oklahoma City bombing as he pastored the families affected by the tragedy before a nation and worldwide audience asking, “Why?”

o The third milestone was the presentation of the Congressional Gold Medal to Mr. Graham and his wife, Ruth, in the Capitol Rotunda, where he gave a bold Gospel challenge to the nation’s leaders and another national television audience via CNN and C-Span

o Finally, his address at the National Cathedral on September 14, 2001 was heard by more people than perhaps any other sermon he has ever preached. As he consoled a grieving nation before the watching world, that message of hope and healing set the tone for a climate of love and respect among people of different faith communities.

These four events placed Mr. Graham in a position of prominence and respect among domestic and international leaders, and also reinforced his leadership and influence as the pastor to America during times of crisis.

II. THE MESSAGE - Unchanging Message

(Biblically based, Culturally Relevant)

· Billy Graham faithfully preached a timeless message in a timely way at the intersection of faith and culture. He put the green grass of the Gospel down low where “even the goats could get it,” showing how the Bible speaks to personal and societal problems, and always providing an opportunity for audiences to respond by making a personal faith commitment.

· Unlike many fellow pastors who operate as “policemen for the Kingdom’, Mr. Graham remained a “Paramedic for the Kingdom,” never hesitating to tackle issues perceived as political, economic or social from a spiritual perspective, addressing them as matters of the heart. He always contextualized his message, showing how the Word of God speaks to personal and societal problems.

Anecdote:

· The universality and accessibility of Mr. Graham’s message was powerfully impressed upon me in 1984 when he preached to the upper echelons of British society, including the Queen of England, several members of the Royal Family and the Lords and Ladies of London at a black-tie dinner in London on a Friday evening.

· The following Sunday afternoon, I accompanied the evangelist to an outdoor park in the City’s East End, where he was scheduled to address a crowd of 5,000 low-income immigrants. As our vehicle approached the venue, I asked Mr. Graham what message he planned to preach, to which he replied, “The same sermon I gave to the Royal family two nights ago.”

III. THE MISSION - Crusade Evangelist/Churchman

· Over a public ministry career spanning more than six decades, William (Billy) F. Graham became a worldwide symbol of evangelism, faithfully preaching the Gospel message of hope and salvation in Christ to more people in live audiences than anyone else in history – nearly 215 million people in more than 185 countries and territories. Of these, more than three million individuals came forward at the evangelist’s invitation to make a commitment to Christ.

· Countless millions more were reached annually through a dozen or more national prime time crusade telecasts; weekly “Hour of Decision” radio broadcasts carried on as many as 1100 radio stations around the world; more than 130 Worldwide Pictures gospel feature films; “Decision Magazine,” the second-largest religious publication with circulation reaching nearly 2 million; and the Internet.

· Beginning with his first city-wide campaign in Grand Rapids in 1947, Mr. Graham held a total of 417 crusades, averaging in length from four days towards the end of his public ministry to as long as 16 weeks at New York City’s Madison Square Garden in 1957.

· That historic crusade, his first of eight held in metro-New York, is widely credited for establishing a national media presence for the evangelist, confirming the impact of using media as a tool for extending the Gospel to as many people as possible. At the final rally that jammed Times Square, he based the theme of his message off movie titles on the theater marquees along 42nd Street, saying, “they reflected the emptiness of the times.”

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· Evangelist Billy Graham preached the Gospel to more people in live audiences – nearly 215 million people in more than 185 countries and territories across the globe. In the beginning, he brought people to the Gospel, by filling stadiums in the United States and on every continent through his crusades.

· In the late 1950's, he added another dimension when he brought the Gospel to the people -- first through radio, then television, then via satellite extension, and most recently through the Internet, through which countless millions more individuals were reached with his transformational message. That extension included Mission World, regionally by continent, encompassing Africa, Asia, Europe and Central/South America.

· That culminated in his historic Global Mission outreach in 1995, when three of the five meetings from San Juan, PR were extended via satellite to live audiences in 3,000 venues in more than 150 countries and territories – a footprint that covered nearly the entire planet, taking the Gospel literally to “the ends of the earth.”

· Throughout his ministry, Mr. Graham repeatedly emphasized he had no plans to slow down, and would continue to preach as long as he had strength, or until “God retired him.” Indeed his final two crusades in Los Angeles and New York City, at age 86, were among his largest.

· Through his crusades, Mr. Graham provided a catalytic effect among diverse elements of the Body of Christ to create critical mass to impact the culture with the Gospel.

Crusade Impact

· Early in his ministry, Mr. Graham helped define and give credibility to Evangelical Christianity. His crusades brought unity, visibility and credibility to the local church. He was a catalytic unifier of the Church around shared priorities rather than differences, cultivating mainline churches and prompting Protestant/Catholic cooperation in evangelism.

· Billy Graham’s crusades had a unifying effect, mobilizing diverse groups to work together by emphasizing what they have in common, rather than issues that divide them.

· Mr. Graham was not a “televangelist,” as his ministry was in stadiums, not the studio. For him, television was an “extension” of his ministry, not the essence of it, as every program – always carried in prime time or prime fringe – featured a crusade meeting he had held with live audiences somewhere across America or around the world.

In referring to the many stadium records Mr. Graham Broke in through the years, former ABC “Good Morning America” news anchor, Steve Bell, compared the news affinity for record Billy Graham crusade audiences and Bob Hope’s USO tours. “Bob Hope entertaining troops at Christmas is not news, because he does it every year; Bob Hope home for Christmas – now that is a story. In the same context, a stadium record or more-than-capacity crowd at a Billy Graham crusade is such a common occurrence, the bigger headline would be if the stadium was half-full for his meetings.”

· Each of Mr. Graham’s crusades were held at the invitation of local churches, which he only accepted when he was assured of a broad base of support representative of all denominations in the region. Depending on dynamics in each local city, those invitations would come out of opportunity, necessity – even desperation.

· Though the public phase of proclamation was the most visible aspect of Mr. Graham’s crusade ministry, the large arena and stadium meetings were just the tip of the iceberg. They culminated one or more years of training and preparation among participating churches -- mobilizing tens of thousands of volunteers -- and their conclusion began months of follow-up, with sustained impact.

· Each outreach was processes – not an event – that began with representatives from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) qualifying an invitation among the inviting pastors, coordinating hundreds of participating churches and mobilizing tens of thousands of volunteers.

· They worked with local pastors and community leaders to form an executive committee, responsible for incorporating a separate non-profit organization and determining a budget for crusade arrangements. All monies were raised and spent locally, as Mr. Graham and his team came at no expense to the local crusade, supported instead by donations to his ministry, now based in Charlotte.

· According to Mr. Graham, prayer was the important emphasis during the preparations, which can be powerfully illustrated by examples of his personal humility and dependence on God for strength to carry on. Crusade cities regularly became the most prayed-for locations on the planet.

· In addition to the spiritual dimension, each crusade incorporated a “Love in Action” emphasis that targeted a specific need in the region, which attendees were encouraged to fill by bringing canned food, school supplies or other goods to the meetings in order to make a tangible physical difference in the community.

· The closing prayer at the final service began six to nine months of follow-up by the churches, including spiritual preservation among the thousands of “inquirers” who responded to Mr. Graham’s invitation to make a commitment to Christ, helping them grow deeper in their faith and to become involved with a local congregation.

· Mr. Graham said one can’t measure the true impact of a crusade for 30 years or more, but four factors were immediately evident, including unprecedented unity among churches from diverse denominations, church growth, strengthening of churches as members shared their faith and an elevated God-consciousness across the metropolitan region.

· According to former crusade director Rick Marshall, every movement requires organization, but each Billy Graham crusade was actually an “organism,” formed for a season, biologically adapted to reflect the unique qualities, vitality and personality of a host city, for which Mr. Graham became a “local evangelist” able to address societal issues and felt needs indigenous to that region.

· Though the principles of evangelism never changed, the methods often did, depending on the country, the culture or the audience, a strategic shift that often came out of the heart of the evangelist. This was clearly evident in 1994, with the development of a Youth Night emphasis that stemmed from Mr. Graham’s burden to reach his own grandchildren and their peers, a generation that statistics showed were outside the grasp of the church.

· “Billed as ‘The First Concert to Benefit Its Own Audience,’ these youth events combined high-energy music -- presented with integrity -- with straight talk from him as a caring adult, communicated with love and simplicity so that these kids knew he understood their world.

· Crusade director Rick Marshall likened Mr. Graham to “a ‘modern-day Moses,’ standing on a mountain speaking into future generations he would never see. After a rousing concert with several contemporary bands, the stadium record crowd of teens got pin-drop quiet as the then-nearly octogenarian became the oldest Youth Evangelist in America, with overwhelming response. He created a model that many churches started to follow.”

· From that night forward, 22 youth events were held during Mr. Graham’s remaining crusades, 12 of which broke all-time stadium records with crowds of mostly young people totaling nearly 1.3 million, of which nearly 100,000 responded in making a commitment to Christ.

· Youth Night: Generational Impact – BG’s heart for youth. Through youth night and Amsterdam, BG had the experience of Moses, an OT senior statesman for the faith, who, after a long life of blessing and impact gazed on the Promised Land on which he would never set foot. Similarly, God enabled Mr. Graham to speak into lives who will carry the torch of leadership to future generations he will never know.

Billy Graham, As a Churchman

o Impact on Evangelical Movement

o Evangelical/Catholic relations

Another distinctive of Mr. Graham’s ministry was the unique relationship that he had as a “churchman” with unprecedented access to the faith community, crossing racial, confessional, denominational and geographic lines, who defined and gave credibility to the Evangelical movement:

o Within the common denominator of evangelism, Mr. Graham worked with -- and had credibility and trust among -- with the common denominator of “life in Christ”, Mr. Graham has worked with and has credibility and trust among – virtually every Evangelical, charismatic, mainline and other Christian group, including Catholics, in recent years

o Though his emphasis was evangelism, not ecumenism, during his travels Mr. Graham met with and gained the respect of leaders of other faiths.

o Mr. Graham’s crusades had a unifying effect, mobilizing diverse groups to work together by emphasizing what they have in common, rather than issues that divide them.

o Beyond the millions of individuals who made faith commitments at his invitation to “come forward and make a commitment to Christian those meetings, through 417 crusades – some as long as 16 weeks, his crusades served to bring unity, visibility and credibility the local church

· According to Susan Harding, anthropologist of religion at the University of California at Santa Cruz, Mr. Graham “created a new way to be a conservative Christian, not fundamentalist, not a judgmental separatist. A Billy Graham Christian could be more educated, more worldly and take for granted that Christians have work to do in this world.”

· “Mr. Graham wasn’t judgmental in any way,” Harding added. “He referred and deferred to God’s judgment, not his own…and didn’t claim to know what that judgment was.”

IV. THE MISSION - America’s Pastor (in times of crisis)

· Through his access to the White House and opportunities to minister to the nation – and the world -- in times of tragedy, Mr. Graham waslften described as “America’s Pastor.”

o In many of these situations, where the nation has been galvanized in corporate grief – such as over the Oklahoma City bombing, the Persian Gulf War, the Columbine incident or the death of JFK Jr. – in addresses to groups or media interviews, Mr. Graham has not been afraid to say, “I don’t know.”

o `When he and President Clinton led the National Prayer Service honoring the families of the victims of the Oklahoma city bombing, Mr. Graham said, “People ask me why does a loving God allow suffering. And, all I can say is, ‘I don’t know.’

o A year or two later, at a dinner following Mr. Graham’s receipt of the Congressional Medal of Honor – the highest award Congress can bestow on a citizen – President Clinton reminded the audience that Mr. Graham does not presume to be a know-it-all, but aware of his own humanness and leave it up to God.

o

· Four recent events in Mr. Graham’s ministry solidified his influence on the national psyche -- beyond church or crusade audiences:

o First, when he presided over Richard Nixon’s funeral and preached the Gospel to all living presidents in attendance and a worldwide audience via CNN, BBC and many national television networks

o The second benchmark was his address at the Statewide Prayer Service for the families of victims of the Oklahoma City bombing, as he pastored the families affected by the tragedy before a nation and worldwide audience asking “Why?”

o The third event was the presentation of the Congressional Gold Medal to him and Ruth in the Capitol Rotunda, where he gave a bold Gospel challenge to the nation’s leaders and another national television audience via CNN and C-Span

o Finally, his address at the National Cathedral on September 14, 2001 was heard by more people than perhaps any other sermon he have ever preached. As he consoled a grieving nation before the watching world, that message of hope and healing set the tone for a climate of love and respect among people of different faith communities.

· These four events placed Mr. Graham in a position of prominence and respect among domestic and international leaders, and also reinforced his leadership

V. THE MISSION - Pastor to Presidents

· In addition to his unprecedented impact as “America’s pastor” and “evangelist to the world,” Mr. Graham had a unique influence as pastor to presidents and confidant of high profile individuals in virtually every arena -- including royalty, government, entertainment, sports and business. His refusal to get involved in partisan politics has enabled him to minister publicly and privately to all leadership and their constituencies -- regardless of party affiliation or perspective on an issue.

Lessons from Duffy and Gibbs

· In writing their groundbreaking book, ”The Preacher and the Presidents,” chronicling Mr. Graham’s unique ministry to twelve presidents, TIME writers Michael Duffy and Nancy Gibbs started with the premise that they thought there were two crusades:

§ “We thought there were two stories, the private friendships of public men, and the political ministry of the great evangelist. But to him the presidents were the same as family, the same as any friendships; the principles did not shift with the circumstances. He loved them, he forgave them, and he tried to be there for them, no matter what. In the end, we are all the same, he said and need the same things….Because all along, there was really only one crusade.”

§ Mr. Graham’s political ministry was “a winding story of grace under pressure. To study its tensions, the temptations he faced, the balance he struck and the times when he stumbled, profiles all kinds of signs and cautions for any traveler between the Two Kingdoms.”

§ “’Graham never lost the sense of awe,’ said Charles Colson, a man with an acute understanding of what power can do to men’s soul’s. ‘A friend of mine said one of the great miracles of the twentieth century is that Billy Graham remained a humble man.’”

§ “’When I go to preach the Gospel, I go as an ambassador of the kingdom of God – not America.’ The same could be said of his White House ministry; he went as a courier for Christ, representing no constituency other than His own.”

§ Referring to the controversial Vietnam War, “I just decided this was such a divisive and emotional issue in America that my job was to preach the gospel to the people on both sides,” he said once the war was over. “If I took a stand on one of these sides or the other, half the [people] would not hear what I was saying about Christ.”

§ “His reluctance to challenge presidents privately or chastise them publicly reflected his convection that the truth that mattered most was the gospel truth; take up more earthly matters, he said, and he might lose his chance to witness. It was the basic nature of his faith that God had ordained these men to be president and his job was to pray with them and for them; the rest, he believed, would take care of itself.”

II. THE MISSION - God’s Global Ambassador

· As “Evangelist to the World,” Billy Graham was perhaps best-known for his signature phrase, “The Bible says,” which provided the foundation for his faithful preaching at the intersection of faith and culture. Referencing how hard he worked to keep his sermons simple and clear, one journalist remarked, “He had to put the message down where the goats could get it.”

· Though primarily an evangelist, Mr. Graham worked tirelessly as a man of conscience, compassion and peace, often facilitating rapprochement between disparate groups. He provided leadership influence by example in racial/denominational reconciliation, civil rights, social justice and de facto international diplomacy by pioneering early ministry efforts behind the Iron Curtain.

· But the remarkable thing about him was that there was no difference between the public and private Billy Graham. He was the same individual one-on-one over a meal or in a meeting back at the hotel as he was behind the pulpit. Though he was a spiritual confidant to some of the world’s foremost leaders in government, entertainment, sport and business, he made anyone in his presence feel like the most important person in the world at that moment.

VI. THE MINISTRY METHOD - Spiritual Entrepreneur

· As a spiritual entrepreneur, Mr. Graham’s vision had a seminal influence to found or encourage others to seize a timely opportunity to initiate more than thirty separate ministry organizations, including including founding Christianity Today, Gordon-Conwell Seminary, The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, to name a few.

IV. THE MINISTRY METHOD - Progressive Use of Technology

· Throughout his ministry, Mr. Graham demonstrated a progressive use of technology to leverage emerging mediums for ministry, using every means possible to reach as many individuals as possible with the Gospel. He went from bringing people to the Gospel in stadiums worldwide in the 1950s, to bringing the Gospel to the people via radio/TV, landlines, video relay, satellite and Internet.

· That innovative use of technology culminated with Mission World, a series of regional outreaches by continent; and Global Mission, extended by satellite from San Juan, PR to more than ten million people per night gathered in 3,000 locations – a footprint that covered nearly the entire planet, taking the Gospel literally to “the ends of the earth.”

· Each of those remote venues were prepared with the same training and support as if Mr. Graham came in-person, with audiences in far-flung arenas and stadiums experiencing one of eight different editions of music and testimonies around his sermon, presented in 54 different languages.

IV. THE MINISTRY METHOD - Transferable Principles

· Legacy is about educating and sustaining future generations to carry on – with knowledge from the past – leveraging transferable principles in their time and place.

· For many years into the future, scholars, historians, theologians and media will be studying Mr. Graham’s life, philosophy of ministry and inventory of sermons and statements -- as they have Moody, Sunday, Whitfield and other great evangelists who have gone on before.

V. THE MINISTRY IMPACT - On Evangelism/Evangelicals

o Over six decades of preaching, affected direction of worldwide Protestantism decisively towards evangelism (and Evangelicalism)

o Went from US flag waver to global statesman, giving credibility to the Christian faith – particularly Evangelicalism – within the culture at large and among national/international leadership

o In absence of an official spokesperson for Evangelical Christianity, for years Billy Graham was perceived as perennial “go to” person and authoritative media resource to put the Gospel in a cultural context on issues relating to the Christian life and societal influence

o Mr. Graham was an advocate of an inclusive view of Christian experience focused around the centrality of Jesus, and he took a benevolent approach to other faiths

o His ministry had a catalytic/unifying effect among diverse groups, emphasizing what they had in common, rather than what divided them

VII. THE MINISTRY IMPACT - Global Conferences/Training

· Mr. Graham himself would describe his greatest impact was convening several international world evangelism congresses, passing the baton to future generations of evangelists – more than 2/3 of which were from the developing world.

· Several times in the latter years of his ministry, Mr. Graham had the experience of Moses, a senior statesman for the faith in Old Testament times, who was able to look back with gratitude to the Lord for a long life of blessing and impact. God allowed Moses to stand atop Mt. Nebo and gaze upon the “Promised Land”, on which he would never personally set foot:

o This was most evident in the recent emphasis on reaching youth, which became a hallmark of his ministry. Local pastors looked to his model of reaching the next generation, which statistics show is outside the grasp of the church.

o Similarly, as Mr. Graham addressed the delegates to the three Amsterdam conferences, God has enabled him to speak into lives that will carry the torch lit by leadership and evangelism in those powerful and historic moments to future generations he will never know.

o He had commensurate influence and enormous effect on the future of evangelistic ministry every time he has had energy and strength to speak into the lives of an emerging generation of Christian leaders.

As these individuals who will lead the ministry charge in future generations receive the benefit of Mr. Graham’s wisdom, experience, and spiritual discernment, they are mentored, equipped and empowered to model her approach to evangelism on the world stage in their lives and ministries.

V. THE MINISTRY IMPACT - Man of Social Conscience

· Media reports through the years have portrayed Billy Graham as a man of consistent conscience, compassion, and peace, who never veered from his calling to faithfully preach the Gospel.

·

· He was an advocate for application of Gospel to social/justice issues, who provided leadership influence by example in racial/denomination reconciliation and Civil Rights.

V. THE MINISTRY IMPACT - Man of Compassion

V. THE MINISTRY IMPACT - Man of Peace

· Beyond the crusade and various ministry platforms, BG’s focus on the centrality of the Gospel also helped to tip the balance in the war against Communism and civil rights and other pioneering efforts.

· He pioneered ministry behind the Iron Curtain (including the former Soviet Union, China and North Korea). He facilitated rapprochement between Christians and Jews; Catholics and Protestants; Fundamentalists and Evangelicals.

· Billy Graham was a man of great vision. That was particularly evident in Eastern Europe, where he conducted preaching tours in every country in the former Eastern Block except Albania since 1967 – including three preaching tours to the Soviet Union. President H.W. Bush once remarked, “Before any of us saw the dramatic changes taking place in Eastern Europe, Billy Graham was there preaching the Gospel. It takes a man of God to see the early movement of the hand of God.”

V. THE MINISTRY IMPACT - Media Senior Statesman/Opinion Leader

Unprecedented Media Opportunities

· There is a plaque on the wall of the Billy Graham Center Museum in Wheaton, Illinois quoting the evangelist as saying, “I’ve never believed the success of our work depends on or is a result of publicity. However, I am convinced that God has used the press in our work, and that it has been one of the most effective factors in sustaining public interest through the years.”

· In the absence of an official spokesman for evangelical Christianity, Mr. Graham was perceived as a senior statesman and the perennial “go to” authoritative resource for the media on issues regarding evangelism and the Christian faith.

· Beyond his anointed preaching, in my opinion, one of the distinctives of Mr. Graham’s ministry was his ability to make positive points for the Gospel in any media situation.

· While working closely with Mr. Graham throughout most of the last half of his public ministry, I had opportunity to sit in on hundreds of press and broadcast interviews. I observed three unifying principles that defined his unique approach to media -- which was organic, not ancillary to all other outreach initiatives.

o First, he approached every media encounter as ministry, not marketing, seeking platforms for his message rather than publicity, and doing so out of a priority of relationship – never losing sight of reporters’ spiritual needs.

§ He could be asked how he got his suits dry cleaned on the road, and he would inevitably turn it around to a gospel witness.

§ He once told me while discussing an interview request, “I have had more cover stories than anyone deserves in a lifetime, but if it will give me a platform for the Gospel, I’ll do it.”

§ While most people count to ten or describe what they had for breakfast at a television studio sound check, Mr. Graham always quoted John 3:16, so that if he didn’t get a chance to present the Gospel in the interview, at least the soundman heard it.

o Second, in recent years as most ministries became more activist in nature, Billy Graham served as an advocate for the Christian faith. Despite a plethora of more strident voices among fellow Christian leaders, he remained a “voice of moderation,” stressing the centrality of the Gospel and the importance of personal faith in our lives and religious freedom in our culture.

o Third, in all media situations, Mr. Graham remained pastoral, rather than political. He often said, “I’m not for the left wing, or the right wing -- I’m for the whole bird:”

§ He never hesitated to address issues people perceive as political (or economic and social) from a spiritual perspective, speaking to matters of the heart.

· According to TIME correspondent Michael Duffy, “Mr. Graham viewed media platforms beyond opportunity or responsibility to necessity, opening doors for even greater ministry. No matter how big the stadium, he knew that crowd was finite, but served as a bridge to reach out through television, radio and media coverage to larger audiences not familiar with his message. He reached out to editors and anchors, didn’t run from critics and engaged in the national discourse without compromising his beliefs.”

Media Liaison

· Until the last few years of his life when he became a limited resource due to age and health, Mr. Graham always had a policy of engagement with the press – which proved to be a risk worth taking, greatly increasing his influence and impact beyond crusade audiences.

· And God honored the evangelist’s faithfulness, as numerous and unique news and feature opportunities provided expanded print and electronic forums for his message:

o Numerous and unique news and feature opportunities provided expanded print and electronic forums for his message

o Mr. Graham always strove to find common ground in his work as an evangelist with every reporter, but without compromise -- realizing that both are in the news business.

o While a journalist seeks to give his audience the ‘hard news’ about the facts happening in the world around us, Mr. Graham emphasized the 'Good News’ behind the often bad news about faith, and the transformation that can happen inside the heart when an individual makes a commitment to Christ.

· It has been said that an individual’s reputation involves how he is perceived today, while his legacy is a reflection of how he will be viewed by future generations 50 years from now. My own personal involvement handling media and public relations for Mr. Graham personally as well as for his crusades and his organization since 1981, reflected that continuum:

o from responsive media liaison

o to pro-active reputation management

o to a focus in recent years on codifying the long-term legacy of his unique influence and ministry in a historical framework.

· In the familiar biblical story in the Old Testament, about a battle being fought by the Army of Israel. Moses stood on a ridge overlooking the battlefield, and as long as he held up his arms and his staff, the Israelites were winning the battle. But when he dropped his arms, they fell behind. So God raised up two men who stood and held up Moses’ arms to ensure victory.

· That has been the role of my communications colleagues and me -- to hold up the arms of the man of God. But the battlefield has been in the hearts of men and women at his crusades, and in the media maintaining a Christian worldview on cultural, moral and spiritual issues.

· Our objective was to tell the story of Mr. Graham’s ministry in the context of traditional news values, thereby extending his personal influence and the impact of his crusades through the media to a broadened group of target audiences. This has been particularly critical in recent years as age and health factors have increasingly made him a limited resource:

· We weren’t out to promote a man or publicize a ministry, but to create greater awareness of the message he proclaimed

· Our task didn’t involve manufacturing an image, but rather projecting an already existing identity to convey what God can do through a life totally yielded to Him with respect to Mr. Graham’s faithfulness to his calling, message and mission.

Additional Billy Graham Media Principles

· He sought platforms for his message, not publicity for his ministry

· He viewed news and feature interviews not as self-promotional opportunities, but rather a responsibility as a faithful steward of the calling on his life to communicate Truth and a necessity to reach beyond the audiences who came to his crusades

· Despite unique opportunities of confidence and influence with political, entertainment and world leaders, he never quoted private conversations – yet had a self-deflecting/deprecating manner of creating mystery and intrigue about and interest in their unique roles

· He never spoke outside of his expertise, whenever possible keeping media discussions on a spiritual plane; and he was never afraid to answer a question, “I don’t know”

· He conducted interviews relationally, never losing sight of reporters’ personal spiritual needs

· He regularly leveraged emerging technologies – including print, radio, television, land line, satellite and Internet -- to use every means plausible to reach as many individuals as possible with the Gospel

VII. THE LEGACY – General

· As the world reflects on the passing of Billy Graham, for many it will not be a time of mourning, but rather celebration – of a life well-lived, a Lord well-served and a legacy the likes of which we won’t see again in our generation.

· Born a rural dairy farm in Charlotte, NC four days before the Armistice brokered the peace to end World War I, a boy who loved baseball and girls rose from obscure roots to become “evangelist to the world,” proclaiming peace with God throughout an unprecedented ministry spanning six decades.

· Throughout his ministry, he was known for progressive, cutting-edge evangelism, taking the Gospel to as many people as possible, using every means available -- including emerging technologies of the day.

· A unique confluence of timing and developments in travel and technology enabled him to become the first person with potential to fulfill the Great Commission of “preaching the Gospel to the ends of the earth.”

· Though slowed in recent years by age-related conditions, such as macular degeneration and hydrocephalus, he continued to stay engaged in ministry pursuits, and released his 32nd book, “The Reason for My Hope,” in conjunction with his 95thbirthday. Not only did it codify the message he faithfully preached for more than six decades, but also it was a companion to a massive national campaign in November 2013, “My Hope with Billy Graham.”

· What mattered most to Billy Graham was to faithfully lift up the name of Jesus with authenticity and integrity to the great and the low, the high and the humble. Though he never compromised the Gospel or the dimension of the reality of God’s judgment, unlike some other Christian leaders whose messages come across as condemning, in my experience Mr. Graham always functioned as a “paramedic,” rather than a “policeman,” for the Kingdom of God.

· Billy Graham represented a balance of grace and truth. He was a man of humility, integrity, authenticity and an agent of God’s love, who despite his many gifts and ability, the Lord used more for his availability. He had an audience of One, and would consistently “suit up and show up,” leaving the results to the Lord he served, and giving all the glory and honor to God, knowing that he was operating with faith in His strength and power from above.

VIII. THE LEGACY - Redemptive-Historic

Legacy

Legacies stand the test of time for only select individuals who have made a significant impact on their times or civilization. They only have meaning when considered in the framework of spiritual, political and cultural forces operative in their lifetime, and how they influenced behavior, opinion or history. The difference is contextualization – putting the life and ministry of an influential individual like Billy Graham on the world stage in the context of past or current events. For years, media interviews and news stories about Mr. Graham and the BGEA have provided that perspective.

Several Years ago “Time” magazine had a back page essay by Roger Rosenblatt entitled, “What Should We Lead With.” He wrote, “Journalists put the question in practical terms, ‘What should we lead with?’ The rest of the population asks more generally, ‘What Matters Most?’”

While reporters often lead with Mr. Graham’s crusades or comments on current events, what mattered most to him was to faithfully lift up the name of Christ with authenticity and integrity to the great and the low, the high and the humble.

Like President George Washington, as chronicled in the biography, “His Excellency”, Mr. Graham modeled character, integrity and leadership, which were honed on the farm out of the public eye. However, his anointing and trust in God was not a matter of destiny, as Washington believed. Rather, it was due to the Lord’s calling on his life, and the evangelist’s faithfulness to that call.

Mr. Graham’s ministry was an unfolding story of God’s providence and grace. The timeless principles, precepts and priorities on which he lived his life have been chronicled, critiqued and codified by the media to provide subsequent generations of seekers, leaders and scholars a blueprint, action plan and a benchmark of faith and God’s faithfulness that will endure over time.

Just as reputation involves what people think of an individual today, legacy encompasses what they think of that person 50 years from now – if they think of him at all. Legacies stand the test of time for only select individuals who have made a significant impact on their times or culture. They only have meaning when considered in context with spiritual, political and cultural forces operative in their lifetime, and how they influence behavior, opinion or history.

In an era where confidence in institutions are crumbling, and even religious organizations are being criticized for lack of integrity, he have stood as an example of how to finish well. After more than 50 years, he, personally, and BGEA, corporately, continue to enjoy an impeccable reputation among internal and external shareholders.

This has come about through a remarkable combination of God’s providence and protection; her personal moral, spiritual and financial integrity; a strong board; responsible stewardship; a capable staff; and a singular focus on evangelism.

While reporters often lead with Mr. Graham’s crusades or comments on current events, what mattered most to him was to faithfully lift up the name of Christ with authenticity and integrity to the great and the low, the high and the humble.

It has been said that the world will not see another like Billy Graham in our generation. In fact, his influence has been so broad, and his impact so far-reaching, we won’t know this side of heaven the extent of his legacy, no matter how clearly defined. Consider:

Evangelist to the world:

Called “God’s Ambassador,” “Pastor to Presidents“ and ‘America’s Pastor” Ministered over a span of six decades, during which America found faith after the war, lost its faith, and is now regaining and rediscovering faith again Crusade Evangelism

Catalytic unifier of the church around shared priorities rather than differences As Churchman:

Defined and gave credibility to Evangelicals Cultivated mainline churches in evangelism Prompted Protestant/Catholic cooperation in evangelism Brought unity, visibility and confidence to the local church Sponsored worldwide congresses – both academic and working -- including Berlin, Lausanne and Amsterdam ’83, ’86 and 2000 Seminal influence or involvement in founding other ministry organizations, such as “Christianity Today,” Gordon Conwell, ECFA, etc. Started the Third Great Awakening Kept a team together for more than six decades Facilitated rapprochement between Christians and Jews; Catholics and Protestants; Fundamentalists and Evangelicals Though primarily an evangelist, he was consistently a man of conscience, compassion and peace Demonstrated personal, spiritual, and financial integrity Consistently and progressively used technology to advance the Gospel Facilitated intergenerational impact into his 80s Influencer of influencers on the world stage, including presidents and world leaders Unprecedented consecutive appearances on Gallup and other “Most Admired Men” polls Provided leadership influence by example in racial/denominational reconciliation and Civil Rights Pioneered ministry behind the Iron Curtain (former Soviet Union, China, North Korea) Milestone sermons carried worldwide beyond the National Cathedral on 9/14/01, including President Nixon’s funeral, the Oklahoma City Statewide Prayer Service and the Gold Medal ceremony Remained at the forefront of cutting edge evangelism – using every means possible to reach as many people as possible with the Gospel – first radio, then television, land-line relay and satellite extension, culminating in the innovative Mission World, Global Mission, and World Television Series Involved in compassion ministry, specifically pre-Samaritan’s Purse disaster relief -- such as earthquakes in Guatemala and India (where they even named a rebuilt town after him) Motivated pastors in evangelism (including those who were liberal or secular, who found Christ at a crusade and are now living and preaching for Him) Though internally controversial, his ministry in his mid-80s became a national model Conducted extensive Schools of Evangelism and other training Became the world’s largest producer and distributor of religious films – over 130 titles

Maintained a longstanding positive and prolific relationship with the media Modeled “Leadership with love”

· According to Dr. Grant Wacker, Prof. of Christian History at Duke University Divinity School, “In the end, assessing Graham's legacy for his own evangelical subculture may be less important than assessing his legacy for the mainline.” He helped mainline churches make evangelism more of a priority.

REFLECTIONS

Historical Context

Legacy is not revisionist, but rather redemptive-historical, in the context of history. It is objective – showing warts and all, including recovery from mistakes (such as Mr. Graham’s apology to the Jews in Cincinnati.) It involves his wide tent, including secondary influences on such unlikely cultural icons like Bono, who in his recent autobiography says, “Billy Graham would have to be at the top of the list. He offered me a blessing and then laid his hands on me. A beautiful man who could turn the Scriptures to poetry with his lilting Southern accent.”

Legacy is about educating and sustaining future generations to carry on – with knowledge from the past – leveraging transferable principles in their time and place. Though Mr. Graham lived in a different era, there are timeless principles, precepts and priorities that are transferable, upon which future pastors, scholars and believers can build.

This process will involve a living, breathing resource – preferably affiliated with credible academic scholarship and tied to the Internet -- to showcase principles and priorities by which Mr. Graham lived his life for future generations to not only see and understand, but also apply in their time, place and calling.

The battle of the Alamo resulted in a defeat for Davey Crockett and his men. As such, “Remember the Alamo” is not merely a sentiment, but a battle cry that sparked commitment to win future battles and eventually freedom. Similarly, Mr. Graham’s legacy provides not only a blueprint, but an action plan and a benchmark of faith and God’s faithfulness that will endure over time.

It has been said that an individual’s reputation involves how he is perceived today, while his legacy is a reflection of how he will be viewed by future generations 50 years from now. Media relations on behalf of Mr. Graham and his ministry over the past three decades reflect that continuum – progressing from media liaison to reputation management in recent years to a new focus on capturing and crafting the long-term legacy of his unique influence and ministry over more than six decades.

Mr. Graham was an influencer of influencers on the world stage, including Presidents and world leaders; he made unprecedented consecutive appearances on the Gallup and other “Most Admired” men polls for over 50 years.

Initial thoughts on Mr. Graham’s Legacy Categories

America’s pastor “Leadership with love” Brought unity, visibility and confidence to the local church Sponsorship of worldwide congresses – both academic and working -- including Berlin, Lausanne, Amsterdams, et al Seminal influence or involvement in founding other ministry organizations, such as “Christianity Today,” Gordon Conwell, ECFA, etc. Started the Third Great Awakening Defined and gave credibility to Evangelicals Ministered over a six decade span during which America found faith after the war, lost its faith, and is now regaining and rediscovering faith again Kept a team together for more than six decades Impact on mainline churches for evangelism Prompted Protestant/Catholic cooperation in evangelism Catalytic unifier of the church around shared priorities rather than differences Facilitation of rapprochement between Christians and Jews; Catholics and Protestants; Fundamentalists and Evangelicals Man of conscience, compassion and peace Personal, spiritual, and financial integrity Progressive use of technology for the Gospel Intergenerational impact Influencer of influencers on the world stage, including presidents and world leaders Unprecedented consecutive appearances on Gallup and other “Most Admired Men” polls Influence and activity in racial/denominational reconciliation and Civil Rights Pioneering impact behind the Iron Curtain (former Soviet Union, China, North Korea) Milestone sermons carried worldwide beyond the National Cathedral on 9/14/01, including President Nixon’s funeral, the Oklahoma City Statewide Prayer Service and the Gold Medal ceremony Remained at the forefront of cutting edge evangelism – using every means possible to reach as many people as possible with the Gospel – first radio, then television, land-line relay and satellite extension, culminating in the innovative Mission World, Global Mission, and World Television Series Involvement in compassion ministry, specifically pre-Samaritan’s Purse disaster relief -- such as earthquakes in Guatemala and India (where they even named a rebuilt town after him) Motivated pastors in evangelism (including those who were liberal or secular, who found Christ at a crusade and are now living and preaching for Him) Mr. Graham’s hallmark youth ministry that continued into his mid-80’s Schools of Evangelism and other training Films Mr. Graham’s long-standing positive and prolific relationship with the media

VII. THE LEGACY – Straight to camera

Quotes

“Our country still needs Billy Graham. More than ever, we want his voice to echo in our evening news, to show up in our newspapers, to remind us, "Jesus said, 'he must be born again!'" The cry of Jeremiah the prophet is the cry that kept the great evangelist and his team moving in their advanced years: "The summer is ended, the harvest is past, and we are not saved." America is more than ever, "not saved." America needs Billy Graham.”

(From the Harvest website)

· Ultimately, Billy Graham’s legacy will be defined by historians and scholars, reflected for future generations in the complete, compelling story of God’s providence and calling on him. His faithfulness to that call resulted in a consistent influence that transformed lives and made an unprecedented impact on the world stage over nearly seven decades. In actual fact, however, the evangelist has traveled lightly during a lifetime spent deflecting any accolades and attention to the One he served. He is being buried next to his wife Ruth in a simple pine box, crafted by Angola Prison inmates.

·

· Mr. Graham often expressed gratitude to the Lord that all five of his sons and daughters have gone into full-time ministry, though not in a comparative or competitive manner. Each is involved in a niche venture that reflects a unique personality and calling. Every member of the Graham clan has lived the redemptive Gospel that they preach, and represents the truth that God is a God of second chances.

·

· The difference is contextualization – putting Mr. Graham’s life and ministry on the world stage in the context of history and current events. Consider:

Ministry – Mr. Graham will be remembered first and foremost as a faithful preacher of the Gospel who truly became “evangelist to the world.” Long after his lifetime has ended, historians will recall his service as one of the most significant evangelists in the history of the Church.

· Future Vision - Years ago Mr. Graham realized that Jesus’ Great Commission applied not only to him individually, but to the whole Church. This led him not only to preach all over the world (both in person and through the use of the media); it led him also to reassert the priority of evangelism and to train thousands of evangelists through a series of major international conferences.

Today his vision for evangelism lives on through these committed individuals. One of the most crucial questions concerning his legacy is how his vision for world evangelism can challenge future generations.

Churchman - Though called as an evangelist, Mr. Graham maintained a pastor’s heart and remained steadfastly committed to the Church throughout his public ministry. The resulting impact has been to give credibility to the Christian faith – particularly Evangelicalism – within the culture at large and among national and international leadership. Beyond evangelism, his crusades have created unity, visibility and confidence, among participating pastors within the community.

Leadership - Like President George Washington, as chronicled in the biography, His Excellency, Mr. Graham modeled character, integrity and leadership, which were honed on the farm out of the public eye. However, his anointing and trust in God has not been a matter of destiny, as Washington believed. Rather, it is a direct result of God’s calling on his life and his faithfulness to answer that call.

Mr. Graham’s approach to history was not deliberate and calculated like our nation’s first president, but rather is an unfolding story of God’s providence and grace, which needs to be similarly chronicled after the fact for subsequent seekers, leaders and scholars.

Cultural impact - In our own generation Mr. Graham’s legacy will continue in the lives of countless millions who were touched by the Gospel through his ministry – from presidents to peasants. His impact has been far greater, however, and includes his influence on civil rights, his role in the downfall of communism and his involvement in a host of other vital issues -- from poverty and disaster relief to theological education and the use of cutting edge technology in evangelism.

Additionally, he facilitated rapprochement between Christians and Jews; Catholics and Protestants; Fundamentalists and Evangelicals. Both secular and religious historians will continue to assess the impact of his life and ministry on American society and the world Church long after our own generation is gone.

o Example – In many ways, Mr. Graham’s life has spoken as loudly as his words, and an important part of his legacy is the example he set for others – of integrity, humility and steadfast faithfulness to his calling. The challenge will be how to pass on these lessons from his life to future generations who had no opportunity to observe him.

Billy Graham Quotes:

For the future generations who never had opportunity to hear Mr. Graham preach, his message is being carried forth through Twitter and other social media platforms. Here is a sampling of recent quotes I have seen on these platforms:

· The most eloquent prayer is the prayer through hands that heal and bless.

· Comfort and prosperity have never enriched the world as much as adversity has.

· Being a Christian is more than just an instantaneous conversion; it is a daily process whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ.

· Give me five minutes with a person`s checkbook, and I will tell you where their heart is.

· There is nothing wrong with men possessing riches. The wrong comes when riches possess men.

· God proved His love on the Cross. When Christ hung, and bled, and died, it was God saying to the world, "I love you."

· Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened.

· It is not the body`s posture, but the heart`s attitude that counts when we pray.

· You`re born. You suffer. You die. Fortunately, there`s a loophole.

· We are not cisterns made for hoarding, we are channels made for sharing.

· A real Christian is a person who can give his pet parrot to the town gossip.

· The men who followed Jesus were unique in their generation. They turned the world upside down because their hearts had been turned right side up. The world has never been the same.

· When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost.

· I`ve read the last page of the Bible. It`s all going to turn out all right.

· The test of a preacher is that his congregation goes away saying, not, `What a lovely sermon!` but `I will do something.`

[KT1]