William Franklin Graham Jr.

November 7, 1918 – February 21, 2018

The 20th century's most recognized evangelist. Preached the gospel in person to more than 215 million people in 185 countries through his crusade ministry from 1947 to 2005.

Biography

William Franklin 'Billy' Graham Jr. was born on a dairy farm outside Charlotte, North Carolina, converted at sixteen under evangelist Mordecai Ham, and at twenty-six was ordained as a Southern Baptist minister. His 1949 Los Angeles tent crusade — extended from three weeks to eight after newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst telegrammed his editors to 'puff Graham' — launched him into international prominence overnight. From 1947 until his last crusade in 2005, Graham preached the gospel in person to an estimated 215 million people across 185 countries, more than any other evangelist in history. He served as spiritual counselor to twelve U.S. presidents from Truman to Obama, founded the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in 1950, co-founded Christianity Today magazine in 1956, and lent his name to Samaritan's Purse and the Cove training center in Asheville. Graham's sermons were strikingly simple in form — typically a single passage of Scripture, a clear diagnosis of sin, and an unembellished call to come forward and trust Christ — and that simplicity is precisely what allowed them to translate across language, culture, and television cable.

Legacy

Graham defined the post-war American evangelical movement. The 'altar call' as a televised mass-media event, the cooperative interdenominational crusade, and the Billy Graham Rule on integrity in ministry are all his legacy. His son Franklin Graham continues the BGEA ministry, and the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte hosts archived sermon audio and video from every major crusade.

Notable Sermons

Copyright & Usage

All sermons by Billy Graham remain copyrighted by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. The archive below links to the official BGEA site where sermons are freely accessible for personal study but not redistribution. Please do not republish full sermon text without permission.

Where to Read More

• BillyGraham.org — Official Sermon Archive
• Just As I Am: The Autobiography of Billy Graham (HarperOne)
• Billy Graham Decision Magazine

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