There was seemingly no place David and Jason Benham would rather have been than the Billy Graham Library signing copies of their book, Whatever the Cost, on Saturday.
The professional baseball players turned real estate entrepreneurs took the time to meet some of the people who have prayed for them and supported them.
They went through public scrutiny in 2013, when their show on the HGTV network was canceled in response to some statements they had made in defense of biblical marriage—marriage between one man and one woman.
But they also viewed this book-signing event as a way to pay homage to a trailblazer in speaking truth.
“This place is unbelievably inspiring. Dr. Graham was preaching righteousness in America, and that will get you into a little bit of trouble,” said David. “It got Jason and me in trouble. We realize we had an opportunity to back away from biblical values or stand for biblical values. We chose to stand and we ended up getting fired.”
David then told the crowd that he had read a passage in Judges chapter five in preparation to come to the Billy Graham Library for the book signing. One verse in particular said that when the princes in Israel will take the lead, the people will offer themselves, and the Lord will be praised.
“And right now, Franklin Graham is willingly taking the lead in this nation. We’re so thankful for this lighthouse called Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. We’re thankful for princes like Franklin Graham that are taking a stand,” said David.
“We just want everyone to know, we will stand with Franklin Graham. We will stand with BGEA. And we will stand with Jesus Christ, no matter what happens.”
There was a leader of another kind waiting in line to meet the brothers and have his copy of Whatever the Cost signed.
Admiral Dean Lee, of Norfolk, Virginia, was at the Billy Graham Library with his wife and grown son. His wife had driven to Charlotte to surprise their son for his birthday, which was earlier this week. The admiral, in turn, flew to Charlotte to surprise his wife for her birthday, which happened to be Saturday.
The visit to the Library was a last-minute decision, but one well worth it, said Admiral Lee, who had heard of the Benhams, but was unaware of their book.
“I’m glad I met them. I’m really charged up by those two young men,” he said. “We need men and women like them—people of faith—to stand up for that faith and for God and His word. It’s so hard to do that anymore in our new society. And I admire people that will stand up for their faith.”
Jon and Shannon Peterson admire the Benhams so much that they drove from Atlanta with their four children this morning, just to meet them and tell them how much they have impacted their family.
“We have been reading the book to our kids,” said Shannon. “I wanted them to meet the Benhams and for them to be an inspiration and to serve as an example, especially to my boys.”
Jon agrees: “One takeaway from the book is that we want our kids to be fountains—not drains—on people and society.”
For the Benhams, their faith cost them a television show. But what does faith cost the average person—the person with no platform?
Jason explained that the message behind Whatever the Cost is just as applicable—if not more so—to the reader of the book as it is to the writers.
“The most courageous thing you can do is stand up to evil when no one is watching—when you are all alone and you are tempted to give in to a thought. We all face that,” explained Jason.
“Those are the things that God allows us to be victorious over. We can stand whatever the cost, even if it costs you a TV or your iPhone. When you are willing to do anything out of love for Jesus—whatever the cost—that is more courageous than what we did standing in the public eye.”
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