On Feb. 21, 2018, Billy Graham passed away at age 99 after a lifetime of ministry. At 27, he resigned from his pulpit at First Baptist Church in Western Springs, Illinois, to go on the road
for Youth for Christ, an organization founded for ministry to youth and servicemen during World War II. Visit Billy Graham's memorial site for more information and to leave condolences.
A 1949 Crusade in Los Angeles caught the attention of newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst. The resulting national and international news coverage launched Billy Graham into prominence. The Crusade was supposed to last three weeks but ran for eight as Billy preached the Gospel.
In 1949, night after night, crowds continued to pack a Los Angeles tent as the momentum of the city rally continued to build.
Billy Graham with the Rev. Grady Wilson, Cliff Barrows and George Beverly Shea. In the early days of Mr. Graham's ministry, he met with his team to discuss the criticisms of evangelism, namely finances, moral integrity, antichurch sentiments and no follow-up for people who gave their lives to Christ. He determined to change those things in his ministry.
Thousands gathered in New York's Central Park in 1991 to hear Billy Graham preach.
At a 2003 Crusade in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with Gospel musician Kirk Franklin on the far right. Many people who have met Mr. Graham over the years say his humility and concern for each person stood out to them.
Billy Graham preached with passion in both speech and body language. He was confident and articulate, but said it wasn't him who moved people toward Christ. "Prayer is crucial to evangelism," he said. "No matter how logical our arguments or how fervent our appeals, our words will accomplish nothing unless God's Spirit prepares the way."
A counselor praying with a young boy at a Dallas, Texas, Crusade in 2002. Each Crusade involved many months of praying and planning with local churches. Today, Franklin Graham and Will Graham continue to preach through Festivals and Celebrations.
Billy Graham and Cliff Barrows recording The Hour of Decision for the radio in 1959. Mr. Graham advocated for using every means possible to spread the Gospel. His ministry expanded with the use of radio, TV, print media and the internet. Listen to Hour of Decision Online, browse podcasts and other audio archives.
George Beverly Shea, Billy Graham and Cliff Barrows were fast friends. Mr. Barrows, who died on Nov. 15, 2016, led congregational singing and Crusade choirs around the world. Mr. Shea, who passed away April 16, 2013, often sang Gospel tunes in his famous baritone voice before Mr. Graham would preach. Here, the three are on the set of The Hour of Decision TV show in 1952.
Cliff Barrows, Billy Graham and George Beverly Shea singing together in 1984.
Billy Graham addressing a crowd in San Diego, California, in 2003.
Billy Graham in Vietnam around Christmastime in the mid-1960s. He visited hospitals and prayed with soldiers. He also preached and sang "Silent Night" with them. "In the middle of that war," he said, "men were making their peace with God on Christmas Eve."
The choir singing at the Greater Los Angeles Crusade in 2004.
Many youth attended the 2002 Crusade in Dallas, Texas.
Taking time to greet a small group of people during his travels to Europe.
A warm welcome in Tokyo, Japan.
A 1957 New York Crusade ran for 16 weeks, making it the longest-running Crusade. Mr. Graham preached to more than 2 million people during that time, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. offered a prayer at one service. It was also the first U.S. Crusade where Mr. Graham used an interpreter to address the Spanish-speaking population. One New Yorker later wrote to Mr. Graham: "When I first heard about your Crusade, I was skeptical of its results. I thought you were selling religion like toothpaste. ... [But] I heard God talking to me. ... I cried and am still crying tears of joy, because I feel alive."
During the 1957 New York Crusade, Billy Graham preached a final message from Times Square. Thousands of people filled the streets. The evangelist later said of the Crusade: "I had nothing to give. I had exhausted my material. I had exhausted my body. ... I sat on the platform many nights with nothing to say, nothing. ... And I knew that in a few minutes I'd have to get up and preach. ... And yet, I would stand up and all of a sudden it would begin to come ... just God giving it, that's all."
Billy Graham preaching in 2002.
Billy Graham early in his preaching days. His stage at this event was a flatbed trailer.
During a five-day Crusade in Seoul, Korea, in 1973, Billy Graham preached to more than 3 million people. It was his largest Crusade ever.
The crowd in Seoul, Korea, in 1973. From John Pollock’s authorized biography of Billy Graham, The Billy Graham Story: "For all who took part, that final Crusade service is a dreamlike memory: the solemn responsibility of ministering to such a multitude, the visual impact of so many mortals in one place. ... [When Mr. Graham gave an invitation to accept Christ] there was a hush upon the audience at first. Then one here and one there arose, until thousands were standing. ... [Billy Graham said], 'The only comment I have is, Thanksgiving to God for all He did.'"
Billy Graham spending time with some children during his visit to Africa in 1960.
Billy Graham was moved to tears by the cyclone victims in Andhra Pradesh, India, in 1977.
Billy Graham's 1996 Crusade in his hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina, drew 75,000 people to Ericsson Stadium, now the Bank of America Stadium.
Billy Graham spoke at the Orthodox Cathedral in Timisoara, Romania, in 1985. A crowd estimated at 150,000 greeted him in the public square.
While visiting the Westside Deli in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1972, Billy Graham called the owner's mother, who admired the preacher, to say "hello."
The first fully integrated public meeting ever held in South Africa was the Billy Graham Crusade in Durban in 1973. Billy Graham told the crowd, “Christianity is not a white man’s religion. And don’t let anybody ever tell you that it’s white or black. Christ belongs to all people.” Mr. Graham also held a Crusade in Johannesburg that year, about 20 years after receiving initial invites to preach in South Africa. He wouldn’t accept an invitation unless the Crusades were racially integrated. Two decades before that, he personally removed ropes segregating the crowd at a Chattanooga, Tennessee, Crusade.
Tom Bledsoe directing the Crusade choir at Texas Stadium in 2002.
Billy Graham and Cliff Barrows recording The Hour of Decision radio program at the pyramids in Egypt in 1960.
Billy Graham visited the bombed-out homes of Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 1972. He once said, "War is only one facet of the larger problem of evil which has been with the human race since the beginning."
A 1989 London Crusade at Wembley Stadium.
Billy Graham said, "Our youth are desperately searching for purpose and meaning in their lives." Here, he answers questions from a group of young people at Eurofest, Brussels, Belgium, in 1975.
Billy Graham with his oldest son, Franklin, who heads the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and preaches around the world. This picture was taken in 2003 at a San Diego, California, Crusade.
The crowd worshiping at a 2005 Crusade in New York. The Crusade was the last Crusade of Billy Graham's ministry.
Billy Graham in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1954. 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. Yet, he always deflected any credit to God: "If anything has been accomplished through my life, it has been solely God's doing, not mine, and He—not I—must get the credit." Visit Billy Graham's memorial site to leave memories and condolences.
