Happy 96th Birthday Billy Graham

By   •   November 7, 2014

Billy Graham in London
Preaching at the 1954 Crusade in London's Trafalgar Square
Billy Graham with Bible
Billy Graham said, "I learned the importance of the Bible and came to believe with all my heart in its full inspiration. It became a sword in my hand to break open the hearts of men, to direct them to the Lord Jesus Christ."
BG and Bev Shea
George Beverly Shea with Billy Graham. Mr. Shea, who passed away April 16, 2013, often sang Gospel tunes in his famous baritone voice before Mr. Graham would preach.
In his early days, Billy Graham wanted to play professional baseball. But instead of swinging the bat in packed stadiums, he found himself with his Bible in hand, preaching the Gospel to millions around the world — often speaking in baseball stadiums.
Muhammad Ali visit
Boxing great Muhammad Ali once visited Mr. Graham at his home.
sitting outside
The evangelist once said, “Without dark clouds in our lives, we would never know the joy of sunshine. We can become callous and unteachable if we do not learn from pain.”
At National Cathedral
Billy Graham spoke at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 14, 2001, following terrorist attacks on U.S. soil a few days earlier. Here, he prays with President George W. Bush.
African children
Spending time with some children in an African village in 1960
On Today show
Barbara Walters, Hugh Downs and Joe Garagiola with Billy Graham in 1968
golfing
Enjoying a round of golf
Billy and Ruth at home
Billy Graham's wife, Ruth, passed away on June 14, 2007, two weeks after the dedication of the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, N.C. Billy Graham wrote in her obituary: "I am so grateful to the Lord that He gave me Ruth, and especially for these last few years we’ve had in the mountains together. We’ve rekindled the romance of our youth, and my love for her continued to grow deeper every day. I will miss her terribly, and look forward even more to the day I can join her in Heaven.”
Billy Graham with fish
Showing off his catch
Canvas Cathedral 1949
The 1949 Greater Los Angeles Revival, held in a tent nicknamed "The Canvas Cathedral," moved Billy Graham into the national spotlight.
Graham family outside
The Graham family enjoying a fall day outside their home, which Ruth helped design while Billy was away. The children from left to right: Anne, Ruth, Gigi and Franklin.
Billy Graham and Margaret Thatcher
Billy Graham with Margaret Thatcher, the late prime minister of the UK, in 1989
Seoul, Korea crowd
Billy Graham's largest Crusade was in Seoul, Korea (Yoida Plaza) with 1.1 million people attending at one time. The Crusade ran for five days, with Mr. Graham preaching to more than 3 million people total.
Billy Graham with Johnny Carson
Johnny Carson interviewing Billy Graham
Billy Graham reading Bible
Billy Graham reading the Bible
Hour of Decision TV
Billy Graham filming a telecast for "The Hour of Decision" television program
prayer breakfast
Billy Graham speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast in 1963
Billy Graham praying
Billy Graham praying
Billy Graham with MLK
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. credited Billy Graham with playing a major role in lessening tensions between races.
BG, GBS, Cliff Barrows
Billy Graham singing with longtime friends and ministry partners, Cliff Barrows (left) and George Beverly Shea (right)
Billy Graham and Johnny Cash
Billy Graham and longtime friend Johnny Cash in 1985. Johnny Cash once wrote of Mr. Graham: "His simplicity, his common touch, his childlike compassion for his fellowman is the source of his greatness. ... He is what he appears to be; a dedicated vessel of God's earthly endeavors among men."
Billy and Ruth
Ruth and Billy Graham at home in Montreat, N.C., on their 50th wedding anniversary
South Africa Crusade
South Africa's first public integrated meetings were held in Durban and, a few days later, in Johannesburg (pictured) in 1973. Both were Billy Graham Crusades.
Billy, Ned, Franklin
Billy Graham with his sons at his home in Montreat, N.C.
Pope John Paul II
Billy Graham meeting with Pope John Paul II in Rome
Graham family
Franklin, Ruth ("Bunny"), Anne, Gigi, Ruth Graham and baby Ned at home in North Carolina
Queen Elizabeth II
Billy Graham with Great Britain's Queen Elizabeth II
Receiving presidential medal
President Ronald Reagan presenting Billy Graham with the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Billy Graham with dogs
Taking in the mountain view with his dogs at home. In 1957, before leaving for a New York Crusade, Billy Graham wrote in his journal: "I have come to love this mountaintop and would like nothing better than for the Lord to say I should stay here for the rest of my life." Yet it was clear to him that God had called him to minister to people around the world, and so he went.
Rio de Janeiro crowd
In October 1974, the largest crowd to attend an evangelistic service in the Western Hemisphere — 225,000 people — filled Rio de Janeiro's Maracana Stadium.
Graham family 50th anniversary
Billy and Ruth Graham celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1993 with their five children: Gigi, Anne, Franklin, Ned and Ruth.