Since the Billy Graham Library opened in 2007, more than 1 million people from 87 countries have come to visit. Many have been encouraged, inspired and transformed through the Library’s Gospel-focused message.
A Divine Change of Plans
Doug Barrett was expecting a normal Monday morning as he took some businessmen through the Billy Graham Library—but God had other plans.
Doug, who works at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, was guiding his guests through the Library’s Journey of Faith tour. Standing next to them at the beginning of the tour was a couple named Steve and Lisa with their service dog, Champ, who looked just like Doug’s own dog.
As Doug struck up a conversation with the couple, he noticed Steve was wearing a Wounded Warrior cap. Doug mentioned that he served in Afghanistan and Iraq and had recently participated in the Samaritan’s Purse ministry, Operation Heal Our Patriots. Doug asked if the couple needed prayer, then prayed for Steve’s disability at his request. They parted ways.
An hour later, Doug saw Steve walking out of the tour with tears streaming down his face.
“Can I change my prayer request?” Steve asked Doug. “Will you pray that God would love me enough to forgive me for what I have done?”
Doug sat down with Steve, Lisa and Champ in the Library’s prayer room and listened as Steve talked about his deployments in the military. Doug prayed that Steve would know the depths of God’s love and forgiveness toward him.
Sitting in that prayer room surrounded by his wife, dog, and new friend Doug, Steve accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior.
Some people might say Doug met Steve and Lisa at the Library by chance, but God had been orchestrating it perfectly all along. His plan made that Monday morning the day when a lost soul finally found its Savior.
Brazilian Family Comes to Christ at Library
A young woman from Brazil wanted to show her parents her new life in Charlotte, North Carolina. She took them to the Billy Graham Library as part of their tour of the city.
Her parents didn’t speak English, but she interpreted parts of The Journey of Faith tour in Portuguese for them while learning more about Jesus herself. At the end of the tour, all three felt they needed to invite Jesus into their lives.
As they walked through a row of mirrored crosses while exiting the final room of the tour, the young woman received a small card with a few questions about her visit. She filled it out and indicated that she had just made a decision for Christ. She handed the card to Wendell Anderson, a Library volunteer.
Wendell invited the family into the prayer room and walked them through the Steps to Peace with God, which the young woman relayed to her parents in Portuguese. The family also spoke Spanish, so Wendell asked a Spanish-speaking Library staff member to join him in sharing the Gospel with the couple.
The young woman’s parents flew back to Brazil the next day professing Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and she was left with a newfound hope in Christ, as well as a life-changing memory from the Billy Graham Library.
Other Comments From Library Visitors
Encouragement for a Stay-at-home Mother
There’s a special room in The Journey of Faith tour focused on Billy Graham’s wife, Ruth Bell Graham. As she raised their five children in their North Carolina home, Ruth played an incredibly vital role supporting and encouraging her husband’s ministry.
A woman named Ashley recently visited the Library from Florida and said, “The Ruth room inspired me and encouraged me greatly as a stay-at-home mother, reminding me that God uses me through seemingly mundane tasks.”
God Can Use You at Any Age
Billy Graham became a famous evangelist as a young man, but his ministry has remained vibrant even as he’s aged. Now at 97 years old, Mr. Graham is continuing his ministry through prayer, showing that there is no age limit to serving God.
Betty from Alabama learned about Billy Graham through The Journey of Faith Library tour and said, “I am totally amazed at what God has given to one man and then to us. It makes me realize that even at 80 there is still work I can do!”
Taking the Library’s Message Back Home
Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the main goal of the Billy Graham Library. From The Journey of Faith tour to the Ruth’s Attic bookstore, everything is pointed toward bringing people closer to Jesus.
Paul from New Jersey said, “This trip reaffirmed my faith and has inspired me to go back home and tell others about the Library. It was a wonderful presentation that all people must see, because we all need Jesus in our lives.”
