Frequent travelers carry certain must-haves on trips—headphones, power adapters, or maybe the latest bestseller.
For Billy Graham, it was a portable library of Bible resource books he used to prepare Gospel messages around the world.
In a special new display at the Billy Graham Library, “Platform for the Gospel,” visitors can see these and other items from his eight decades of ministry.
The display also includes insightful quotes from the evangelist regarding the power of prayer.
Knowing their efforts would be worthless unless they depended on God’s faithfulness, Billy Graham and his evangelistic team spent much time on their knees, as did ministry supporters.
This—and careful preparation—laid a strong foundation to share the hope of Jesus Christ.
One of the more unique items on display is a pulpit Billy Graham used in 2006 during his last public sermon at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland. A built-in chair allowed the 87-year-old to sit down if needed while delivering his message.
Other items include original sermon manuscripts for Crusades ranging from Harringay, London, in 1954 to New York in 2005.
Visitors can also see the large-print Smith-Corona typewriter used by Billy Graham’s longtime secretary, Stephanie Wills—which was hand-carried around the world for his sermons.
“It was a privilege to assist Mr. Graham in typing his sermon outlines in preparation for him to study and pray over,” she said.
Yet, he didn’t always stick to the script.
“It always amazed me on several occasions when he laid aside a sermon at the last minute and felt led to preach on something entirely different, guided by the prompting of the Holy Spirit,” Wills shared.
Throughout the years, Billy Graham would use current events to keep his sermons relevant and relatable, and he shared stories to get his point across.
Ruth Bell Graham, his wife of 63 years, along with Billy Graham Evangelistic Association team members, often scoured newspaper articles, sermon illustrations, and Scriptures to assist him with messages.
Though separated for long stretches of time, Ruth would find ways to remind her husband of her love, devotion, and constant prayers.
One item on display is a note of encouragement she wrote to her husband: “My Dearest, My love has prayerfully followed you each city—each mile!”
“Platform for the Gospel” takes a look behind the scenes at Billy Graham’s life and Crusade ministry and is running now through Nov. 1.
