Billy Graham was arguably the most successful Christian evangelist in the world, with a profound impact on the lives of millions of people across the globe. Born William Franklin Graham, Jr., on a dairy farm near Charlotte, North Carolina, on November 7th, 1918, he was the son of Morrow (Coffey) and William Franklin Graham, who were dairy farmers.
Graham's remarkable career spanned many decades, during which he served as a spiritual adviser to several American presidents, including Richard Nixon, whom he is most widely associated with. In fact, he gave a prayer at every Presidential inauguration from 1948 to 1996, a testament to his influence and respect within the highest echelons of American politics.
In addition to his work with presidents, Graham was a prolific radio and TV evangelist, whose messages of hope and redemption touched the lives of an estimated two billion people. He personally oversaw the spiritual rebirth of over 2.5 million people, who accepted Jesus as their personal savior at his revival meetings.
Graham's moderate and temperate approach to preaching set him apart from some of his contemporaries. His split with Bob Jones, Sr. circa 1950 marked a significant divergence between evangelicals, like Graham, and fundamentalists, like Jones.
Throughout his long and illustrious career, Graham was widely respected and admired. The Gallup Poll listed him as number seven on its list of the most admired people of the 20th century.
Sadly, Billy Graham passed away at the age of 99 on February 21, 2018, in Montreat, North Carolina, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire and influence people around the world.
