On February 21st 2018, the world learnt of the transitioning of one of history’s most prominent christian figures of all time – the Rev. Dr. Billy Graham.
I call it “transitioning” because earlier in his ministry, Dr. Graham had remarked that, “One day you will hear that Billy Graham is dead. Don’t believe such a thing as that because I will be more alive than I am now.” He firmly believed that death was simply a change of address. This is the hope of every christian that truly believes in Jesus Christ and the price He paid at Calvary.
And so when I think about the power of influence that the gospel of Jesus Christ can have in and through any life that is wholly surrendered to God, I can’t think much further than one of the most humble servants of the most High God.
Dr. Billy Graham’s life and ministry had and continues to have a great impact on the lives of millions of people across the world. My life is equally not spared of the influence of one of the most humble yet courageous ministers of the gospel the world has ever known.
Through his ministry, Dr. Graham is said to have preached to more than 200 million people in live audience than any one in history.
At 12 years of age, President Clinton attended his first Billy Graham crusade. When President Donald Trump was 16 years, his father took him to Yankee Stadium to listen to Dr. Graham preach.
President George Bush Jr. also observed that when he was 18 years old, he met Dr. Graham as he often conducted Bible study sessions at his grandmother’s house. From President Truman to George Bush, Billy was a personal counselor to 11 U.S presidents.
A generation of presidents was profoundly counseled by one that was wholly anointed by God and some of the toughest decisions they made were greatly influenced by the influence of such a man. He was called America’s pastor!
Grant Wacker writes that by the mid-1960s, he had become the “Great Legitimator”: “By then his presence conferred status on presidents, acceptability on wars, shame on racial prejudice, desirability on decency, dishonor on indecency, and prestige on civic events”. What profound influence this was!
As I continue to serve the Lord through the outreach and evangelistic ministry of Pacesetters’ Initiative for Africa, I hold the confidence that God is shaping the future of leaders in family, government, culture and education as our ministry team yields to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Our nation is in need of a moral and spiritual renewal and I believe this will be made possible when men and women of obedience to God are well placed in the spheres of influence.
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