STORIES
Faith
DONATE

William Franklin Graham Jr.

by Shane of Kamehameha Schools Maui Campus

"If you find a perfect church don't join it: You'd spoil it." -- Graham
 (GJON MILI/TIME LIFE PICTURES)
(GJON MILI/TIME LIFE PICTURES)

My hero is William Franklin Graham Jr., a.k.a. Billy Graham. He was born on November 7, 1918 in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is the oldest of two sisters and two brothers. His father was a dairy farmer and both parents had raised him up until his adulthood. Billy was brought up in the Presbyterian religion. He was schooled all the way through college and graduated college at the age of 25. He then married Ruth Bell and they had three daughters and two sons. Billy began his pastoring career in Hinsdale, Illinois and has change the world ever since.

 (Realms of Faith)
(Realms of Faith)

Billy Graham has been the worlds leading religious revivalist for about 50 years. Throughout his evangelistic career, Billy has touched upon one billion lives and has lead hundreds of thousands to know Lord. Billy is a courageous man of God. He has set foot upon many countries unhesitant of preaching God’s word. He has also started many Christian radio programs and began some of the most famous satellite network stations. Billy has also written many books, his most famous “Peace with God” (1953). On September 14, 2001 in the aftermath of 9/11, Billy led a prayer and remembrance service at the Washington National Cathedral. Billy has also received many awards and honors for what he has done in his lifetime. Billy has received many important awards such as the Congressional Gold Medal, the Templeton Foundation Prize for Progress in Religion, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation Freedom Award, and the Big Brother of the Year Award. He was also inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1999 by the Gospel Music Association.

 (AP)
(AP)

Today, Billy and his wife, Ruth, live in Montreat, North Carolina.

 (backyard missionaries)
(backyard missionaries)

Billy Graham is now 81 years old and he and his wife have five children and 19 grandchildren.

 (Billy Graham Evangelistic Association)
(Billy Graham Evangelistic Association)

Billy Graham is important to me because I have watched him on television and saw his willingness for God. As a teenager and being a Christian, he inspires me more and more to become stronger in my faith and he shows me how to talk to other people about God without hesitance or fear. Billy Graham has influences me in the right direction and he has taught me to not rely on the ideas of this world but to do everything I can to prepare myself for the life ahead of me.

Page created on 12/17/2004 12:00:00 AM

Last edited 12/17/2004 12:00:00 AM

The beliefs, viewpoints and opinions expressed in this hero submission on the website are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs, viewpoints and opinions of The MY HERO Project and its staff.

Related Links

Billy Graham Evangelistic Association - Graham Ministries
Decision Magazine - Magazine of the Billy Graham Ministries

Bibliography

Bloom, Harold . "Time 100." [Online] Available http://www.time.com/time/time100/heroes/profile/graham01.html. 2003.

Wikipedia. "Wikipedia." [Online] Available http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Graham.

Wellman, Sam . "Heroes of History." [Online] Available http://www.heroesofhistory.com/page52.html.

Collins, Harper. "Harper Collins." [Online] Available http://www.harpercollins.com/global_scripts/product_catalog/author_xml.asp?authorid=3817. 2004.

 

Author Info

Welcome to MyHero.com! Feel free to browse the website and have a wonderful experience reading about Shane's HERO, evangelist Billy Graham!