BYM ONLINE DESK Blessing English April 2018 Emagazine | Page 2

APRIL 2018
BILLY GRAHAM
(1918-2018)
A Man of God
I first heard Evangelist Billy Graham in 1957 in
Palayamkottai of Tamilnadu, India. As a10-year old
boy, though I didn't understand much of what he
preached, I enjoyed attending such a huge meeting. I
remember how much, as a 6+ feet tall American, he
had to bend to be garlanded by short Indians! I had
the privilege of listening to him again in 1977 in
Chennai. As a college student in the 1960s I used to
regularly listen to his broadcast, 'Hour of Decision.'
One of my long desires was to somehow shake hands
with this man of God. God caused it to happen in
Amsterdam '83, the International Conference for
Itinerent Evangelists in Holland. We were over 200
servants of God from India in this Conference. Late
Dr. Prakash Yesudian, Late Mr. Samuel Ganesh, Late
Mr. N. Jeevanandam and Mr. Sadhu Chellappa were
among us who enjoyed this privilege. My fellow-
worker in the Blessing Youth Mission (BYM), Mr.
Michael Achary, was also a delegate. Dr. Ravi
Zacharias spoke in an evening session and Dr. Sam
Kamalesan sang the song, “Jesus is all to me,” in
Tamil to that international audience of 5000
delegates.
So many titles are awarded to Dr. Graham, but I
would like to call him as “a Man of God.” As a tribute
to him I hereby highlight 10 of his outstanding
characteristics
1. He depended on the Grace of God
He was once asked, “Dr. Graham, why has God
used you more than anyone else?” He politely
answered, “That's the first question I would ask God
when I meet Him in Heaven. For now I would say, It's
the sheer Grace of God!” For a similar question late
in his life he answered, “I want to ask God why He
chose me to be one of His followers. I don't even
deserve that.” Billy never forgot his humble
A tribute by R. Stanley, India
background. He came from a farmer's family.
Addressing a group of modern youngsters, he
humorously said, “Dear boys and girls, if electricity
fails you won't be able to do anything. But as for me, I
know fishing, farming, milking, and so on, and
would be busy doing something!” The hymn that has
been sung after Graham's sermons in all his crusades
is, “Just as I am!” That's the title of his autobiography
also. His message over the last seven decades has
been, “By grace we are saved through faith in Christ,
and that not of ourselves; it is the gift of God!” (Eph
2:8). An African delegate in Amsterdam '83, during
an open forum, asked Dr. Graham, “Could you have
reached these heights if you had not been an
American?” With all humility he said something like
what Paul confessed, “I am what I am by the Grace of
God” (1 Cor 15:10). Once he told President George
W. Bush, “One should strive to be better, but we're all
sinners who earn God's love not thro' our good deeds,
but thro' His grace.” About this George Bush later
testified, “I did not fully grasp this profound concept
that day. But Billy had planted a seed. His thoughtful
explanation made the soil less hard, the brambles less
thick!”
2. He preached the Word of God
One of Dr. Graham's famous phrases was, “The
Bible says ...” He would proudly lift his leatherbound
Bible and would not be tired of thundering this any
number of times. He preached the unadulterated
Gospel of Christ. He never deviated from it. The
banner that was at the background above his head on
the Crusade platform was, “Jesus said: I am the Way,
the Truth, and the Life” (Jn 14:6). He never wasted
his time on the pulpit by telling stories. He was not an
entertainer; he was an Evangelist head to toe. The
Cross of Christ was central in his message (1 Cor
2:2). Only once he failed to present the centrality of
the Cross, and that sermon was a flop! His words
were forceful but they would bring you only under
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