When he mounted a wooden podium in a small American church, to preach his first sermon, 81 years ago, young Billy Graham got little or no attention.
No one knew that he would rise from an obscure farm house in North Carolina, United States(US) to become one of the most influential personalities in this generation, ministering to billions of people across the globe.
It is believed that no other person has preached to more people around the world, than Evangelist Graham, celebrated as one of the greatest ambassadors of Christ.
He is said to have ‘preached to over 200 million people in more than 185 countries, leading numerous people to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and saviour.’ Debbie McDaniel, attributed his phenomenal success to God’s grace and his impeccable character.
‘As a man of profound integrity and wisdom he offered spiritual guidance to many American presidents from Eisenhower to Bush. He was also a friend of celebrities
and leaders, such as Martin Luther King, Jr.’
He epitomized audacious integrity and astounding morals, lacking in most leaders, in Nigeria and other ‘fantastically corrupt nations.’
The humongous sleaze, brazen hypocrisy and moral depravity associated with the nation’s political and spiritual leaders, are confounding.
Nigeria will fare better, if its current and future handlers can take a cue from the life of this great man of God.
His scandal-free ministry, devoid of financial recklessness and sexual perversion validated his creed and opened the floodgate of gargantuan evangelical crusades across the globe.
Nevertheless he remained humble and stoically committed to the simple gospel and personal dictum: ‘Only Jesus Christ can save man from sin and eternal hell fire. All other ground is sinking sand.’
His love-laced sermons kept the mammoth crowd coming and endeared him to both the rich and poor.
He had a vast media empire including his popular Radio programme Hour of Decision, Decision magazine and broadcast networks.
The exit of this fiery evangelist was quite nostalgic.
I was a kid, when my late dad, Sir Samuel Igboeli introduced his Decision magazine to the family.
Dad, a conservationist often cooled off with a copy of the magazine, after his forest tours.
Naturally l and my siblings ravished the copy once dad finished reading.
Even at that early age, reading the magazine was delightful and inspirational, as the pages flamed up the authenticity of the gospel. The pedagogic words of the editorials contributed immeasurably to the spiritual ethos of this writer and her siblings.
From the deluge of tributes, following his recent demise at 99 years, the legacies of Rev Graham, will continue to shape the lives and spirituality of billions of Christians and non-Christians.
He attributed his monumental success and phenomenal responses to ‘God’s benevolence and love.’
‘So many people think that l carry a revival around in a suitcase and they just announce me and something happens. That’s not true. This is the work of God. The bible warns that God will not share his glory with another. All the publicity we receive sometimes frightens me, because if God should take his hand off me, I would have no more spiritual power. The secret of the success is spiritual. It is God answering prayers. I cannot take credit for it.’
What a fantastic confession.
In life he was honoured and even much more in death, being the fourth private citizen to ‘lie in honour’ at the US Capitol. President Donald Trump acknowledged this feat in a glowing eulogy.
‘Today we honour him, as only three private citizens before him, have been so honoured. We pray that Lord will raise up men and women like Billy Graham to spread a message of love and hope.’
Graham warned against the crazy pursuit for prosperity and materialism.
“When wealth is lost, nothing is lost but when character is lost, all is lost. You could gain everything in the whole world, and lose your soul. There is nothing wrong with men possessing riches. The wrong comes when riches possess men. If a person gets his attitude toward money straight, it will help straighten out almost every other area in his life.
We are the bibles the world is reading. We are the sermons the world is heeding. The message I preach hasn't changed. Problems have changed, but deep inside, man has not changed and the gospel hasn't changed. Jesus is the only hope for enduring peace,’ in this troubled world.
Pastor David Ogbueli and Rev Canon Oliver Ofoegbu, made similar remarks in a biography, ‘Heaven is my home.’
‘Graham raised the bar for all ministers. God forgive us. We have exchanged integrity, humility and purity for hype, inflated attendance reports and boastful swagger. To last in ministry build your life on integrity, humility and generosity.’
In Gallup’s poll,
Graham was named, by Americans, 59 times as, ‘one of the 10 most admired men in the world.’
As his voice thundered across the world’s pulpits, Graham delivered messages that transcended racial and denominational boundaries.
The nonagenarian was also loved for his uncanny humour, even about death.
‘The moment we take our last breath on earth, we take our first in heaven. Someone asked me, recently if I didn’t think God was unfair, allowing me to have Parkinson’s and other medical problems when I have tried to serve him faithfully. I replied that I did not see it that way at all. Suffering is part of the human condition and it comes to us all.
Keep your eyes on eternity. I’ve read the last page of the Bible, it's all going to turn out all right.’
His last message in a 2013 video ‘My Hope America,’ harped on the nation’s spiritual and moral decline .
‘Our country's in great need of a spiritual awakening. I've wept because from city to city, people have wandered from God.
I want to tell people about the meaning of the cross, not the cross that hangs on the wall or around someone’s neck, but the real cross of Christ. God proved his love on the cross. When Christ died, God was saying to the world, I love you.’
His comforting words, gave hope and succour to a traumatised nation after the 2001 New York bomb blast.
‘l’ve become an old man now. I’ve preached all over the world. The older I get, the more I cling to that hope that I started with many years ago. Yes, there is hope.’
This explains why he often spoke excitedly about heaven. ‘My home is in heaven. I'm just traveling through this world. Knowing we will be with Christ forever far outweighs our burdens today.’
Not even his book, Just As I Am: The Autobiography of Billy Graham, can amply encapsulate Rev. Graham’s awesome legacies and his eternal convictions.
His life truly depicted the words of Psalm 112:6 ‘The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance.’
