I’ve been to the Billy Graham Conference Center at the Cove outside Asheville, NC, many times. One of the things I’m always struck by is that the moment I drive through the gates, I feel God’s presence. Each visit has an emotional element because as a 6-year-old child, I met Jesus as a result of Billy Graham’s ministry, and my life was changed. So going to the Cove is a celebration of my spiritual roots.
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Several years ago, I also visited the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, NC. That day was Billy Graham’s 93rd birthday, and reporters were there to shoot segments for their evening news programs.
I chatted with one of them and was asked, “We’ve watched millions of people leave their seats at Dr. Graham’s crusades to make a decision for Christ. Do you think those decisions last?”
I replied, “I can’t answer for anyone else, but when I was a 6-year-old girl, I was one of those people who made that decision, and it changed me forever. As a teenager, it kept me from making unwise choices that would impact my life permanently. Being in church affected my life as I met my husband there. As a young mom, it impacted how I raised my children. And now God has allowed me the privilege to write and speak for Him.”
I continued, “But that’s not the end of the story. You see, God gave me the opportunity to pray with each of my three sons as they made a decision to follow Christ. Two of them are now preaching the Gospel and the third is active in music ministry at his church.”
And Dr. Graham’s heritage of faith doesn’t stop there for our family. It’s being passed down to my grandchildren and to the children, teens and adults impacted by my sons and their ministries. None of this would have happened if a man named Billy Graham hadn’t been faithful to serve God.
As we celebrate this season of thankfulness, I’d like to say how very thankful I am that Dr. Graham chose to follow the calling God placed on him. I lead a life that was changed because of that.
