Evangelist Billy Graham – aka “America’s Pastor” – is set to be honored with a new statue in the National Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol.
“Each of the 50 states in the union sends two statues to the Capitol’s Statuary Hall Collection, to represent the pride each state takes in its historic figures,” the Daily Signal reports.
“North Carolina will rightly retire the statue of segregationist Democratic Gov. Charles Brantley Aycock and replace it with the likeness of the evangelist Billy Graham. Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C., played a pivotal role in the effort, and then-Gov. Pat McCrory, a Republican, signed a bill in 2015 to place the Graham statue in the Capitol.”
The Daily Signal also notes that the base of the statue will include two verses from Scripture, including,
John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (ESV).
John 14:6: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (ESV).
Graham – born during World War I in 1918 – lived to the ripe old age of 99, passing away in 2018. According to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Graham preached the Gospel to some 215 million people who attended one of his more than 400 Crusades, simulcasts and evangelistic rallies in over 185 countries and territories.
Graham prayed with 12 presidents – from former President Harry Truman to Barack Obama. He championed desegregation. And he comforted the nation and the world by speaking at the National Cathedral in Washington, following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
“When I was president, I was thankful that Billy came to the White House to visit,” former President George W. Bush once reflected. “He has no political agenda. He has an agenda of the Lord.”
Former President Ronald Reagan remarked, “Billy Graham’s contribution to the well-being of mankind is literally immeasurable. Millions of lives across the globe have been enriched because of his good work.”
Carrying on Billy Graham’s legacy is his son, Franklin Graham, who follows in his father’s footsteps as an evangelist and missionary. He is president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief organization.
Billy Graham once said, “My one purpose in life is to help people find a personal relationship with God, which I believe comes from knowing Christ.”
Indeed, introducing our friends and family to Jesus Christ is one of the most important missions we all have.
Sharing our faith in Christ is not just for the professional pastor or the mission-minded minister. By virtue of our faith in Jesus, we are all called to share our testimony with those in our sphere of influence. Consider the Great Commission:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20, ESV).
And ponder this exhortation from the Apostle Peter:
“But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15, ESV).
Is there someone in your life you feel the Lord nudging you to share your faith with? Are you listening to, or ignoring, that call?
Billy Graham was able to have a profound impact upon the world for Jesus Christ by saying, “Yes,” to God’s call to ministry.
In what way is God calling you to say, “Yes,” to Him?
To learn more about Billy Graham’s ministry, you can check out resources from Billy Graham.
If you want to better understand the Bible and be part of God’s redemptive mission, check out RVL Discipleship: The Study.
To speak with a family help specialist or request resources, please call us at 1-800-A-FAMILY (232-6459).
Related articles and resources:
Nearing Home: Life, Faith, and Finishing Well
The Reason for My Hope: Salvation
How Loneliness Can Draw You Closer to Jesus
Photo from Getty Images.
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