William Franklin "Billy" Graham (November 7, 1918-February 21, 2018) an American evangelist and statesman. Since 1944, he has addressed crowds in North America, Europe, Africa, China, the Far East, Eastern Europe, and the former Soviet Union.
Originally desiring to be a baseball player, he was converted at a revival meeting at the age of 16 and began preaching. He was ordained a Baptist minister, after having studied at Bob Jones University and the Florida Bible Institute.
He attended Wheaton College and served as pastor in Western Springs, Illinois. In 1949, he began serving as the vice-president of Youth for Christ International, and president of Northwestern Schools.
He established the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in Minneapolis, Minnesota; wrote books and columns; produced movies; aired crusades on radio and television; and broadcast his Hour of Decision program which is heard by millions internationally.
Dr. Billy Graham, who has had the unique opportunity of being friends and giving confidential counsel to every U.S. President from Harry S. Truman to Bill Clinton, was presented with the Congressional Gold Medal in 1996.
He wrote in The Chicago American, April 16, 1967:
<The most eloquent prayer is the prayer through hands that heal and bless. The highest form of worship is the worship of unselfish Christian service. The greatest form of praise is the sound of consecrated feet seeking out the lost and helpless.> 1918BG001
Billy Graham expressed:
<God has given us two hands-one for receiving and the other for giving.> 1918BG002
William Franklin "Billy" Graham stated:
<The ethical and moral principles of Christianity are found all the way through the Declaration of Independence. It was on July 4, 1776 that fifty men gathered in Independence Hall in Philadelphia to declared this nation free from Great Britain...Down through the years God has mightily blessed America.> 1918BG003
Billy Graham stated:
<Bad politicians are elected by good people who don't vote.> 1918BG004
In discussing miracles, Billy Graham stated:
<We have to go back to the basics, Jesus performed these miracles to prove his divinity, and so I accept them, and I accept them by faith. I can't prove everything scientifically. But when I do accept the Scripture by faith, it has an impact in my own personal life, and I can apply the principles Jesus taught to everyday life.
So to me the miracles of Christ are essential. They are not essential to salvation but to one's Christian living.> 1918BG005
On April 22, 1954, Ruth Graham, Billy Graham's wife stated:
<Just pray for a thick skin and a tender heart.> 1918BG006
On May 31, 1954, after meeting Sir Winston Churchill, Billy Graham stated:
<I felt as if I were shaking hands with Mr. History.> 1918BG007
Billy Graham's favorite benediction, as recorded in Newsweek, February 1, 1954, was:
<May the Lord bless you real good.> 1918BG008
On December 12, 1955, in a comment on establishing his national headquarters in Washington, D.C., Billy Graham stated:
<I just want to lobby for God.> 1918BG009
On March 21, 1956, in a news conference, President Eisenhower stated:
<Now, this is what I see in Billy Graham: A man who clearly understands that any advance in the world has got to be accompanied by a clear realization that man is, after all, a spiritual being.
He teaches, he carries his religion to the far corners of the earth, trying to promote peace, trying to promote mediation instead of conflict, tolerance instead of prejudice.
Now, he does that in this country, he does it abroad. Therefore, because of the very great crowds that he attracts to listen to him, I am very much interested in Billy Graham's activities, but for that reason only. I have never discussed with him any plan for mobilizing nations.> 1918BG010
In introducing evangelist Billy Graham to a rally in southern California, Governor Ronald Reagan commented:
<There is no need in our land today greater than the need to rediscover our spiritual heritage.
Why is a representative of government here? To welcome with humble pride a man whose mission in life has been to remind us that in all our seeking, in all our confusion, the answer to each problem is to be found in the simple words of Jesus of Nazareth, who urged us to love one another.> 1918BG011
Evangelist Billy Graham lauded Pope John Paul II's 11th papal encyclical, titled "Evangelium Vitae"-"Gospel of Life," issued April of 1995, as:
<A forceful and thoughtful defense of the sacredness of human life in the face of the modern world's reckless march toward violence and needless death.> 1918BG012
On Thursday, May 2, 1996, during the celebration of the National Day of Prayer, Dr. Billy Graham, and his wife Ruth, were presented with the distinguished Congressional Gold Medal. This award, having been given to only 263 individuals in the history of the United States, is the highest honor which can be bestowed on an American citizen, the first recipient being President George Washington. Dr. Graham stated in his acceptance speech, titled "The Hope for America":
<Mr. Vice-President, Speaker Newt Gingrich, Majority Leader Bob Dole, Senator Strom Thurmond, Members of the House of Representatives and the Senate, distinguished guests and friends....
Ruth and I are overwhelmed by the very kind words that have been spoken today, and especially by the high honor you have just bestowed on both of us. It will always be one of the high points of our lives, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for this unforgettable event. We are grateful for all of you in the Senate and House who have had a part in it; and President Clinton for his support in signing the resolution.
As we read the list of distinguished Americans who have received the Congressional Gold Medal in the past-beginning with George Washington in 1776-we know we do not belong in the same company with them, and we feel very unworthy. One reason is because we both know this honor ought to be shared with those who have helped us over the years-some of whom are here today.
As a young boy I remember gazing at that famous painting of Washington crossing the Delaware. Only later did it occur to me that Washington did not get across that river by himself. He had the help of others-and that has been true of us as well. Our ministry has been a team effort, and without our associates and our family we never could have accomplished anything.
I am especially grateful my wife Ruth and I are both being given this honor. No one has sacrificed more than Ruth has, or been more dedicated to God's calling for the two of us.
However, I would not be here today receiving this honor if it were not for an event that happened to me many years ago as a teenager on the outskirts of Charlotte, North Carolina. An evangelist came through our town for a series of meetings. I came face-to-face with the fact that God loved me, Billy Graham, and had sent His Son to die for my sin. He told how Jesus rose from the dead to give us hope of eternal life.
I never forgot a verse of Scripture that was quoted, "As many as received Him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to then that believe on His name" (John 1:12, KJV). That meant that I must respond to God's offer of mercy and forgiveness. I had to repent of my own sins and receive Jesus Christ by faith.
When the preacher asked people to surrender their lives to Christ, I responded. I had little or no emotion; I was embarrassed to stand with a number of other people when I knew some of my school peers saw me; but I meant it. And that simple repentance and open commitment to Jesus Christ changed my life. If we have accomplished anything at all in life since then, however, it has only been because of the grace and mercy of God.
As Ruth and I receive this award we know that some day we will lay it at the feet of the One we seek to serve.
As most of you know, the President has issued a proclamation for this day, May 2, 1996, to be a National Day of Prayer. Here in Washington you will see and hear of people throughout the District of Columbia praying today. It is encouraging and thrilling that here, and across the country, people have committed themselves to pray today for our leaders, our nation, our world, and for ourselves as individuals.
I am so glad that before business each morning, both the House of Representatives and the Senate have a prayer led by Chaplain Ogilvie of the Senate, who has had so much to do with this event today, and Chaplain Jim Ford, who used to be chaplain at West Point when I went almost every year to bring a message to the cadets.
Exactly 218 years ago today-on May 2, 1778-the first recipient of this award, George Washington, issued a General order to the American people.
He said, "The...instances of Providential Goodness which we have experienced and which have now almost crowned our labors with complete success demand from us...the warmest returns of Gratitude and Piety to the Supreme Author of all Good."
It was a message of hope and trust, and it also was a challenge for the people to turn to God in repentance and faith.
We are standing at a similar point in our history as less than four years from now the world will enter the Third Millennium. What will it hold for us?
Will it be a new era of unprecedented peace and prosperity? Or will It be a continuation of our descent into new depths of crime, oppression, sexual immorality, and evil?
Ironically, many people heralded the dawn of the 20th century with optimism. The steady march of scientific and social progress, they believed, would vanquish our social and economic problems.
Some optimistic theologians even predicted the 20th Century would be "The Christian Century," as humanity followed Jesus' exhortation to love your neighbor as yourself.
But no other century has been ravaged by such devastating wars, genocides and tyrannies. During this century we have witnessed the outer limits of human evil.
Our mood on the brink of the 21st Century is far more somber. Terms like "ethnic cleansing" "random violence" and "suicide bombing" have become part of our daily vocabulary.
Look at our own society. There is much, of course, that is good about America, and we thank God for our heritage of freedom and our abundant blessings. America has been a nation that has shown a global compassion that the rest of the world seemingly does not understand. After World War II, because we had the Atom Bomb, we had the opportunity to rule the world, but America turned from that and instead helped rebuild the countries of our enemies.
Nevertheless, something has happened since those days and there is much about America that is no longer good. You know the problems as well as I do: racial and ethnic tensions that threaten to rip apart our cities and neighborhoods; crime and violence of epidemic proportions in most of our cities; children taking weapons to school; broken families; poverty; drugs; teenage pregnancy; corruption; the list is almost endless.
Would the first recipients of this award even recognize the society they sacrificed to establish? I fear not. We have confused liberty with license-and we are paying the awful price. We are a society poised on the brink of self-destruction.
But what is the real cause? We call conferences and consultations without end, frantically seeking solutions to all our problems; we engage in shuttle diplomacy, and yet in the long run little seems to change. Why is that? What is the problem? The real problem is within ourselves.
Almost three thousand years ago King David, the greatest king Israel ever had, sat under the stars and contemplated the reasons for the human dilemma.
He listed three things that the world's greatest scientists and sociologists have not been able to solve, and it seems the more we know, and the greater our technology, the more difficulties we are in. In perhaps the best-known passage of the Old Testament, Psalm 23, he touches on the three greatest problems of the human race.
First, David said, is a problem of emptiness. David wrote, "The Lord in my shepherd; I shall not want." He was not talking just about physical want, but spiritual want.
I stood on the campus of one of our great universities some time ago, and I asked the Dean. "What is the greatest problem on your campus?" He replied in one word: "Emptiness." The human heart craves for meaning, and yet we live in a time of spiritual emptiness that haunts millions.
"Nirvana" is the Hindu word for someone who has arrived into the state of perpetual bliss. Media reports said that Kurt Cobain, the NIRVANA rock group's leader, was the pacesetter for the nineties, and the "savior of rock and roll."
But he said the song in the end which best described his state of mind was "I hate myself and I want to die!" And at age 27 he committed suicide with a gun.
Second, is the problem of guilt. David wrote, "He restoreth my soul, He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness." Down inside we all know that we have not measured up even to our own standards, let alone God's standard.
Third, David pointed to the problem of death. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. I will fear no evil, for thou art with me." Death is the one common reality of all human life.
Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown did not realize his tine had come when he stepped on that plane in Croatia a few weeks ago.
From time to time I have wandered through Statuary Hall and looked at all those statues of some of the greatest men and women in our nation's history.
But one thing it true of every one of them, they are all dead.
Yes, these three things-emptiness, guilt, and the fear of death-haunt our souls. We frantically seek to drown out their voices, driving ourselves into all sorts of activities from sex to drugs or tranquilizers-and yet they are still there.
But we must probe deeper. Why is the human heart this way? The reason is because we are alienated from our Creator.
That was the answer David found to these three problems: "The Lord in my shepherd." This is why I believe the fundamental crisis of our time is a crisis of the spirit. We have lost sight of the moral and spiritual principles on which this nation was established-principles drawn largely from the Judeo-Christian tradition as found in the Bible.
What is the cure? Is there any hope? Ruth and I have devoted our lives to the deep conviction that the answer is yes. There is hope! Our lives can be changed, and our world can be changed. The Scripture says, "You must be born again." You could have a spiritual rebirth right here today.
What must be done? Let me briefly suggest three things. First, we must repent. In the depths of the American Civil War, Abraham Lincoln called for special days of public repentance and prayer. Our need for repentance is no less today. What does repentance mean?
Repentance means to change our thinking and our way of living. It means to turn from our sins and to commit ourselves to God and His will.
Over 2700 years ago the Old Testament prophet Isaiah declared "Seek the Lord while he may be found, call on Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for He will freely pardon" (Isaiah 55: 6-7, NIV).
Those words are as true today as they were over two and a hall millennia ago.
Second, we must commit our lives to God, and to the moral and spiritual truths that have made this nation great. Think how different our nation would be if we sought to follow the simple and yet profound injunctions of the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount. But we must respond to God, Who is offering us forgiveness, mercy, supernatural help, and the power to change.
Third, our commitment must be translated into action - in our homes, in our neighborhoods, and in our society. Jesus taught there are only two roads in life. One in the broad road that is easy and well-traveled, but which leads to destruction. The other, He said, is the narrow road of truth and faith that at times is hard and lonely, but which leads to life and salvation.
As we face a new millennium, I believe America has gone a long way down the wrong road. We must turn around and go back and change roads. If ever we needed God's help, it is now. If ever we needed spiritual renewal, it in now. And it can begin today in each one of our lives, as we repent before God and yield ourselves to Him and His Word.
What are YOU going to do? The other day I heard the story of a high school principal who held an assembly for graduating seniors, inviting a recruiter from each branch of the service, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, to each give a twelve minute presentation on career opportunities. They offered to the students. He stressed the importance of each staying within their allotted time.
The Army representative went first, and was so eloquent that he got a standing ovation, but went eighteen minutes. Not to be outdone, the Navy presentation was equally superb, but took nineteen minutes. Air Force then gave a sterling presentation, which lasted twenty minutes. By now, the principal was irate, and admonished the Marine recruiter that he had only three minutes before the students had to leave for the next class!
During the first two minutes of his shortened time, the Marine didn't say a word, but individually and carefully studied the faces of each student.
Finally, he said, "I've looked across this crowd and I see three or four individuals who have what it takes to be a United States Marine. If you think you are one of them, I want to see you down front immediately after the assembly.
Who do you think drew the biggest crowd! This afternoon, as I look out across this distinguished group gathered here, I see more than a few men and women who have what it takes, under God, to lead our country forward "through the night" into the next millennium-individuals who represent civic and governmental authority-as well as doctors, lawyers, clergy, artists and media.
Again, Ruth and I are deeply humbled by this award, and we thank you for all that it represents. We pledge to continue the work that God has called us to do as long as we live. Thank you.> 1918BG013
On Monday, January 20, 1997, on Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C., the Reverend Billy Graham delivered the invocation just prior to the second inauguration of President Clinton, who swore into office with his hand upon their family Bible, held by his wife, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, open to Isaiah 58:12. Dr. Graham stated:
<President Clinton, Mrs. Clinton, Vice-President Gore, Mrs. Gore, I'm going to ask that we all bow our heads in prayer.
Our Father and our God, we thank you today for the privilege of coming into your presence on this historic and solemn occasion. We thank you for your gracious hand which has preserved us as a nation. We praise you for the peaceful continuity of government that this inauguration represents.
We recall that the Bible says, "Except the Lord build a house, they labor in vain that build it." He also said that to whom much has been given, much shall be required. We look gratefully to the past and thank you that from the very foundations of America, you granted our forefathers courage and wisdom as they trusted in you.
So we ask today that you would inspire us by their example. Where there's been failure, forgive us; where there's been progress, confirm; where there's been success, give us humility and teach us to follow your instructions more closely as we enter the next century.
Give to all those to whom you have entrusted leadership today a desire to seek your will and to do it.
So we ask your blessing on President Clinton and his wife, Hillary, and their daughter, Chelsea, and upon Vice-President Gore and his wife, Tipper, and their children.
Give to all our leaders the vision of what you desire America to become and the wisdom to accomplish it and the strength to cross the bridges into the 21st century.
We pray also for the members of the House and the Senate, for the Supreme Court, and for all who bear responsibility of leadership in this nation, which is blessed with such ethnic diversity.
We have not solved all of the social problems of our time such as drugs and racism. Technology and social engineering have not solved the basic problems of human greed, pride, intolerance and selfishness.
We need your insight, we need your compassion, we need your strength.
As both President Clinton and Senator Dole urged us in the recent presidential campaign, may this be a time of coming together to help us deal with the problems we face. Oh, Lord, help us to be reconciled first to you and secondly to each other.
May Dr. Martin Luther King's dream finally come true for all of us.
Help us to learn our courtesy to our fellow countrymen, that comes from the one who taught us that "whatever you want me to do to you, do also to them." Remind us today that you have shown us what is good and what you require of us: to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God.
We ask that as a people, we may humble ourselves before you and seek your will for our lives and for this great nation. Help us in our nation to work as never before to strengthen our families and to give our children hope and a moral foundation for the future. So may our desire be to serve you and, in so doing, serve one another. This we pray in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.> 1918BG014
In 1986, Richard Halverson, Chaplain of the U.S. Senate, stated:
<When Billy Graham comes to the Capitol, suddenly, the Senate and Congress are unimportant. To me, it's a miracle. Wherever Billy is, there is the gospel of Christ. Everybody knows what he stands for, so he says it without a word....I wish that were true of more of us.> 1918BG015
On the National Day of Prayer, May 3, 2001, Billy Graham composed the Prayer for the Nation:
<Our Father and Our God, we praise You for Your goodness to our nation, giving us blessings far beyond what we deserve.
Yet we know all is not right with America. We deeply need a moral and spiritual renewal to help us meet the many problems we face. Convict us of sin. Help us to turn to You in repentance and faith. Set our feet on the path of Your righteousness and peace.
We pray today for our nation's leaders. Give them the wisdom to know what is right, and the courage to do it. You have said, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord." May this be a new era for America, as we humble ourselves and acknowledge You alone as our Savior and Lord. This we pray in Your holy name, Amen.> 1918BG016
On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, Billy Graham gave the following statement regarding the terrorist attacks against the United States:
<Within the last few hours the United States has suffered the most terrible and devastating terrorist attack in its history. Although we do not yet know the full story, these unspeakable acts of brutality strike at the very heart of our free society.
Our heartfelt prayers and sympathy go out to all who have been directly touched by this tragedy, and their families. I call upon all Americans to pray especially for our President and for all who advise him, that they may have divine wisdom as they respond to this insane and horrific act.
In times like this we realize how weak and inadequate we are, and our greatest need is to turn in repentance and faith to the God of all mercy and the Father of all comfort. If ever there was a time for us to turn to God and to pray as a nation, it is now, that this evil will spread no further.
It is also a time for us to remember the words of the Psalmist: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea... He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still and know that I am God...The Lord of hosts is with us." (Psalm 46:1-2, 9-11)> 1918BG017
On Friday, September 14, 2001, on the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance, Billy Graham spoke at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.:
<President and Mrs. Bush, I want to say a personal word on behalf of many people. Thank you, Mr. President, for calling this Day of Prayer and Remembrance. We needed it at this time.
We come together today to affirm our conviction that God cares for us, whatever our ethnic, religious or political background may be.
The Bible says that He's "the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles."
No matter how hard we try words simply cannot express the horror, the shock, and the revulsion we all feel over what took place in this nation on Tuesday morning. September 11 will go down in our history as a day to remember.
Today we say to those who masterminded this cruel plot, and to those who carried it out, that the spirit of this nation will not be defeated by their twisted and diabolical schemes. Some day those responsible will be brought to justice, as President Bush and our Congress have so forcefully stated.
But today, we especially come together in this service to confess our need of God. We've always needed God from the very beginning of this nation, but today we need Him especially. We're facing a new kind of enemy. We're involved in a new kind of warfare and we need the help of the Spirit of God.
The Bible's words are our hope: "God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea" (Psalm 46:1,2, NIV).
But how do we understand something like this? Why does God allow evil like this to take place? Perhaps that is what you are asking now. You may even be angry at God. I want to assure you that God understands these feelings that you may have.
We've seen so much on our television, heard on our radio, stories that bring tears to our eyes and make us all feel a sense of anger. But God can be trusted, even when life seems at its darkest.
But what are some of the lessons we can learn?
First, we are reminded of the mystery and reality of evil. I have been asked hundreds of times in my life why God allows tragedy and suffering. I have to confess that I really do not know the answer totally, even to my own satisfaction. I have to accept, by faith, that God is sovereign, and He's a God of love and mercy and compassion in the midst of suffering.
The Bible says that God is not the author of evil. It speaks of evil as a "mystery." In 2 Thessalonians 2:7 it talks about the mystery of iniquity. The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah said, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" He asked that question, "Who can understand it?" And that's one reason we each need God in our lives.
The lesson of this event is not only about the mystery of iniquity and evil, but secondly, it's a lesson about our need for each other.
What an example New York and Washington have been to the world these past few days! None of us will ever forget the pictures of our courageous firefighters and police, many of whom have lost friends and colleagues, or the hundreds of people attending or standing patiently in line to donate blood.
A tragedy like this could have torn our country apart, but instead it has united us and we've become a family. So those perpetrators who took this on to tear us apart, it has worked the other way. It's backlashed, it's backfired. We are more united than ever before. I think this was exemplified in a very moving way when the members of our Congress stood shoulder to shoulder the other day and sang, "God Bless America."
Finally, difficult as it may be for us to see right now - this event can give a message of hope - hope for the present, and hope for the future.
Yes, there is hope. There's hope for the present because I believe the stage has already been set for a new spirit in our nation.
One of the things we desperately need is a spiritual renewal in this country. We need a spiritual revival in America. And God has told us in His Word, time after time, that we are to repent of our sins and we're to turn to Him and He will bless us in a new way.
But, there is also hope for the future because of God's promises. As a Christian, I have hope, not just for this life, but for heaven and the life to come. And many of those people who died this past week are in heaven right now, and they wouldn't want to come back. It's so glorious and so wonderful.
And that's the hope for all of us who put our faith in God. I pray that you will have this hope in your heart.
This event reminds us of the brevity and the uncertainty of life. We never know when we too will be called into eternity. I doubt if even one of those people who got on those planes, or walked into the World Trade Center or the Pentagon last Tuesday morning thought it would be the last day of their lives. It didn't occur to them. And that's why each of us needs to face our own spiritual need and commit ourselves to God and His will now.
Here in this majestic National Cathedral we see all around us symbols of the Cross. For the Christian, I'm speaking for the Christian now, the Cross tells us that God understands our sin and our suffering, for He took upon Himself in the person of Jesus Christ our sins and our suffering. And from the Cross, God declares, "I love you. I know the heartaches and the sorrows and the pains that you feel. But I love you."
The story does not end with the Cross, for Easter points us beyond the tragedy of the Cross to the empty tomb. It tells us that there is hope for eternal life, for Christ has conquered evil and death, and hell. Yes, there is hope.
I've become an old man now and I've preached all over the world and the older I get the more I cling to that hope that I started with many years ago and proclaimed it in many languages to many parts of the world.
Several years ago at the National Prayer Breakfast here in Washington, Ambassador Andrew Young (who had just gone through the tragic death of his wife), closed his talk with a quote from the old hymn, "How Firm a Foundation...."
We all watched in horror as planes crashed into the steel and glass of the World Trade Center. Those majestic towers, built on solid foundations, were examples of the prosperity and creativity of America. When damaged, those buildings eventually plummeted to the ground, imploding in upon themselves.
Yet, underneath the debris, is a foundation that was not destroyed.
Therein lies the truth of that old hymn that Andrew Young quoted, "How Firm a Foundation..." Yes, our nation has been attacked, buildings destroyed, lives lost.
But now we have a choice: whether to implode and disintegrate emotionally and spiritually as a people and a nation - or, whether we choose to become stronger through all of this struggle - to rebuild on a solid foundation. And I believe that we are in the process of starting to rebuild on that foundation.
That foundation is our trust in God. That's what this service is all about and in that faith we have the strength to endure something as difficult and horrendous as what we have experienced this week.
This has been a terrible week with many tears but also has been a week of great faith. Churches all across the country have called prayer meetings and today is a day that they are celebrating not only in this country but in many parts of the world.
And in the words of that familiar hymn that Andrew Young quoted - it says: "Fear not, I am with thee; O be not dismayed, For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid; I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand."
My prayer today is that we will feel the loving arms of God wrapped around us, and will know in our hearts that He will never forsake us as we trust in Him.
We also know that God is going to give wisdom and courage and strength to the President and those around him. And this is going to be a day that we will remember as a day of victory.
May God bless you all.> 1918BG018
On September 29, 2001, Anne Graham, Billy Graham's daughter, was being interviewed by Jane Clayson on the Early Show regarding the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, where approximately 7,000 people were killed. When Jane Clayson asked, "how could God let something like this happen?" Anne Graham responded:
<I believe that God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are. But for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives, and being the gentleman that he is, I believe that he has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us his blessing and his protection if we demand he leave us alone?> 1918BG019
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American Quotations by William J. Federer, 2024, All Rights Reserved, Permission granted to use with acknowledgement.
1918BG001. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). William Franklin "Billy" Graham, April 16, 1967, The Chicago American. Carroll E. Simcox, comp., 4400 Quotations for Christian Communicators (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1991), p. 296.
1918BG002. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). William Franklin "Billy" Graham. Carroll E. Simcox, 3000 Quotations on Christian Themes (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House 1989), p. 171.
1918BG003. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). William Franklin "Billy" Graham, April 16, 1967. Charles Wallis, ed., Our American Heritage (NY: Harper & Row, Publishers, Inc., 1970), p. 38.
1918BG004. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). William Franklin "Billy" Graham, statement.
1918BG005. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). William Franklin "Billy" Graham. Nancy Gibbs, "The Message of Miracles" (New York: Time, April 10, 1995), Vol. 145, No. 15, p. 73.
1918BG006. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Ruth Graham, April 22, 1954, statement, news reports. James Beasely Simpson, Best Quotes of '54, '55, '56 (New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1957), p. 84.
1918BG007. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). William Franklin "Billy" Graham, May 31, 1954, after meeting Sir Winston Churchill, news summaries. James Beasely Simpson, Best Quotes of '54, '55, '56 (New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1957), p. 84.
1918BG008. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). William Franklin "Billy" Graham, his favorite benediction, as recorded in Newsweek, February 1, 1954. James Beasely Simpson, Best Quotes of '54, '55, '56 (New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1957), p. 83.
1918BG009. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). William Franklin "Billy" Graham, December 12, 1955, in a comment on establishing his national headquarters in Washington, D.C., news summaries. James Beasely Simpson, Best Quotes of '54, '55, '56 (New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1957), p. 240.
1918BG010. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Dwight David Eisenhower, March 21, 1956, in a news conference. James Beasely Simpson, Best Quotes of '54, '55, '56 (New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1957), p. 324.
1918BG011. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Ronald Wilson Reagan, as Governor of the State of California, introducing evangelist Billy Graham to a rally in southern California. David R. Shepherd, Ronald Reagan: In God We Trust (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1984), p. 18.
1918BG012. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). William Franklin "Billy" Graham, April of 1995, in his 11th papal encyclical, titled "Evangelium Vitae"-"Gospel of Life." Kenneth L. Woodward, "Life, Death and the Pope" (New York: Newsweek, April 10, 1995), pp. 56-59.
1918BG013. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). William Franklin "Billy" Graham, May 2, 1996, Thursday, in his speech titled "The Hope for America," delivered upon his acceptance of the Congressional Gold Medal, presented during the celebration of the National Day of Prayer, Washington, D.C. (Compliments of Billy Graham Association, A. Larry Ross, Director of Media/Public Relations, 4835 LBJ Freeway, Suite 800, Dallas, Texas, 75244, USA, 214-387-0700, Fax 214-387-0755.)
1918BG014. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). William Franklin "Billy" Graham, January 20, 1997, Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C., in his invocation given prior to President Bill Clinton's second inauguration, nationally broadcast via television, radio and the internet.
1918BG015. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Richard Halverson, 1986, Chaplain of the U.S. Senate, commenting on Billy Graham. Elesha Coffman, assistant editor, "Supplement: More Firsthand History-Billy Graham" (Christian History Newletter, published by the Christian History Society), p. 2
1918BG016. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). William Franklin "Billy" Graham, May 3, 2001, Prayer for the Nation, composed for the National Day of Prayer.
1918BG017. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). William Franklin "Billy" Graham, Tuesday, September 11, 2001, in a statement following the terrorist attacks against the United States.
1918BG018. William Franklin "Billy" Graham, Friday, September 14, 2001, on the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance, in an address at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.
1918BG019. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Anne Graham, September 29, 2001, statement made in a interview on the Early Show with Jane Clayson. Forwarded by Phil Sheldon, Traditional Values Coalition, fun4phil@concentric.net.