Billy Graham said, “My one purpose in life is to help people find a relationship with God, which, I believe comes through knowing Christ.” Since the day Billy received the Lord he hasn’t wasted any time in fulfilling his purpose. He is recognized as the most well-known evangelist of the twentieth century. Billy has shared the Gospel with all sorts of people, from presidents and popes to natives of foreign countries; no one is exempt to hear the message that he proclaims. Mr. Graham has preached the Gospel to more people in live audiences than anyone else in history—nearly 215 million people in more than 185 countries and territories.1 Furthermore, as of 2008, Billy Graham’s estimated lifetime audience, including radio and television broadcasts, topped 2.2 billion.2 He has been called the world’s greatest preacher. Yet, growing up Billy never would have imagined this to be the outcome of his life; he was an ordinary farm boy who’s dreams were set on professional baseball. Billy was born on November 7, 1918 as the first of four children to his parents William Franklin Graham, Sr.
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and Morrow (Coffey) Graham. He grew up in their farmland home in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is there where Billy’s grandfather William Crook Graham first built a log cabin on the site. William Crook Graham was by no means a godly man, but was better known as a drunk; he was hardened as a veteran from the civil war. However, he married Maggie McCall and she loved the Lord and faithfully taught her eleven children the scriptures. They all grew up to be deeply religious, and a number of their grandchildren became preachers; I [Billy] being the first.3 Billy’s maternal grandfather Ben Coffey also served in the war at Gettysburg. He was a man of God with his own comrades testifying of his concern for spiritual values. When his wife Lucinda Coffey passed away she sat up in bed and almost laughingly said, “I see Jesus. He has His arms outstretched toward me. And there’s Ben! He has both of his eyes and both of his legs.” 4 This event was of great significance for Billy and his family in regards to their faith. Billy’s father Franklin Graham Sr. grew up as a Methodist but it wasn’t until eighteen years old that he came to know Christ. He was in deep conviction at church one Sunday morning having been out late dancing the night before. He was a mess; not being able to eat or sleep or hardly function. The conviction that he felt was immense. Although friends were praying for him it didn’t seem to help… he was looking for something this world could not give. This went on for around ten days till he says, “One night, just as I turned off Park Road – the road I lived on – onto Worthington Avenue, God saved me, and my eyes were opened and old things passed away, and all things became new. I will never forget that moon lit night.”5 Franklin Graham Sr. married Morrow Coffey of whom he had a six year courtship with. Morrow was raised in the church and she especially enjoyed Sunday evening services where she and her sisters would skip and sing all the way to and from church. As a young girl she memorized a great portion of Psalm 119 and
and Morrow (Coffey) Graham. He grew up in their farmland home in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is there where Billy’s grandfather William Crook Graham first built a log cabin on the site. William Crook Graham was by no means a godly man, but was better known as a drunk; he was hardened as a veteran from the civil war. However, he married Maggie McCall and she loved the Lord and faithfully taught her eleven children the scriptures. They all grew up to be deeply religious, and a number of their grandchildren became preachers; I [Billy] being the first.3 Billy’s maternal grandfather Ben Coffey also served in the war at Gettysburg. He was a man of God with his own comrades testifying of his concern for spiritual values. When his wife Lucinda Coffey passed away she sat up in bed and almost laughingly said, “I see Jesus. He has His arms outstretched toward me. And there’s Ben! He has both of his eyes and both of his legs.” 4 This event was of great significance for Billy and his family in regards to their faith. Billy’s father Franklin Graham Sr. grew up as a Methodist but it wasn’t until eighteen years old that he came to know Christ. He was in deep conviction at church one Sunday morning having been out late dancing the night before. He was a mess; not being able to eat or sleep or hardly function. The conviction that he felt was immense. Although friends were praying for him it didn’t seem to help… he was looking for something this world could not give. This went on for around ten days till he says, “One night, just as I turned off Park Road – the road I lived on – onto Worthington Avenue, God saved me, and my eyes were opened and old things passed away, and all things became new. I will never forget that moon lit night.”5 Franklin Graham Sr. married Morrow Coffey of whom he had a six year courtship with. Morrow was raised in the church and she especially enjoyed Sunday evening services where she and her sisters would skip and sing all the way to and from church. As a young girl she memorized a great portion of Psalm 119 and