Queen Elizabeth’s lifelong friend Billy Graham has died at the age of 99.
By Rebeca Riofrio
From the 1930s
until the early years of this century, Graham drew crowds of thousands to hear
his rallying cry for Christianity. Over almost six decades, it is estimated
that he preached to more 200 million people.
Graham harnessed
the power of the media to reach millions, deploying television and radio
networks, newspaper columns, feature films and satellite hook-ups.
He wrote dozens of
books and his sermons were translated simultaneously into 48 languages and
transmitted to 185 countries by satellite.
Graham, who had
suffered from prostate cancer, pneumonia and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease,
died at his home in North Carolina, his spokesperson said.
Jimmy Carter, the
former president, said Graham had “shaped the spiritual lives of tens of
millions of people worldwide. Broad-minded, forgiving, and humble in his
treatment of others, he exemplified the life of Jesus Christ by constantly
reaching out for opportunities to serve.”
Justin Welby, the
archbishop of Canterbury, said the global church owed him an “immeasurable and
inexpressible” debt.
Born in 1918,
Graham devoted his life to preaching the word of God after a revival meeting he
attended at the age of 15. He was ordained as a Southern Baptist clergyman in
1939, and retired in 2005. At the time he said: “Do I fear death? No. I look
forward to death with great anticipation. I’m looking forward to seeing God
face to face.”
Many were
mesmerised by his piercing blue eyes, square jaw and charisma, as well as his
message, delivered loud and fast in a powerful baritone. He urged members of
his audience to walk down the aisles to the stage to be saved and to commit to
Christ as a choir sang religious anthems.
In 1957, a
“crusade” – as he called his rallies – in New York’s Madison Square Garden was
so popular that its run was extended from six to 16 weeks, ending with a rally
of more than 100,000 people.
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