thank you, billy graham - sample

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Thank You,

Billy GrahamA Tribute to the Life andMinistry of Billy Graham


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Thank You,

Billy GrahamA Tribute to the Life andMinistry of Billy GrahamCompiled by Billy Graham's Grandchildren

Jerushah Armfield, Aram and Boz Tchividjian

Foreword by Michael Reagan


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2014 by Jerushah Armfield, Basyle chividjian, and Aram chividjian

Te compilers are represented by Bruce R. Barbour, Literary Management Group, Inc.,

Nashville, ennessee.

Print ISBN 978-1-62836-634-1

eBook Editions:

Adobe Digital Edition (.epub) 978-1-63058-015-5

Kindle and MobiPocket Edition (.prc) 978-1-63058-016-2

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for

commercial purposes, except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without written

permission of the publisher.

Churches and other noncommercial interests may reproduce portions of this book

without the express written permission of Barbour Publishing, provided that the text does

not exceed 500 words or 5 percent of the entire book, whichever is less, and that the text

is not material quoted from another publisher. When reproducing text from this book,

include the following credit line: From Tank You, Billy Graham, published by Barbour

Publishing, Inc. Used by permission.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are from the New King James

Version.Copyright 1982 by Tomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked are from the AmplifiedBible, 1954, 1958, 1962,

1964, 1965, 1987 by Te Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked are from Te Holy Bible, English Standard

Version,copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News

Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked are taken from the H B, N IV..Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.Used by

permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Front cover image: Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images;

Back cover image: Edward Miller/Stringer/Getty Images

Published by Shiloh Run Press, an imprint of Barbour Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 719,

Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683, www.shilohrunpress.com

Our mission is to publish and distribute inspirational products offering exceptional value andbiblical encouragement to the masses.

Publishers Association

Member of the

Evangelical Christian

Printed in the United States of America.


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Tank You, Billy Graham. . .

for Helping Me Find Jesus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216


for Bringing Me Back to Jesus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225Tank You, Billy Graham. . .

for How You ouched My Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232


for Helping Me Deal with Adversity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239


for Saving My Life. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251Tank You, Billy Graham. . .

for Everything. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257


for Sharing Ruth with Us. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 406


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Foreword

As the son of Ronald Reagan, I have enjoyed a unique per-spective on the ministry of Billy Graham.

People call him Americas pastor, and with good rea-

son. Weve had presidents, including my father, who knew

that they could pick up the phoneany time of the day or

nightand Billy Graham would pray with them. And he

wasnt only praying with and for presidents. If Billy Grahamhad not been interceding regularly for our whole nation,

where would the United States be today?

Ive had the privilege of knowing Dr. Graham and his

family since my father was governor of California. And it was

in two of Billy Grahams California crusades that I experi-

enced moments I will never forget.

In 1985, during a ten-day crusade at Anaheim, I watched

Billy Graham preach to a full stadium. I had walked away

from the church years before, but had recently been drawn

back by the influence of my wife and the ministry of Pastor

Jack Hayford of Te Church on the Way. Billys message that

night was so powerful and compelling, I almost felt badly

that Id accepted Christ just weeks before!

Nearly twenty years later, in 2004, the Billy Graham

Evangelistic Association asked me to speak during his Los

Angeles crusade. My first thought was that his staff had called

the wrong Reaganbut if Billy Graham asks you to give a

testimony, it really is like a message from God. With an ear-

nest prayer for the Holy Spirits help, I told the huge RoseBowl crowd my own story of Gods grace and forgiveness.

As you listen to Dr. Graham tonight, I said in my wrap-

up, I want you to think of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.


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Hes standing at the doorway of your life with His arms wide

open, waiting to give you a hug.

urning from the podium, I came face-to-face with Billy

Graham, who shook my hand and said, Michael, you should

have stayed out there and kept speaking! I was so grateful to

hear those words from a man who has accomplished so much

in his long life of service to God.

Now, in this book, we all have the opportunity to say

thank you, Billy Graham. Millions of people have heard

him preach the gospel, and many of them have posted mes-

sages of gratitude on the web site TankYouBilly.com. In the

pages to follow, youll read real-life stories of people who are

thankful that Dr. Graham helped them find Jesus. . .inspired

their Christian walk. . . touched the lives of their loved ones.

. .and set such an example of honesty and integrity.

Billy always told us that God loves you. Tank you,Billy Graham, for faithfully communicating that simple, but

incredibly profound, message. Billy, we love you!

M R

Author of wice Adopted andthe New Reagan Revolution:

How Ronald Reagans Principles Can Restore Americas Greatness


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extraordinary purpose. Whether they address him as Rev.

Graham, Dr. Graham, Mr. Graham, Brother Graham, or

just plain Billy, these precious individuals all share the joy of

knowing Jesus through Daddy Bills preaching.

Tese stories cover many yearsseveral decades, actually

of our grandfathers ministry. Tey come from many states

and several countries. Tey describe people of all agesfrom

young children to the elderlywho were impacted by the

simple but profound gospel message communicated by Daddy

Bill. Te stories have been lightly edited for readability, butretain the voice of each contributor and the raw power of

their faith experiences. Last names have been dropped to pro-

tect the privacy of those who contributed, and not everyone

who responded on the website provided a name. But every

testimony youre about to read came from someone whose

life was touched by Daddy Bill.

As we compiled this powerful book, each of us foundourselves encouraged to examine our own faith. Our hope is

that as you read these amazing stories of Gods love, you will

also be encouraged to examine your own faith and under-

standing of the gospel and the indescribable love of Jesus.

Trough the dozens of testimonies that follow, youll be

encouraged by the ringing affirmation that God is the God ofall comfort and strength. Most importantly, we pray that this

book will remind you of the most beautiful truth that Daddy

Bill so often told packed stadiums, God loves you!

We are so grateful to God for Daddy Bill, and the amaz-

ing love and awesome power of the God who introduced this

man to us and to the world.

J A

B

A


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looked more like Christ to me than any other person I have

ever met.

I dont know how it would have been not having Billy

Grahams touch on my life through his ministry. I truly think

that God gave him to the church as the Evangelist of the

World. Tere may be other evangelists, but there will never

be one of the stature of Billy Graham. Tank you, Billy, for

faithfully preaching, teaching, and living out Gods Word in

your life.

Ron

DEDICATEDFORMINISTRY

My youth director took a busload of teenagers to your cru-

sade at the Los Angeles Coliseum in 1963. I was thirteen

and seeking to know God more deeply. I remember we sat in

a top section, and it was a long way down, but I was deter-mined to make a public statement of my desire to completely

follow Jesus.

I was raised in a Christian home but knew I had to make

a personal decision for myself. My mother had desired to

sing in your choir, but she was at my fathers bedside in the

hospital. Te week your crusade ended, my father died of

a stroke. Tough it was a tragedy to lose my earthly father,your crusade reminded me that my heavenly Father would

now come alongside me.

I went on to start a Youth for Christ club at my pub-

lic junior high school, worked at the InterVarsity Christian

Fellowship book table at my secular university, taught in an

inner-city Christian school, graduated from seminary, be-came an ordained minister, and served as a hospital chaplain.

In November 2005, I was privileged to serve as a ministe-

rial counselor at your crusade at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.


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at the time.) When she died in January 1986, it was nice to

know I would see her again in heaven. Her last words to me

(in German) were, il we meet again.

After that, my sons accepted Jesus, and last year I believe

my dad called on Jesus before he died. Tank you for leading

us to Christ!

It will be great to have the family together in heaven. Ill

introduce you to them when were all there, to thank you.

Gods blessings to you, your family, and all the people

who sacrificed so my family and I would be saved through

Jesus Christ.

PRAYER

During my time at Moody Bible Institute (1954 to 1957),

Billy Graham came to speak to the student body. Te class

I had before chapel let out early so we could get good seats.I was in the third row, center section of orrey-Gray Audi-

torium. I had been to his crusades before in Upstate New

YorkI think Syracuse and Rochesterbut this was the first

time I could really see him.

What was most impressive to me was that he talked about

the importance of prayer to his ministry, and the humility heshowed as he talked to us.

I also heard George Beverly Shea that night at Moody.

He sang How Great Tou Art, which was still fairly new.

Tank you both for the encouragement youve been in

my life.

GODSHUMBLESERVANT

It seems as if Billy has always been with us. It is because he

has spoken the Word of God with humility and power and


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. . .for Inspiring My Christian Walkg

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FIREINYOUREYES

In the mid 1960s, when I was approximately twenty, you

came to the University of Houston. I wanted to see whatall the fuss was about, so I went to your lecture. From my

seat about one-third of the way back, I could see your eyes,

and they looked like they had fire in them. Tey were very

penetrating. I never forgot that. I feel very fortunate to have

been able to see you live once. Years later, I understood and

accepted salvation. oday, I enjoy your crusades, no matterwhat year is being shown. Tank you, Dr. Graham, for show-

ing us how its done.

Mary Margaret

THEHOLYSPIRITANDTHETEENS

My wife and I sat in the nosebleed section of the Carrier

Dome in Syracuse when Billy did his crusade there in the

1980s. We were in a sea of teens. Hundreds of local churches

and churches from many miles away were represented, but

the common denominator was that they were all teens. Well,

you know how teens can be. . .lots of talking and passing

notes and all that stuff. When Billy started to preach, my

wife and I were somewhat distracted by all the commotion. . .when all of a sudden, about halfway through the ser-

mon, a hush fell around us. I witnessed the power of the

Holy Spirit like Ive never seen it before. Weeping. . .lots of

weeping. . .all around us, teens were crying and weeping.

Ten, just before the invitation, a lot more weeping. . .and it

seemed that dozens of teens started to get up and go down-stairs before the invitation was even given.

Hundreds left their seats to go forward to receive Christ

that evening. It had a tremendous impact on my wife and


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me. Tat was the only time we saw Billy in person, but I look

at the crusades in a different way now. I was amid the power

of God, and I saw Him move. Tank you, Billy, for being

faithful to your call!

I UNDERSTANDTHEBIBLESOMUCHBETTER

Dear Billy, thank you so much for being obedient to God!

I accepted Jesus as my Savior when I was nine years old,

was baptized, and later took several of your correspondence

courses. After I was married, I sent for the paperback Living

Biblethat you published. It meant so much to me to be able

to understand the Bible so much better. I read and reread

that Bible. It helped me to grow further in the Lord. Bless-

ings on you, thank you, and God bless you!

Mim

AMSTERDAM2000

I had the privilege of being invited to attend the Amster-

dam 2000 conference in the Netherlands. Te messages were

instrumental in renewing an evangelistic spirit within me.

When Billys daughter spoke, the Lord spoke to my heart

and inspired me to begin a ministry online to point peopleto Christ. I knew nothing about the Internet, but God sent

me a lady whose job is to build websites for churches and

religious organizations. Rhonda offered to build a website for

my ministry, His Love Extended Ministries International.

She refused remuneration and offered it as a love gift to the

ministry! Trough the years, as God has been teaching methe ropes, the messages and challenges of Amsterdam 2000

always underlie the zeal with which I administer this minis-

try. Several (that I know of ) had spiritual growth, and others


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. . .for Inspiring My Christian Walkg

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have been saved! o God be the glory. Only eternity will

reveal all that the Lord has done with this ministry. Tank

you and Franklin and your daughter, Billy! God bless you,

brother!

NOWI KNOWJESUSCHRISTPERSONALLY

I was raised in a Christian family and attended a traditional

Anglican Sunday school and church. I learned about Jesus

Christ, and when I was twenty-six, I made my decision to be-

come a confirmed member of my local church. When I was

invited to become a counselor at the Ipswich Billy Graham

crusade, I attended the teaching sessions and still treasure the

materials, which gave me solid teaching that I lacked from

church.

When the great day arrived, it was one of the most

awe-inspiring occasions I have ever had the privilege to at-tend. I clearly remember many of Billy Grahams words, and

through his inspiration and teaching I came to know my

Lord and Savior Jesus Christ personally. My heart is full of

gratitude and admiration for the amazing work Billy Graham

has carried out all over the world through the enabling of the

Holy Spirit.

BUILDINGFAITH

I grew up watching the Billy Graham crusades and have al-

ways received so much from them. I also remember the mov-

ies that Billy Graham produced in the late 1960s, and the

wonderful messages that came with them. Id love to havecopies of those even now. I was raised Southern Baptist, but

got away from the church for a while during my early mar-

ried life. But even during this time, I continued to watch


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