ADVERTISING
The life of evangelical churches and their spiritual leaders has been portrayed in some recent films and series. Can they help us start conversations?
The evangelist was a key leader of the 20th century. Hundreds of thousands made a decision to follow Jesus after hearing him preaching the Gospel. Graham worked to unite evangelical Christians around mission movements.
Billy Graham, in 1966. / Library of Congress - Wikimedia Commons, CC)
Billy Graham died today. The preacher dedicated his life to share the message of the Gospel in thousands of public events.
It is estimated that about 100 million heard him speak live during his lifetime, and millions more have listened to him via television.
An invitation to a revival event with Billy Graham, in 1949. / CT, BGEABilly Graham was born in 1918 in Charlotte (North Carolina), and graduated from Florida Bible Institute and Wheaton College. He was the first full-time staff worker of Youth for Christ. He married Ruth Bell in 1943 (she died in 2007)
His evangelistic tent meetings in Los Angeles (1949) and later the four-months long events in the Madison Square Garden (New York) broght him to international attention.
Graham met with 13 Presidents of the United States, and “personally interacted with (and usually prayed with) all of the presidents following World War II—from Truman to Trump”, according to The Gospel Coalition.
Billy Graham and Jimmy Carter. / BGEA“Perhaps Graham's lasting legacy was his ability to present the gospel in the idiom of the culture. He did this brilliantly, making innovative use of emerging technologies—radio, television, magazines, books, a newspaper column, motion pictures, satellite broadcasts, Internet—to spread his message”, the magazine Christianity Today, which he founded, said in an obituary article.
His son Franklin Graham has continued his evangelistic task leading the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
Billy Graham preaching in Trafalgar Square during the London Crusade. / BGEAHe helped launche the 1974 International Congress on World Evangelization in Lausanne, Switzerland, which later became the Lausanne Movement, the broadest inter-denominational evangelical mission movement.
Evangelical Focus will report more about the figure of Billy Graham in the next days.
The psalmist alludes to the tall cypress trees that supported the heavy nests of the storks to highlight the way God cares for his creation.
There is not a single friend who can understand you like God can. He suffered more for us than we will ever be able to take in.
Julia Doxat-Purser: 25 years of EEA office in Brussels
An interview with the socio-political representative of the European Evangelical Alliance about how evangelical Christians work at the heart of the European Union.
Lars Dahle: Nominal Christianity, a mission field for the church
An interview with Lars Dahle, of the Steering Committee of the Lausanne Movement Global Consultation on Nominal Christianity held in Rome.
Testimony: Wildfires near Athens
Nico Spies, a Christian worker in Athens, gives details about the wildfires in Greece.
Glimpses of the ELF 2019 conference
Evangelical leaders from across Europe meet in Wisla (Poland) to network for mission in a range of fields. The vision is to renew the biblical church and evangelise Europe.
AEA Plaza opens to serve African evangelicals
After many years of labour, the Association of Evangelicals in Africa officially opened its new centre in Nairobi, Kenya. “Africa, your time has come!”, said the World Evangelical Alliance Secretary General Efraim Tendero.
‘Small churches, big potential for transformation’
Photos of the Spanish Evangelical Alliance’s annual gathering “Idea 2019”, in Murcia. Politicians and church leaders discussed about the role of minorities in society.
Mercy Ships volunteers perform 100,000th free surgical procedure
The milestone represents an important point in the nonprofit’s 40-year legacy.
What are the most important truths that Christians should seek to convey in a secular context?
Espen Ottosen talks about the truths Christians should share with people who have little knowledge and/or many prejudices about Christian belief.
A 50-metre high monument will encourage Britons to pray
Thousands of visitors will have the chance to discover “the God who is alive who listens and answers prayers”.
John Lennox on Acts
Professor John Lennox examines the three supernatural events in the first three chapters of Acts: Jesus' ascension, the Holy Spirit's descent at Pentecost, and the healing of a lame man by the Apostles.
Opinions expressed are those of their respective contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of Evangelical Focus.
If you want to comment, or