November 7 marked the 108th anniversary of Billy Graham's birth, an occasion to remember the evangelist whose preaching brought the message of Jesus Christ to millions around the world.
Born on November 7, 1918, Graham grew up on a dairy farm near Charlotte, North Carolina. He went on to become one of the most widely recognised Christian preachers of his generation, devoting his ministry to calling people to repentance and faith in Christ.
According to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Graham preached to nearly 215 million people in live audiences across more than 185 countries and territories. His message reached further through radio, television, films, publications and online broadcasts.
The scale of that ministry was extraordinary, but its central invitation was personal: trust in Jesus Christ. Whether addressing a stadium crowd or speaking through a broadcast, Graham urged listeners to respond to the Gospel themselves.
His birthday also brought a personal tribute from his son, Franklin Graham, who reflected on the family's grief and the Christian hope that sustained his father's preaching.
"We rejoice in knowing that, even though we still miss having him here, he is at home in the presence of Almighty God," Franklin wrote on Instagram.
Franklin also imagined his father reunited with his wife, Ruth Bell Graham, his parents and other loved ones who had placed their faith in Christ. Ruth died in June 2007, after the couple married in 1943. Billy Graham died on February 21, 2018, at age 99.
Graham's legacy also includes the example remembered by those who knew him personally. His official memorial biography recalls his compassion, humour, integrity, humility and willingness to learn from others, qualities that accompanied his decades of public ministry.
On the anniversary of his birth, Franklin's tribute returned to the hope at the heart of that ministry. The promise of life with Christ, which Billy Graham proclaimed to crowds around the world, is now the promise his family holds close as they remember him.
