Billy Graham

Monday, January 27, 2009, will go down as one of the best days of my life. It was the day I met Billy Graham.

 

I was graciously invited by my friends Dan Cathy and David Salyers of Chick-fil-A to accompany them on a trip to North Carolina to meet Dr. Nido Qubein, president of High Point University. (I have been an admirer of the work Dr. Qubein is doing and have wanted him to come speak to our Buckhead staff for some time now.) In addition to the visit with Dr. Qubein, Dan arranged a quick side trip to see Billy Graham and he wondered if I wanted to go along.

 

I responded by saying I would eat Chick-fil-A every day for the rest of my life and away we went.

 

Dan and I, along with Rhys Stenner, pastor of New Hope Baptist Church, arrived at 11 a.m. at Billy Graham’s modest home, beautifully nestled on a mountainside in Montreat, North Carolina. His nurse, Patty, greeted us at the door and said, “Come on in. Dr. Graham is waiting for you in his study.”

 

“Is this actually happening?” was the question that kept racing through my mind. 

 

We walked through a small hallway to his study, and there sitting by himself was the man who has preached the gospel to more people than anyone who has ever lived. He has known personally every President from Harry Truman to George W. Bush. But, more importantly, he has lived a life of unquestioned integrity glorifying the name of Jesus in massive ways. He is the greatest evangelist this side of the apostle Paul. And I was now shaking his hand.

 

“It’s an honor meeting you, Dr. Graham,” was all I could get out at the moment. 

 

“Pull up a chair,” Patty said. So the three of us did so and an hour-long chat with Billy Graham ensued. I still can’t believe that the previous sentence is true. Now, I know, Dr. Graham is just a man. But still, being in his presence is different. I can’t quite explain it, but I could feel the anointing God has on his life when I was in his presence.

 

Dr. Graham recently turned 90. He has some difficulty hearing and is battling some health issues, but his mind is still sharp. Here are a few of the highlights of our hour with him.

 

·        I asked Dr. Graham what advice he would have for Rhys and me as pastors. He looked me right in the eye and said, “Spend lots and lots of time in prayer. It blesses us and touches the heart of God.” He added, “We need the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, we’re empty.”

·        I asked him how we could pray for him. “Just pray. I need God every moment of every day.”

·        Thankfully, Dan led most of the conversation, because Rhys and I were still trying to find our footing. We would steal quick glances at each other as if to say, “Is this really happening?”

·        At one point, Dr. Graham pointed to a picture of his late wife, Ruth, and said, “I miss her greatly.” 

·        Dan, a gifted musician, brought his trumpet along to play hymns. Dr. Graham loved it.  Dan turned to me and said, “Jeff, give me a hymn.” I suddenly went blank. Hymns? Hymns? David Crowder and Steve Fee I know, but a hymn? Thankfully, the perfect one popped into my mind. “You can’t go wrong with ‘Just As I Am,’” I said. Dr. Graham smiled and there we were, listening to Dan playing “Just As I Am” on the trumpet in Billy Graham’s study. Talk about an amazing moment. 

 

What happened next is simply hard for me to describe. With our visit coming to a close, Dan said, “Dr. Graham, would you mind praying over Rhys, Jeff, and me before we leave?” 

 

“I would love to,” he said. We knelt by his chair, and he prayed for us. He prayed that God would “unusually bless us.” He prayed for our wives and our families. He prayed for the Lord to bless our ministries and Dan’s business.

 

I have no words to adequately describe what I felt at that moment. 

 

We said our good-byes and then I went over to Dr. Graham, shook his hand, leaned in, and said, “Thank you, Dr Graham. Thank you for all you have done for the kingdom.” As I recalled this for my in-laws the next night at dinner, the emotion of it all finally caught up with me. I guess it’s pretty embarrassing to cry at a barbecue restaurant, but it was a slow night so maybe no one noticed.

 

Then again, maybe a little emotion isn’t a bad thing. After all, it’s not every day you get to meet Billy Graham.

 

 

Jeff

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