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Billy Graham's Birthday All About 'The Cross'
November 7, 2013 - As 800 people gathered in Asheville, N.C., Thursday night to celebrate Billy Graham's 95th birthday, the world-renowned preacher characteristically wanted all the attention on Jesus Christ.
By Trevor Freeze
A 95th birthday party sounded nice.
But when Billy Graham was asked about plans for such a landmark celebration, the world-renowned evangelist raised an eyebrow to his close friend and pastor.
“Would anyone want to come to my party?” Don Wilton shared Mr. Graham’s concern Thursday night. “And he said this from the bottom of his heart.”
“He’s afraid people have forgotten who he is,” Franklin Graham said.
Clearly, that was not the case on Thursday at the Grove Park Inn. More than 800 honored Mr. Graham’s 95 years of life, including Donald Trump and Rupert Murdoch, with dozens of media members clamoring for just one more glimpse of the “Pastor to the Presidents.”
And on a day where all eyes were on his 95th birthday and his new message was airing in primetime on FOX News, Mr. Graham wanted his celebration focused on one thing:
The cross.
“He’s the most humble man you’ll ever know,” North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory said. "He knows it’s not about him. It’s about the cross.”
The evening began with a showing of “The Cross,” a 30-minute My Hope America short film, featuring a Gospel message that Mr. Graham has passionately wanted to preach for the past three years, along with life-changing stories from musicians Lecrae and Lacey Sturm.
Franklin Graham became the night’s “Matthew” host, giving a short testimony about how he waited 22 years before realizing he “was sick and tired of being sick and tired,” and extended the same invitation to accept Christ.
The evening program wrapped up with former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin sharing about her mother making a decision to follow Jesus through a televised Billy Graham Crusade, which impacted her entire family for Christ.
“Billy Graham has been able to articulate this message more than anyone else,” Palin said. “He reminds us that Jesus is the only answer.”
FOX News host Greta Van Susteren finished off the night by leading a cupcake-and-candle-infused “Happy Birthday” group singing, bringing up Michael W. Smith, Lecrae, Lacey Sturm, Kathie Lee Gifford and Ricky Skaggs for musical harmony. She offered a personal gift to Mr. Graham “by not singing” herself.
Mr. Graham then addressed the crowd twice at the end of the program. First, to thank his ministry partner and dear friend, Cliff Barrows, “for all that you have meant to me through all these years.” The second, to recognize his grandson, Edward Graham, an Army Major. “We’re so proud of you,” he said.
Will Graham, vice president of BGEA, is proud of his grandfather, whose ministry is still active, long past the normal retirement age.
“He realizes the calling that God gave him is for his whole life,” Will Graham said. “It’s not just for 60 years.”
Very few know this better than Cliff Barrows, 90, who has been a ministry partner with Mr. Graham for more than 60 years, and took one more opportunity to thank his dear friend.
“I thank God for every remembrance of you,” said Mr. Barrows, his voice crackling. “And I praise God for the journey we’ve had ...
“With all my heart.” | |
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| | | | My Hope America with Billy Graham is a nationwide effort to reach people across the United States with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Following a simple biblical model, My Hope America with Billy Graham combines the impact of video programs with the power of personal relationships. Christians across America will open their homes to share the Gospel message with friends, family, colleagues, and neighbors using one of several new evangelistic programs featuring life-changing testimonies & powerful messages from Billy Graham.
My Hope America is a series of videos designed to clearly present the Gospel with life-changing testimonies & powerful messages. Share these programs with friends, family, and neighbors today.
There are 4 videos in the series:
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The Cross
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Defining Moments
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Lose to Gain
- Momentos Decisivos - A Spanish language video
You can watch them at www.myhopewithbillygraham.org/programs/
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This video is set to the audio of the famous sermon "Seven Way King" (also known as "That's My King") as spoken by Dr. S.M. Lockridge. Dr. Lockridge (1913 - 2000) was the Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in San Diego, California, from 1953 to 1993. He was known for his preaching across the United States and around the world. Shadrach Meshach Lockridge was born March 7, 1913, in Robertson County, Texas, the oldest of eight children and the son of a Baptist minister. A graduate of Bishop College in Marshall, Texas, he worked for two years as a high school English teacher. In 1940 in Dallas, he felt led to preach. In 1942, he accepted his first pastorate at Fourth Ward Baptist Church in Ennis, Texas. In August 1952, he was named pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in San Diego where he served until retiring in 1993. During Dr. Lockridge's tenure at Calvary Baptist, a predominantly African-American congregation, his ministry touched the lives of more than 100,000 people. He preached at crusades, revivals, religious rallies and evangelistic conferences around the world.He also served in key regional, state and national positions with the Baptist Church, including being elected the first president of the National Missionary Baptist Convention of America. He held doctorates and numerous honorary degrees and was often sought as a public speaker, even after he retired in 1993. He served as guest lecturer at numerous schools and universities and on the faculty of several others, including the Billy Graham School of Evangelism. Dr. Lockridge was active in the civil rights movement, and under his leadership Calvary Baptist hosted several of its leaders, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Jesse Jackson. The music in the background was performed live by the GCC Band while the video played on the screen. It then led directly into the worship song "Here is Our King". | |
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| | | |  Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone?
What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
What if we flipped through it several times a day?
What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?
What if we used it to receive messages from the text?
What if we gave it to kids as gifts?
What if we used it when we traveled?
What if we used it in case of emergency?
This is something to make you go...hmm...where is my Bible?
Oh, and one more thing.
Unlike our cell phone, we don’t have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill.
Makes you stop and think 'where are my priorities?'
And no dropped calls! | |
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