Baptist & Reflector
“Dr. Billy Graham was indeed America’s pastor and a great global ambassador for Christ. His gospel-centered message was always clear as he made one simple appeal, ‘Come to Jesus.’ As a Southern Baptist, he epitomized everything good about our Great Commission focus.”
Randy C. Davis, TBMB president and executive director
“Psalm 116:15 says ‘To be absent from the body is to be with the Lord.’ Billy Graham was a faithful servant in the Lord’s kingdom. His faithfulness was exemplary and a model to all. His use of mass evangelism was unequalled. I believe he impacted all gospel ministers in seen and unseen ways. His simplicity in message delivery were a model to all. His passion to the call of the Lord on His life.”
David Leavell, First Baptist Church, Millington (TBC president)
“Clearly the greatest legacy he leaves to Christianity is his commitment to preaching a clear gospel that Jesus is the only way to God and to salvation. His ministry has had a tremendous impact on me personally. I am currently reading his biography and his commitment to excellence in everything he did was exceptional. He was a model of character and integrity.”
Todd Stinnett, Black Oak Heights Baptist Church, Knoxville
“When he organized the world congress on evangelization in Lausanne in 1974 it was a ground breaking moment in world evangelism. Nobody was really talking about unreached people until then. You can trace a shift in global missions to that conference. We began to talk about finishing the task and ever since the gospel has been taken to the remote places of the world.”
Thi Mitsamphanh, Smyrna International Community Church
“His legacy to Christianity is that he is the greatest ambassador of the message of salvation who has lived over the last century. I think of II Corinthian 5:20 when think of him, being an ambassador reconciling men to God through Jesus. He never changed his message to fit the culture. When you are a representative of another kingdom you never compromise with the kingdom you are trying to influence.”
Fady Al-Hagal, The Shepherd’s Field Baptist Church, Martin
“I admire most his humility. He was asked what is the difference between him and other evangelists or preachers. Is it the stage performance or the organization? He simply replied, ‘The difference is God, I would be nothing without Him!’ Graham’s life and legacy speaks to this truth. Righteousness is something we are given, not something we earn. Our confidence is in Christ and not ourselves. True righteousness comes from above and not below. It is not manufactured, but freely received from our Heavenly Father.”
Justin Randolph, Zion Hill Baptist Church, Sevierville
“Billy Graham modeled the life and work of Christ in a way that gave an authentic and genuine witness to Jesus Christ. He called people to Christ every chance he got. … As a young pastor I was impressed with care and concern Dr. Graham expressed to those he met from every walk of life. He made friends for Christ and sought to encourage people to understand that God loved them, would forgive them, and would give them a new life. Heaven is brighter today because Billy Graham is there. We will miss him.
Frank Lewis, First Baptist Church, Nashville
“When I think of Billy Graham I think of three things: Christ, compassion and conviction. He showed us that when we are sold out to Christ and have a heart of compassion, how the Holy Spirit uses people to bring others to conviction. He never strayed from the message of the cross. What a time to be focused on that message when our nation is so divided so it’s good to remember someone who brought us all together.”
Bartholomew Orr, Brown Missionary Baptist, Southaven, Miss.
“Billy Graham is with Jesus. He has seen and talked with our beloved Savior. May the awareness of his death result in many people hearing the gospel and being converted to Jesus Christ!”
Steve Gaines, Bellevue Baptist Church, Cordova (SBC president)
“Billy Graham impacted the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. He was always on point with the gospel. When he preached he always invited people to come to Christ. When he was in an interview, he was not deterred by questions of the day but always seemed to turn the conversation to the cross of Jesus, who died for our sins and rose victorious over death.”
Roc Collins, Strategic Objectives director, TBMB
“In 2000, after ALL the many crusades and years of ministry that Billy Graham served and was obedient to God — there he was at age 81 and though dealing with Parkinson’s disease, he never stopped going for the Lord and proclaiming no matter what the circumstances he found himself in. Only when ALL physical limitations truly prevented him from traveling did he stop. Billy Graham is a true example of how I should approach my daily service to God.
Mary Nimmo, FBC, Hendersonville (B&R)
“Billy Graham’s greatest contribution to Christianity was his consistency and integrity, in addition to the profound influence he had on evangelizing the masses as a mission and mass evangelism as a strategy. When I was a teenage preacher, beyond my local church pastor and youth minister, Billy Graham was my spiritual hero. My love for souls came, in part, from the emphasis I heard and saw in the ministry of Billy Graham.”
Larry Robertson, Hilldale Baptist Church, Clarksville
“There are many different ways men can leave a lasting impact. Men can build monuments that generations marvel at. Men can shape cultural ideals and beliefs. Men can create technological wonders. However, Billy Graham’s greatest impact was that he made an eternal difference to countless souls. I also admired his willingness to stand on the truth of Scripture, even if the truth is unpopular.”
Joshua Franks, First Baptist Church, Bruceton
“In his time when televangelists took advantage of millions of people, Rev. Billy Graham’s unscathed character may have been his greatest impact on Christianity. Graham said, ‘When wealth is lost, nothing is lost. When health is lost, something is lost. When character is lost, all is lost.’ ”
Sam Greer, Red Bank Baptist Church, Chattanooga
