Nashville, Tenn. (Feb. 23, 2018) – Amy Grant, Matthew West, TobyMac and more reflect on the death of world-renowned evangelist, Billy Graham. Personally impacted by his ministry, they took to social media sharing memories and recalling the impact of his legacy.
“The last crusade I did with Billy was in San Antonio in 1997. As always, I was honored to be invited but I also knew that my marriage was falling apart and that it might not survive…Billy knew what was going on with me personally, so I asked if I could speak with him before my performance. I nervously explained what was going on in my life and he listened without ever losing the kindness in his eyes. He then said to me ‘Amy, I have children and grandchildren who love the Lord… but some of them take the long way home.’ He asked to pray for me and my struggling family. I never shared the stage with him again after my performance that night. Billy is now home where he has longed to be…reunited with his beloved Ruth and in the presence of the Loving God he proclaimed around the world. We are all heading home too…some of us just take the long way. I look forward to seeing Billy again on the other side.” – Amy Grant
“Billy Graham, a spiritual giant, a voice to the masses, a man who filled stadiums with hungry souls and reached countless people with the life-saving message of a God who loved them. And the first thing I thought of was root beer. At the age of thirteen I was a preacher’s kid who was pretty sure he would just get to heaven because he had family connections. I remember sitting down in the basement of my childhood home one afternoon and turning on the TV in the hopes of finding a Chicago Cubs game. Instead, I found a Billy Graham Crusade. I remember the choir singing, ‘Just as I Am.’ I was sitting on that old blue couch…with the feeling that this would be the moment I would answer the question Reverend Graham had just asked, ‘What will you do with Jesus?’ My mom was doing a load of laundry and walked past me with a basket on her hip. ‘Matthew, do you want me to pray with you?’ I whispered, ‘yes.’ Together we prayed and that was the hour I first believed. Now here I was, all these years later walking into Billy’s home and shaking his hand. I was invited to sit at a large, round, wooden table in the kitchen…Billy’s drink of choice? Root beer. That afternoon a singer and a preacher sat and swapped stories over a couple of root beers. Well, mostly I just listened. I’ll end this with words from a text message I received from Billy’s grandson. He reminded me of something Billy used to say. ‘One day you will hear that Billy Graham is dead. But don’t you believe it. For on that day I will be more alive than ever.’ Tonight, I’m going to drink a root beer with my family at dinner and I’m going to tell my daughters about the life of this man who is now seeing the Heaven he has showed so many the way to. A man who is now more alive than ever.” – Matthew West
“Finally home. I loved Dr. Billy Graham so much. Mostly from afar, but @themercyme had the privilege of playing at his last 3 crusades. The one at the Rose bowl in Pasadena stands out the most. My 2 yr old son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes about a week before, and I struggled with wanting to stay with my son rather than heading to Pasadena. We informed Dr. Graham’s people of my dilemma, and they totally supported my decision to stay home. Then we got a call back asking if I’d be willing to have a plane fly to Texas and get me because Dr. Graham wanted to ‘hug my neck and pray for my son”. I looked at my wife who said, ‘You’ve got to go!’ So off I went. We watched Dr. Graham’s security team congregate on the opposite side of the stage. I remember thinking ‘I flew this whole way and they’re bringing him in from the other side?’ Then all of a sudden, from behind us, a voice said, ‘Sometimes you’ve got to create a distraction to get a second to yourself.’ And there he was. This spiritual giant. It didn’t matter how frail he was at that point in his life. To me, he stood 10 ft tall. He shook all of our hands, then placed his hand on the back of my neck, pulled me close and started praying over my son’s life. I don’t remember everything he prayed, I was too overwhelmed with what was taking place. But I’ll never forget when he finished praying and looked up at me, he had tears in his eyes. I then walked on stage, sang ‘Imagine,’ walked off stage, headed back to the plane and was back with my son just after midnight. Of all the amazing things Dr. Billy Graham has done for the kingdom of God, nothing will resonate more with me than that single moment. Thank you, God, for Billy Graham. And I rejoice knowing, after so many years of faithfulness, he is now truly seeing as Christ sees.” – Bart Millard, MercyMe
“I was invited to do many festivals alongside Dr. Billy Graham (though he told us to call him Billy)…it was my honor to have gotten those opportunities and I was always so moved by the way in which he operated. Humility and class and focus and grace are the words that immediately come to mind. One of my heroes without a doubt. He will be dearly missed by myself, our nation and even the world. But I can hear the choir in heaven singing ‘welcome home!!'” – TobyMac
“Well done good and faithful servant. Heaven is celebrating this incredible man today. His inspiring ministry changed millions of lives. Thankful for his legacy and impact on the earth.” – Bethel Music
“Welcome Home Billy.” – Brad + Rebekah
“Thank you, Mr. Graham, for all the ways you loved people. You made a mark on the young and old! You demonstrated the courage to speak truth and it inspired the world. Hope your homecoming in heaven was spectacular!” – Cameron James
“Billy Graham received a ‘well done good and faithful servant’ yesterday. I’m Inspired by his life and legacy, because he truly pointed those to Jesus’ life and legacy.” – Colton Dixon
“Billy Graham was a real hero. Not just to me, but millions of people. He was unafraid to speak what God told him to speak, regardless of what others thought about him. A fiery preacher who spoke truth and love…” – John Cooper, Skillet
“Rejoicing with my precious friend, Billy Graham. Without a doubt, the finest man I ever knew. So grateful that I am among the millions that he led to faith in Jesus and the promise of eternal life.” – Kathie Lee Gifford
“‘I am not going to Heaven because I have preached to great crowds or read the Bible many times. I’m going to Heaven just like the thief on the cross who said in that last moment: ‘Lord, remember me.” I think that speaks volumes of the way he used his platform…What a homecoming he is receiving this morning.” – Mallory Hope
“’Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ Matthew 25:23″ – Mandisa
“Joining with countless others today, sending love to the extended Graham family & so grateful for the life and ministry of this inspiring friend of God.” – Matt Redman
“‘Worship in the truest sense takes place only when our full attention is on GOD – on His glory, power, majesty, love and compassion.’ We are so grateful for your life and faith.” – Passion
“Yes, he nailed it even then. Forever grateful for this prophetic voice that preached the gospel at any cost. What a gift for us to see the impact firsthand, in our lifetime.” – Rebekah Lyons
“This man was the major inspiration behind our new album Good News. He preached the clear undiluted gospel of Jesus…May his life inspire us to dream for more.” – Rend Collective
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