Billy Graham Dies At 99

The Reverend Billy Graham, one of the most influential and famous preachers of the 20th century, passed away at the age of 99. A major figure in American Christianity, Graham preached to millions of people in his lifetime and was a trusted advisor to U.S. presidents.

Graham was born on November 7, 1918, in Charlotte, North Carolina. He had a religious awakening as a teenager and committed himself to becoming a preacher. He attended Bob Jones College (now University), but dropped out after one year to pursue preaching full-time. In the early 1940s, Graham began holding "crusades" - mass revival meetings - throughout the United States. He achieved national prominence in 1949 with his "Can We Achieve Racial Harmony?" crusade in New York City.

In 1957, Graham made his first visit to the Soviet Union, where he preached to large crowds in Red Square and Leningrad. He also became known for his crusades in Africa and Latin America. Graham was an advisor to several U.S. presidents, beginning with Harry Truman; he became especially close to Richard Nixon, offering spiritual guidance during the Watergate scandal.

Graham retired from preaching in 2005 but remained active until his death, writing opinion pieces and meeting with world leaders. He is survived by five children and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Billy Graham To Lie In State In The Capitol Rotunda

The Rev. Billy Graham, counselor to presidents and the most widely heard Christian evangelist in history, will lie in honor in the Capitol Rotunda next week, House Speaker Paul Ryan announced Wednesday.

"The Bible tells us that there is a time for everything and I believe that this is a time to celebrate the life of Reverend Billy Graham," Ryan said in a statement.

Graham, who died Feb. 21 at age 99, will lie in honor from Wednesday, Feb. 28 through Thursday, March 1. He will become only the fourth private individual to receive the tribute, joining civil rights leader Rosa Parks and Capitol Police officers Jacob J. Chestnut and John M. Gibson, who were killed in 1998 while protecting Congress from terrorist gunfire.

A public viewing will be held from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday in the Rotunda, and President Donald Trump is expected to attend the tribute along with first lady Melania Trump, the speaker's office said. Graham's funeral will be held on Friday at noon at The historic Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Graham rose to national prominence after preaching a message before an audience of more than 200,000 at New York's Madison Square Garden in 1957. Dubbed "the preacher to presidents" for his close relationships with more than 10 U.S. commanders-in-chief starting with Harry Truman, Graham counseled Dwight Eisenhower on how to handle the media during the Suez Canal crisis; Richard Nixon during the Watergate scandal; Ronald Reagan before his 1984 re-election campaign; and George H.W W Bush following Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait in 1990.
Mohammad Javad Zarif: You have no credibility Zarif served as Iran's Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2013 until 2018 under President Hassan Rouhani.
An interim nuclear agreement was reached between Iran and six world powers — including the United States — on November 24, 2013. The agreement went into effect on January 20, 2014.[2] It calls for Iran to stop enrichment of uranium above 3%, dilute its current stockpile of 20% enriched uranium down to 5%, convert half of its 20% stock into oxide form suitable for fuel fabrication purposes within three months,[3] not install new centrifuges,[4] agree not to start up any additional centrifuges that it might construct,[5] freeze its enrichments production over the six-month period covered by the deal,[6] and agree not to pursue plutonium reprocessing.[7][8] In return capped sanctions would be relaxed on Iran worth $7 billion USD over six months.[9][10][11] On July 14 , 2015 , after two years of negotiations , Iran and P5+1 signed a comprehensive nuclear agreement known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).[12][13][14][15][16] Zarif was one of several Iranian negotiators involved in reaching the accord .

Known for his role as a diplomat , Zarif has authored several books about Iranian culture .

Billy Graham's Funeral To Be Held On Friday

The funeral of Billy Graham will take place on Friday in his hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina. The service, which is open to the public, will be held at the Billy Graham Library and is expected to draw large crowds.

Graham, who died last Wednesday at the age of 99, was a world-renowned evangelist who preached to millions of people around the world. He was also a friend and advisor to numerous presidents, including Dwight Eisenhower, Lyndon Johnson, and Richard Nixon.

In addition to being a religious leader, Graham was also known for his activism on social issues such as racial equality and poverty. He was an early supporter of the civil rights movement and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from George W. Bush in 2002.

Members of the public wishing to attend the funeral can RSVP online. A live stream of the event will also be available on the Billy Graham Library website.

President Trump, Former Presidents To Attend Billy Graham's Funeral

A motorcade carrying the body of the Rev. Billy Graham will travel from his home in Montreat to Asheville Wednesday morning for a private funeral service at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) headquarters.

The motorcade will stop along the route for an outpouring of respect from residents, according to officials with the procession.

Graham, who died last week at age 99, will be buried beside his wife, Ruth, at the BGEA's headquarters in Charlotte.

Former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter are expected to attend the funeral service, as is sitting President Donald Trump. First lady Melania Trump also is expected to attend.

Reverend Franklin Graham said he personally invited all of the living presidents and that he was grateful they are able to come. "It's going to be an interesting time," Reverend Graham said in an interview with The Associated Press Tuesday. "I believe my father would have been happy with that lineup."

Billy Graham's life was dedicated to serving God and helping others learn about Him. He traveled all over the world preaching the good news and touching the lives of many people along the way. He was an inspiration to Christians everywhere and will be sorely missed.

Billy Graham Left A Legacy Of Faith And Hope

Billy Graham was a minister who devoted his life to spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. He reached millions of people through his preaching and writings, and left a legacy of faith and hope that will continue to inspire people for generations to come.

Graham was born in 1918 in North Carolina. As a young man, he distinguished himself as an athlete and began preaching at the age of 17. After serving in the military during World War II, he founded the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in 1950, and began traveling around the country to preach the gospel.

Graham's ministry was based on the principle that everyone is capable of repenting and coming to God through faith in Jesus Christ. He stressed the importance of personal repentance and evangelism, believing that every individual has a responsibility to share the gospel with others. He also emphasized the need for Christian unity, stating that "we are all one in Christ."

Graham's preaching had a profound impact on many people, and he was often credited with leading them to Christ. He also became known for his humanitarian work, which included helping victims of natural disasters and promoting racial reconciliation.

Graham retired from public ministry in 2005, but continued to speak at special events until his death in 2018. He was widely regarded as one of the most influential preachers of all time, and his work continues to inspire millions of people around the world.