Billy Graham Dies at Age 99

The Reverend Billy Graham, who drew huge crowds to his revival meetings and counselinged presidents and other world leaders, has died at age 99.

Graham became one of the most influential preachers of the 20th century and perhaps the most well-known American Protestant figure in the world. He had been in poor health in recent years.

Graham's body will lie in honor in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda next Thursday and Friday, a rare tribute for someone who was not a U.S. president or member of Congress.

President Donald Trump said that Graham was "a very special man."

"He was a mentor to me," Trump said. "He was somebody that I liked and admired... We are going to miss him."

From humble beginnings as the son of a dairy farmer in North Carolina, Graham rose to become an international figurehead of Christianity, making himself heard on television and radio broadcasts around the world in several languages. He counseled numerous U.S. presidents - from Harry Truman to Barack Obama - and met with scores of world leaders including Pope John Paul II and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev. Graham did not travel as much in later years, but he still drew large crowds to his revival meetings - his last one was held in New York City in 2005. He retired to his home near Asheville, North Carolina, but remained active until late in life, writing books, speaking at churches and hospitals, and recording videos.

Billy Graham's Body to Lie in Repose at the US Capitol

The body of Reverend Billy Graham will lie in repose at the U.S. Capitol this week before his eventual burial at the grounds of the Library of Congress. The centrist Christian evangelist, who died last week at 99, has been praised by Republicans and Democrats for his decades of nonpartisan religious outreach.

Graham's funeral service will take place on Friday at the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina; following the service, his body will be flown to Washington D.C., where it will lie in honor in the Capitol Rotunda from Wednesday to Thursday. This unique tribute has been bestowed on only 33 other Americans, including Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, and Rosa Parks.

In a statement announcing the plans, House Speaker Paul Ryan lauded Graham as "the most influential Protestant preacher of the second half of the 20th century" and praised him for his commitment to "uniting people across lines of race and religion." Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell agreed, calling Graham "one of the most important religious figures of our time."

Graham got his start as a pastor in Montgomery, Alabama, during the height of the civil rights movement. He refused to preach to segregated audiences and was an early supporter of Martin Luther King Jr.'s efforts to end segregation and racial discrimination through nonviolent means.

Graham maintained his nonpartisan profile throughout his career, refusing to endorse political candidates or parties. In 1992, he even apologized for having been too partisan earlier in his career. "I figured out that I was trying to force presidents—and all kinds of people—to do what I thought was right," he said later. "And I learned that presidents and other people don't have lightning coming out of their fingers."

Even after his retirement in 2005, Graham continued to make public appearances and speak out against social ills like abortion and homosexuality. "God gave me a platform so I could spread the good news around the world," he said in a 2010 interview. "But I also believe that we ought to stand up for truth."

Billy Graham to be Buried at the National Cathedral

The Reverend Billy Graham will be buried at the National Cathedral according to his wishes. The announcement was made on Wednesday by the Rev. Franklin Graham, son of the late evangelist.

Billy Graham passed away at his home in Montreat, North Carolina last week at the age of 99. He was America's most famous evangelist and had preached to more than 215 million people in 185 countries during his 60-year career.

Graham's body will lie in honor in the Capitol Rotunda starting on Wednesday. A funeral service will be held on Friday at the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina. The body will then be flown to Washington, D.C., for burial next to fellow evangelists Dwight Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan at the National Cathedral.

Franklin Graham said his father had expressed a desire to be buried at the cathedral "a long time ago." The National Cathedral is where Graham's friend, President George H.W. Bush, was eulogized in December.

Billy Graham: The Evangelist Who Touched Millions

Billy Graham was born on November 7, 1918, in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was a Protestant evangelist who was known for his charisma and his ability to communicate with people of all ages. Graham preached to more than 210 million people in 185 countries, and his messages were translated into more than 100 languages. He was also the author of more than 30 books.

Graham first came to the public's attention when he gave a sermon at the 1943 Billy Sunday Tabernacle Campaign in Chicago. After that, he began preaching at large revivals across the country. In 1947, he founded the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA), which continues to organize crusades and other evangelistic events around the world.

Graham became known as "America's pastor" in the 1950s, when he began appearing on national television. In 1955, he hosted a pioneering TV show called "The Hour of Decision," and later he hosted a weekly program called "The Bible Answer Man."

Graham continued to preach at crusades throughout his life; his last major crusade was held in New York City in 2005. He also remained active in the BGEA; after his wife Ruth died in 2007, Graham stepped down from most of its organizational duties but continued to make occasional public appearances.

Graham was a controversial figure at times; he was criticized for his staunch anti-communism and for saying that Jews "killed Jesus Christ." However, he was also widely respected for his dedication to spreading the gospel message. In 1979, he received the Congressional Gold Medal, and in 1996 he was awarded the Templeton Prize for Progress Toward Research or discoveries about spiritual realities.

Billy Graham died on February 21, 2018, at age 99. He is remembered as one of the most influential Christian evangelists of all time.

The Legacy of Billy Graham

The Reverend Billy Graham, who died today at the age of 99, was one of the most influential religious figures of the 20th century.

Graham preached to an estimated 215 million people in 185 countries and territories throughout his life, making him one of the most-widely heard Christian preachers in history. He also became one of America's best-known spiritual leaders, serving as a close confidant to U.S. presidents from Harry Truman to Barack Obama.

Born into a farming family in North Carolina in 1918, Graham developed an interest in religion early on and became a committed Christian at 16. After attending evangelical schools and seminaries, he began preaching in Los Angeles in the mid-1940s. His reputation quickly grew, and he soon became known as "America's pastor."

Graham made his first trip to crusade in London in 1954, where he drew more than 2 million spectators over 8 days. He would return to Britain many times over the years, becoming especially popular among the working class. In addition to his preaching, Graham was also known for his advocacy on behalf of human rights and his opposition to racism and segregation.

Graham retired from active ministry in 2005, but remained an influential voice in both religious and political circles until his death. In tribute to Graham's long and influential career, here are some key moments from his life and legacy:

-Graham was ordained a Southern Baptist minister in 1939 -In 1950, Graham founded the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) -He held his first Billy Graham Crusade meeting in Los Angeles in 1947 -Graham delivered a sermon at Dwight Eisenhower's presidential inauguration in 1953 -President John F Kennedy invited Graham to speak at a private Oval Office prayer breakfast in 1963; afterward Kennedy said, "I have never been as impressed by anyone as I was by this extraordinary man" -Graham spoke at numerous other presidential inaugurations including George HW Bush (1989), Bill Clinton (1993), George W Bush (2001), and Barack Obama (2009) -He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Ronald Reagan in 1983 -In 2001 Time magazine named Graham one of the 100 Most Important People of the Century