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'''Billy Graham''' (born William Franklin Graham, November 7, 1918) is a preminent evangelical preacher of the [[Southern Baptist Convention|Southern Baptist church]].  Active for more than 60 years, Billy Graham was originally known for tent revivals and soon became known for city "crusades" in large auditoriums.  One of the most well known Christian preachers of his time, Mr. Graham has inspired over 215 million people in 185 countries around the world.

'''Billy Graham''' (born William Franklin Graham, November 7, 1918) is a preeminent evangelical preacher of the [[Southern Baptist Convention|Southern Baptist church]].  Active for more than 60 years, Billy Graham was originally known for tent revivals and soon became known for city "crusades" in large auditoriums.  One of the most well known Christian preachers of his time, Mr. Graham has inspired over 215 million people in 185 countries around the world.

[[Image:Bg1960.jpg|thumb|280px]]

[[Image:Bg1960.jpg|thumb|280px]]

==Career==

==Career==

[[Image:BGraham1958.jpg|thumb|320px|The Crusade in Charlotte, NC, Sept 21-Oct 26 1958, drew a combined audience of 490,387 people of whom 19,560 stepped forward to proclaim their conversion]]

[[Image:BGraham1958.jpg|thumb|320px|The Crusade in Charlotte, NC, Sept 21-Oct 26 1958, drew a combined audience of 490,387 people of whom 19,560 stepped forward to proclaim their conversion]]

He attracted massive turnouts in the United States, Britain , and Australia.<ref>Judith Smart, "The Evangelist as Star: The Billy Graham Crusade in Australia, 1959." ''Journal of Popular Culture'' 1999 33(1): 165-175.</ref> Audiences responded to his authenticity and the message of self help. Most of the people at his revivals have already been saved and are church members. For those who are not members, his staff arranged ahead of time for local ministers to steer people into membership in local churches. Graham did not attempt to build his own megachurch, and until late 2008 was a member of First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas.  Surveys of attendees show they are more educated and of higher income and occupational prestige than area residents. They attend church more frequently and are more conservative on religious beliefs than comparable samples. The thesis of the middle-class respectability of the Graham movement is substantiated by these data. The persistance of revivalism is interpreted as a functional reaffirmation of a threatened life style.<ref>Donald A. Clelland et al. "In the Company of the Converted: Characteristics of a Billy Graham Crusade Audience." ''Sociological Analysis'' 1974 35(1): 45-56; Frederick L. Whitam, "Revivalism as Institutionalized Behavior: An Analysis of the Social Base of a Billy Graham Crusade." ''Southwestern Social Science Quarterly'' 1968 49(1): 115-127.</ref>

He attracted massive turnouts in the United States, Britain, and Australia.<ref>Judith Smart, "The Evangelist as Star: The Billy Graham Crusade in Australia, 1959." ''Journal of Popular Culture'' 1999 33(1): 165-175.</ref> Audiences responded to his authenticity and the message of self-help. Most of the people at his revivals have already been saved and are church members. For those who are not members, his staff arranged ahead of time for local ministers to steer people into membership in local churches. Graham did not attempt to build his own megachurch, and until late 2008 was a member of First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas.  Surveys of attendees show they are more educated and of higher income and occupational prestige than area residents. They attend church more frequently and are more conservative on religious beliefs than comparable samples. The thesis of the middle-class respectability of the Graham movement is substantiated by these data. The persistance of revivalism is interpreted as a functional reaffirmation of a threatened life style.<ref>Donald A. Clelland et al. "In the Company of the Converted: Characteristics of a Billy Graham Crusade Audience." ''Sociological Analysis'' 1974 35(1): 45-56; Frederick L. Whitam, "Revivalism as Institutionalized Behavior: An Analysis of the Social Base of a Billy Graham Crusade." ''Southwestern Social Science Quarterly'' 1968 49(1): 115-127.</ref>

A master of television, he turned this medium into the cornerstone of his $40 million international conglomerate, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, headquartered first in Minneapolis and now in Charlotte, North Carolina. It coordinated his weekly radio broadcasts, a weekly newspaper column, a movie studio, a publishing house, a monthly magazine, and a mail-order distribution of religious objects.  He wrote 30 inspirational books, most of which became best-sellers, such as ''Peace with God'' (1953)<ref>[http://www.questia.com/read/157114?title=Peace%20with%20God Online edition]</ref> ''The Jesus Generation'' (1971), ''Angels: God's Secret Agents'' (1975), and ''How to Be Born Again'' (1977).

A master of television, he turned this medium into the cornerstone of his $40 million international conglomerate, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, headquartered first in Minneapolis and now in Charlotte, North Carolina. It coordinated his weekly radio broadcasts, a weekly newspaper column, a movie studio, a publishing house, a monthly magazine, and a mail-order distribution of religious objects.  He wrote 30 inspirational books, most of which became best-sellers, such as ''Peace with God'' (1953)<ref>[http://www.questia.com/read/157114?title=Peace%20with%20God Online edition]</ref> ''The Jesus Generation'' (1971), ''Angels: God's Secret Agents'' (1975), and ''How to Be Born Again'' (1977).

In 2002, tapes emerged showing Graham engaging in anti-Semitic discussions with President Nixon, a rare stain on Graham's legacy. In response, Graham gave a sincere apology and sought forgiveness.

In 2002, tapes emerged showing Graham engaging in anti-Semitic discussions with President Nixon, a rare stain on Graham's legacy. In response, Graham gave a sincere apology and sought forgiveness.

His son [[Franklin Graham|Franklin]] has largely taken over his father's role and is now in charge of the day to day runnings of the Billy Graham ministry.<ref>http://www.dailyherald.com/suburbanliving/story.asp?id=295087</ref><ref>http://www.billygraham.org/mediaRelations/bios.asp?p=1</ref>

His son [[Franklin Graham|Franklin]] has largely taken over his father's role and is now in charge of the day-to-day runnings of the Billy Graham ministry.<ref>http://www.dailyherald.com/suburbanliving/story.asp?id=295087</ref><ref>http://www.billygraham.org/mediaRelations/bios.asp?p=1</ref>

On June 14, 2007, Graham was parted from his wife of over 60 years, [[Ruth Graham]] (formerly Ruth Bell).  They had 5 children together and currently have 19 grandchildren.  Billy Graham looks forward to seeing her again soon when his work is done and God calls him home.

On June 14, 2007, Graham was parted from his wife of over 60 years, [[Ruth Graham]] (formerly Ruth Bell).  They had 5 children together and currently have 19 grandchildren.  Billy Graham looks forward to seeing her again soon when his work is done and God calls him home.