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'''William "Billy" Franklin Graham''' (born November 7, 1918) is a prominent evangelical [[Christian]] preacher.  Active for more than 50 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 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.

==Career==

==Career==

Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, Graham began his studies for the ministry at [[Bob Jones University]]. But he was unhappy with its confining creed and moved on to become one of 75 students at Florida Bible Institute, where he stayed two and a half years before transferring, in 1940, to [[Wheaton College]] in Illinois, graduating in 1943. In 1944 Graham went on the road for the Youth for Christ movement and loved the traveling life so much that in the years ahead he spent little time at home, in Montreat, North Carolina, with his family.

Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, Graham began his studies for the ministry at [[Bob Jones University]]. But he was unhappy with its confining creed and moved on to become one of 75 students at Florida Bible Institute in Dunedin (now Trinity Bible College), where he stayed two and a half years. There he came into contact with well-known evangelists including Gypsy Smith, William Evans and others. Success in the pulpit led Graham to baptism by immersion and ordination as an evangelist in the [[Southern Baptist Convention|Baptist Church]].  He transferred in 1940, to [[Wheaton College]] in Illinois, graduating in 1943. In 1944 Graham went on the road for the Youth for Christ movement and loved the traveling life so much that in the years ahead he spent little time at home, in Montreat, North Carolina, with his family.

His message caught fire in the 1950s. The mass circulation national magazines (much more important in those days than today), including ''Life,'' ''Time'', ''Look,'' and ''Newsweek'' put Graham on their covers a dozen times. Advertising experts gave Graham awards two years in a row for being the most publicized person in America.  In the era of [[Jim Crow]], Graham reached across racial lines and sought integrated audiences.

His message caught fire in the 1950s. The mass circulation national magazines (much more important in those days than today), including ''Life,'' ''Time'', ''Look,'' and ''Newsweek'' put Graham on their covers a dozen times. Advertising experts gave Graham awards two years in a row for being the most publicized person in America.  In the era of [[Jim Crow]], Graham reached across racial lines and sought integrated audiences.

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. He worked with local ministers to steer people into membership in local churches, and did not attempt to build his own megachurch.  A master of television, he turned this medium into the cornerstone of his $40 million international conglomerate, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., which also coordinated 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 numerous inspirational books, most of which became best-sellers, such as ''The Jesus Generation'' (1971), ''Angels: God's Secret Agents'' (1975), and ''How to Be Born Again'' (1977).

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. </ref>

 

A master of television, he turned this medium into the cornerstone of his $40 million international conglomerate, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., which also coordinated 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 numerous inspirational books, most of which became best-sellers, such as ''The Jesus Generation'' (1971), ''Angels: God's Secret Agents'' (1975), and ''How to Be Born Again'' (1977).

===Youth appeal===

===Youth appeal===