Billy Graham, often described as America’s Pastor and known to counsel many of the country’s Presidents, has passed on to glory.
His son, Franklin said on his Twitter handle: “My father @BillyGraham was once asked, “Where is Heaven?” He said, “Heaven is where Jesus is and I am going to Him soon!” This morning, he departed this world into eternal life in Heaven, prepared by the Lord Jesus Christ—the Savior of the world—whom he proclaimed for 80 years.”
The internet has being agog with a deluge of praise from prominent international figures that include U.S. President Donald Trump, Barack Obama, among others.
Trump tweeted: The GREAT Billy Graham is dead. There was nobody like him! He will be missed by Christians and all religions. A very special man.
George H. W. Bush said in a statement: “Billy Graham was America’s pastor,” Bush said in a statement. “His faith in Christ and his totally honest evangelical spirit inspired people across the country and around the world. I think Billy touched the hearts of not only Christians, but people of all faiths, because he was such a good man. I was privileged to have him as a personal friend. He would come to Maine to visit with Barbara and me, and he was a great sport. He loved going really fast in my boat. I guess you could say we had that in common. Then we would come home and talk about life. He was a mentor to several of my children, including the former president of the United States. We will miss our good friend forever.”
Barack Obama tweeted: “Billy Graham was a humble servant who prayed for so many – and who, with wisdom and grace, gave hope and guidance to generations of Americans.”
www.usmagazine reported: Famed evangelist pastor Billy Graham died at his home in North Carolina early Wednesday, February 21, his spokesperson confirmed to the Associated Press. He was 99.
Graham served as a counselor or minister to a dozen U.S. presidents, including Dwight D. Eisenhower, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon and Barack Obama. The AP reported that he preached to more than 200 million people in 185 countries throughout his life, in addition to reaching millions more with his presence on TV, radio and the internet.
The North Carolina native found his spiritual path at the age of 16. He was ordained in 1939 after moving to Florida and later became a key figure in reviving the evangelical Christian movement in the U.S. His largest crusade drew a million people in Seoul, South Korea, in the 1970s.
Known as “America’s Pastor,” Graham battled a number of ailments in the final years of his life, including prostate cancer, pneumonia and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. He held his final U.S. crusade in New York City in June 2005.
Graham is survived by his five children — Rev. William Franklin III, Rev. Nelson “Ned” Graham, Virginia “Gigi” Tchividjian, Anne Graham Lotz and Ruth Graham McIntyre — and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His wife, Ruth McCue Bell, died in June 2007.