GRAHAM Billy (Graham Billy)

(p. 1918)
William Franklin Graham was born on November 7, 1918 in Charlotte (pc. North Carolina). To prepare for the church service, he enrolled at Bob Jones University, moved to the Florida Bible Institute, where he studied for two and a half years, and then transferred (1940) at Wheaton College (pc. Illinois), who graduated in 1943. Graham did not go as a volunteer at the front during the Second World War, decided to devote himself to pastoral service.

In 1944, Graham was involved in the campaigns of the movement "Youth for Christ 'and so loved the nomadic life, which in subsequent years only a short time spent with family.

In 1949, during Los Angeles 'crusade' a radical change in his fate. Published by William Hirst, learning that Graham in his sermons in favor of anti-communist positions, ordered his editors 'untwist' Graham. In the next ten years, Graham has frequently appeared on the covers of such magazines as 'Life', 'Time', 'Luck' and 'Newsweek'. Advertisers two years diverted Graham first place in the rankings of the most popular persons in the U.S..

They are interested in powerful people and organizations. After the biggest marathon rivayvelistskogo Graham (97 days in New York) in the number of its sponsors included leading the bank faces 'Chase Manhattan', 'Mutual Life Insurance Company', 'UC Steel Corporation', etc.. organization. Patron of Graham became an influential politician, a Texas oil tycoon Sid Richardson. During the presidency of Eisenhower, Johnson and Nixon Graham regularly invited to the White House.

Available for all of Graham's sermons have made him popular among ordinary people, as evidenced by thousands of meetings during his visits to the United States, Britain and Australia. He used television, making this mass media-based cornerstone of rich international 'Billy Graham Evangelistic Association "with headquarters in Minneapolis (pc. Minnesota). At the disposal of the association were weekly radio broadcasts, a weekly column in the newspapers, film studio, publishing house, a monthly magazine and the organization of mailing items for religious purposes.