News / People
Library dedicated in honor of Billy Graham
On Thursday three former presidents, over 80 family members, and 1,500 other guests gathered to help dedicate a library that stands in honor of Billy Graham and his life lived for God.
Graham was a great evangelist and reverend. He traveled preaching the word of God and held many crusades. He was a strong leader during the time of the civil rights movement. During the library dedication former president Bill Clinton told about segregationist pressuring Graham into holding a segregated crusade. "He said he would cancel and tell the whole world why, and they folded like Dick's hatband," Clinton said.
Billy Graham was praised by former president Jimmy Carter for his unwavering courage in going places to preach that were so dangerous like in Eastern Europe during the Cold War. "I'm just one of tens of millions of people whose spiritual life has been shaped by Billy Graham," Carter said.
Former president George H.W. Bush also spoke about the life of Billy Graham. . "We gather to celebrate the life and work of a man I do believe is America's pastor," Bush said.
Graham and his wife Ruth both suffer from serious health problems. Ruth, 86, suffers from degenerative osteoarthritis of the back and neck and Graham, 88, suffers from prostate cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and fluid in his brain. Ruth could not attend the dedication.
The $27 million dollar library’s lobby is made to resemble a barn. Bales of hay, milk cans, and even the sound of chickens and horses complete the illusion. The bible verse John 3:16’ "For God so loved the word that he gave his only begotten son" is engraved on one of the rafters as the first bible verse his mother taught him.
To the right sits a cow named Bessie in a cowshed. She says that Graham has been "preaching the pure milk of God's word for 60 years" and she tells everyone to "get moo-ving" to learn more about Graham.
Farther into the 40,000 sq. foot library there are numerous displays that represent all the important events in Graham’s life. Pictures of Billy will former presidents, and gifts they gave him are apart of the displays. The scene of Graham’s revival known as "the Canvas Cathedral" is recreated and a replica of the Berlin wall is included in remembrance of communist permission to let Graham evangelize behind it.
Billy Graham’s son Franklin Graham says that while the library is filled with memorabilia about his father, it’s the message of God that is most important.
"God took him from the farm here in Charlotte, literally to the ends of the Earth," Franklin said. "But (his life's journey) was always about the message." He also said that the library shouldn’t be considered a tourist attraction, but a ministry. He said that the library is not about the cross but the messages that his father has preached all the years of his life.
Billy Graham and his wife are considering being buried on the site of the library but they have not made a final decision as of yet.
"I feel like I've been to my own funeral, listening to all these speeches," Billy Graham said about the library dedication. "I feel terribly small and humbled by it all."
