Evotional.com - Mark Batterson

So an era comes to an end. It's interesting to see the way Billy Graham is still making headlines at eight-six years of age. What a run! Billy Graham has dramatically changed the landscape of America in the last half a century. I honestly think it's all about integrity. He is definitely an anointed and gifted communicator. But the thing that really impresses me is the way he stayed above reproach all these years. I don't want this to come across the wrong way, but I think the thing that Christians really appreciated about Billy Graham is that we knew he wouldn't embarrass us!

I feel a personal connection because there is only one degree of seperation between us. My grandfather taught at Northwestern Bible College in Minneapolis, MN during Billy Graham's brief stint as President of that college. There is even a picture of Billy Graham with a nylon stocking over his head somewhere in our family heirloom.

One of my most vivid memories from childhood is a Billy Graham crusade in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It brought out some of my evangelism gifts. I invited several friends to the crusade and several of them went forward to receive Christ. It was a pretty powerful experience. Plus I got to stand in right field at County Stadium where Sixto Lescano played for the Milwaukee Brewers! It was a double win!