Dad and I went to college at the time that Billy Graham was getting started in his ministry and so we have many memories of the excitement in evangelicalism as this new young evangelist began to preach and rocketed to evangelical stardom. We had heard of the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, NC, about three hours from us, and Aunt Jessie had often invited us to come visit her and she would take us to visit the Library. She is a volunteer there one day each week.
So last week we finally set up an overnight with Aunt Jessie in Charlotte so we could visit the Library. We had no idea what to expect. This is not just one library building full of books, but an enormous park which contains the original old Graham family stone home, acres of lovely park and beautiful flowers, the graves of those from the BG team who have gone to be with the Lord, including that of Ruth Graham, and then this huge building which contains all the mementos of Billy Graham history, including his enormous library, with his desk, etc.
What an atmosphere of both peace and excitement pervades the whole facility. We entered first into the original Graham home, perfectly restored with all of its (re-upholstered) furniture and original appliances in the kitchen. From there we went on to the main building which houses both the library and all of the oral and pictorial history of this evangelistic team who has influenced the entire world.
The entire building is electrically controlled and you go from room to room, being closed into each room to listen to the oral and electronic history of this evangelistic team. You hear Billy preach and Bev Shea sing, you travel around the world to Asia and Russia and Europe and of course the United States, watching and listening to what God did in these many countries. There is a whole room dedicated to the ministry of Ruth Graham who stayed at home to pray for the ministry and care for the children. She joined her husband when she could and often gave him advice about the ministry.
Giant videos show Billy Graham's time at Wheaton College and his courtship of Ruth, the many U.S. and world crusades. Billy being interviewed on US TV by well known personalities is all there to see. There are dozens of glass cases burgeoning with mementos of the Crusades and the people who made them possibe. In every instance, all glory is given to God for the success of this great ministry. Many Alliance leaders in the world - like Sami Dagher and others - are also pictured, and you hear their actual voices giving testimony to what God did in their countries.
For people like us who lived through that period of history, it was an exciting, uplifting experience, as we identified with so many of the people and events portrayed. It was well worth the trip! And we had the additional blessing of spending time with our dear friend, Jessie. We go back a long ways together!
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