The Gathering Place
The Ongoing Impact of Billy Graham
By Bruce J. Clemenger
Two of Billy Graham’s greatest contributions are his integrity
and the international networks he helped to found
Most Evangelicals I have spoken to have memorable Billy Graham experiences. Mine began
when I volunteered as a teen counsellor for a
showing of the movie Time to Run and later
in various roles at the 1978 Toronto mission. Later still,
working with Samaritan’s Purse Canada, I talked one-on-one with Billy Graham as we ate hamburgers. In 1986 at the
Amsterdam Training Conference for Itinerant Evangelists, I
worked with Ruth Graham to distribute donated clothing to
evangelists who had little. Ruth worked hard to
locate a wedding dress for a poor evangelist – in
his culture the groom had to provide the dress.
Such personal moments gave me a glimpse into
the life and ministry of someone who has come
to personify evangelicalism for many.
Many accolades about Billy Graham focus
on his message and character.
His fame was built on his effective presentation of the fact that we are all sinners and
Christ died to forgive us of our sins and to put us in a right
relationship with God. He also harnessed the power of television. But he did both in a way that transcended American
culture – a rare achievement. His simple style and message
enabled him to be sought out by government leaders and
welcomed in cities around the world. He is the best known
of the best of evangelists and is a global representative of
evangelicalism. He has borne this responsibility well.
Graham’s fame has also meant that he, his late wife and
the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association have consistently
operated under close scrutiny. The character evident in the
Grahams and their co-workers remains a model for others.
Charles Templeton, a former close colleague who rejected
the Christian faith, became a critic of evangelists and wrote
a disparaging novel about an evangelist. Yet he never uttered
a negative comment about Graham, even when asked.
Graham’s clear and forthright presentation of the gospel
and his character opened many doors critical to his effectiveness. He boldly and unapologetically engaged his critics.
This earned respect from Evangelicals. He had legitimacy,
hence authority, among Evangelicals and he used this wisely
and judiciously.
No one else but Billy Graham and his organization could
have pulled off Amsterdam ’86. Imagine bringing together
10,000 evangelists from 100 countries with simultaneous
translation offered in 12 languages (the only
common word being “hallelujah”).
Another critical international initiative was
The Lausanne Movement and the resulting
covenants that have defined evangelicalism
theologically for more than a generation. Graham saw the need for evangelical leaders from
around the world to gather and come to agreement on themes such as the authority of Scripture, the lostness of all people and salvation in
Christ alone, witness in word (proclamation) and deed (social
responsibility) and the necessity of evangelism.
The statements on evangelism and social responsibility flowing out of the Lausanne Covenant (1974) and the
Manila Manifesto (1989) are critical in framing a more integrated and socially dynamic faith than what characterized
evangelicalism at the turn of the past century.
And they are being reclaimed again in this century. What
many are now calling the missional church, a church that is
outward focused and reaching out into communities in word
and deed, is a manifestation of the theological groundwork
laid by Graham and others such as John Stott.
Now it is no longer personalities but organizations that
have this global ability to convene key gatherings. Two of these
organizations, the World Evangelical Alliance and The Lausanne Movement, are joining together to hold a major congress
on world evangelization in South Africa in 2010. They do so
on the theological framework that was forged by Graham’s
call. He used his influence to gather leaders who have set the
agenda that defines contemporary evangelicalism.
The character
evident in the
Grahams and
their co-workers
remains a model
for others
Together for influence, impact and identity
The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada is the national association of
Evangelicals, gathered together for influence, impact and identity in ministry
and public witness. since 1964 the EFC has provided a national forum for
Evangelicals and a constructive voice for biblical principles in life and society.
visit us at www.evangelicalfellowship.ca.
Bruce J. Clemenger is the president of The Evangelical Fellowship
of Canada. Read more columns at www.evangelicalfellow
ship.ca/clemenger.
