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REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton /Landov, William "Billy" Graham at age 17 on his graduation from Charlotte High School in June 1935. In one, Graham grinned broadly as he waved goodbye; in the other, crusade ushers hauled off four bulging money bags full of love offerings.. What was Billy Graham selling But there does exist doubt about the size or quality of his eternal reward. The Rev. What a pity to confuse real security with making money. Given today's world of televangelism, Graham had some mighty competition. Bush, Bill Clinton, Billy Graham, Franklin Graham, and Jimmy Carter, attend the dedication ceremony for the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina in 2007. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Graham was notorious for never spending time alone with any woman other than his wife-this became known as the "Billy Graham Rule." King and other pastors thought Grahams approach was narrow, that unjust laws and institutions promoting racism had to be changed, not just peoples hearts, Baldwin says. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. I agree wholeheartedly that Franklins dad would not agree with him on many issues, namely his involvement in politics, especially right-wing deception that centered around abortion, homosexuality and womens rights. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. He was greeted with cheers and a standing ovation. ", Yet money is not necessarily a bad thing, according to Graham. In his lifetime, he has led many thousands to make a decision to receive Jesus as personal Savior and to live for Christ. Celebritynetworth.com reports the preacher was worth approximately $25 million. Find out in the 2015 documentary Outbreak, newly available to stream on FRONTLINEs YouTube channel. What they preach and practice is a fraud. They point out that King accepted Grahams invitation to deliver an opening prayer at a 1957 crusade in New York. Given today's world of televangelism, Graham had some mighty competition. His last years followed a rough pattern. After that, he continued with the practice and his sermons The Billy Graham Evangelical Association changed its IRS classification in 2015 and no longer has to report executive compensation, but Franklin Graham paid himself $258,677 from it in the last year before that change. There are a few new covenant verses that support it. It is godless communism versus a God-fearing America, historian Frank Lambert says in the below excerpt from God In Americaexploring Grahams early rise. WebBilly Graham has preached the gospel of Christ in person to more than 80 million people and to countless millions more over the airwaves and in films. Ed ClarkThe LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images. Formally associating with King would have been a huge risk and a significant departure from the way Graham normally approached evangelism.. This is what the tax collectors in Christ;s day did,! The Rev. The nature of Grahams relationship with King is the subject of an ongoing dispute between Graham supporters and civil rights veterans and historians. Grahams response to the epic march raises a question about his legacy that some scholars and activists have asked for years: How can anyone call Graham a great pastor when he refused to take a clear, unequivocal public stand against the greatest moral evil America faced in his day: racial segregation? Some could argue this puts Graham at odds with proponents of so-called "prosperity theology," which holds that God delivers financial security and wealth to people with strong religious convictions and practices. More:Billy Graham, America's pastor, has died. Best be ready to meet your maker because we do not know when we will die. Later broadcast by ABC News, it set a pattern for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association for decades to come: Use every communications innovation possible to carry the Gospel to any willing heart on Earth. Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. He was an unofficial chaplain to 10 U.S. presidents, starting with Harry Truman. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. But it's unclear how much money he earned over the years, and how much he actually kept. Our insecurities and lack of faith make our path indirect. Mr. Graham preached the Gospel to more people in live audiences than anyone else in historynearly 215 million people in more than 185 countries and territoriesthrough various meetings, including Mission World and Global Mission. Hundreds of millions more have been reached through television, video, film, and webcasts. Joseph Lowery, who was also part of Kings inner circle at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, described Kings relationship with Graham as cordial but tinged with conflict. Then he would venture out to preach. Those who were part of Kings inner circle, though, said they never heard of that conversation or any deal. Billy Graham, who passed away today at 99. pic.twitter.com/IsaAjgD9tN. Graham, though, could not embrace a Christianity that went beyond saving souls, says Baldwin, author of The Voice of Conscience: The Church in the Mind of Martin Luther King Jr., 10 things you didn't know about Billy Graham, He opposed racism and segregation in principle but refused to consistently attack it publicly and also refused to march with King and other ministers who protested against these social evils, Baldwin says. William Franklin Graham was born on a dairy farm near Charlotte, North Carolina on November 7, 1918. When the 99-year-old evangelist died at his home in Montreat, North Carolina on Wednesday, he was known as Americas pastor. Presidents sought his counsel. But any look at Grahams legacy that does not examine his actions during the civil rights movement is incomplete, some scholars say. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Once he retired from the pulpit, his son and association successor, Franklin, recycled and repurposed thousands of video and film hours of Billy Graham sermons for 21st-century video outreach. Graham supporters say the pastors were friends and collaborators. The evangelist's net worth is surpassed by religious figures such as televangelists Kenneth Copeland and Pat Robertson, who are reportedly worth $760 million and $100 million, respectively. WebIt was during those 16 weeks that Billy earned a name for himself, since more than 2.3 million people attended his sermons. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". His sole motivation in his career was "to proclaim the Gospel," NPR reported. King would not have made any kind of deal with anybody. How did evangelist Billy Graham make his money? How his mind works is a mystery to me. (Photo by Ed Clark/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images). It is evil versus good. Graham and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association have purchased vast acres for various museums, libraries, and religious training centers, and spent tens of millions in their construction. Concerned that some people responding to the call may have only a fleeting faith, Graham and his team developed a training program for each crusade. He wasnt comfortable with some of MLKs tactics.. I think well not see anybody replace him.. Lowery doesnt think King made any deal with Graham. Even after he retired in June 2005, he still preached at his son's crusades in New Orleans and Baltimore months later. In the late 50s he befriended Martin Luther King Jr., who invited him to join him on a 16-week Christian event held at New York Citys Madison Square Garden. I want to say, thank God. "With the possible exception of Pope John Paul II, Graham can be said to have touched more lives for Jesus than anyone else in the modern era and to have extolled him directly to a greater swath of humanity than anyone else in history," summed up TIME, which featured Graham on the cover for the first time in 1954. The two clashed over differences in opinions several times despite their close friendship, particularly over the Vietnam War. He was the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Western Springs, Illinois from 1943-1944. He is the author of 33 books, including top sellers such as Just As I Am, Living in God's Love: The New York Crusade, and The Collected Works of Billy Graham. Only when Christ comes again will the little white children of Alabama walk hand in hand with little black children, Graham said after Kings speech. Ames Alexander: 704-358-5060, @amesalex. Will Harrison as Graham Dunne. They say he distorted his relationship with King, that his nods to racial tolerance were token and inconsistent, and that he refused to risk his fame by championing the movement while other white ministers lost their jobs, and lives, for their activism. ", In another Billy Graham quote, he said, "Envy and greed alwaysalwaysexact a terrible price. Franklin Graham (L) sits with his father Billy before preaching during the Celebration of Hope on March 12, 2006 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Jesus spoke very specifically about the world ending in the lifetime of those to whom he preached. Instead, Graham called for a council of several Protestant denominations, united by evangelist intent, to organize and fund the event and follow up with newborn Doctors said an overdose of aspirin had caused intestinal bleeding. The Life Of Luxury Of Reverend Billy Graham: Did The Beloved They say King asked Graham to call him Mike, a name reserved for Kings closest friends. Discovery Company. February 21, 2018 at 1:01 p.m. EST. Graham often said those evangelists, many itinerant Third World preachers who taught the Bible at the risk of their lives, were his true successors. Millions packed stadiums for his crusades. He had a personal bond with white fundamentalists that no other pastor could duplicate. Billy Graham lived for decades at a mountaintop compound in Montreat, N.C., near Black Mountain. Randall Balmer, a scholar of American religious history, said in God in America. He also corresponded with Nelson Mandela during Mandela's 27-year imprisonment. In the end, the choice for positive change still yet lies in his own hands. But criticism of the evangelist gradually receded as he became an American folk hero in his old age. WebIt was during those 16 weeks that Billy earned a name for himself, since more than 2.3 million people attended his sermons. Typically, the Billy Graham association sent in a half-dozen employees a year ahead of the crusade to meet with pastors, choose a venue and begin training volunteers. So what? He was the oldest of four children. Graham was never out in front of the parade on segregation, but he was always out in front of his unit.. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. In 1948, at age 29, he became the president of Northwestern Bible College in Minneapolis and helped the position until he resigned in 1952. He launched a radio program in 1945 called Songs in the Night. Explore FRONTLINEs collected and ongoing reporting on Russia's war on Ukraine. Now Streaming. Having founded the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in 1950, he took a straight salary, comparable to that of a senior minister of a major urban pulpit, no matter how much in money his meetings brought in. Documenting evidence of potential war crimes in Ukraine. A Warner Bros. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Additional funding is provided by the Abrams Foundation; the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation; Park Foundation; the Heising-Simons Foundation; and the FRONTLINE Journalism Fund with major support from Jon and Jo Ann Hagler on behalf of the Jon L. Hagler Foundation, and additional support from Koo and Patricia Yuen. Graham is best known for his worldwide evangelistic crusades preaching the message of Christianity to more people than anyone in history. This is where Graham missed the mark.. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. If Billy Graham had worked a work of great proportions to the suffering ones, especially in Africa, by funding expert societies like World Vision, then certainly his eternal reward would be significantly increased. The times, though, called for confrontation, King preached, and that belief produced tension between the civil rights leader and Graham. Long-time TIME contributors Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy, co-authors of The Preacher and the Presidents: Billy Graham in the White House, say that Graham regularly insisted that his crusades be audited and made public to avoid any hint of scandal, and that Graham could have easily made far more money if he wanted. And at the same time he could have maintained himself as a, say, $5 millionaire. One showed him in a suit, the other in his favorite blue denim jacket, a gift from close friend Johnny Cash. Of course he could have spoken out more forcefully against segregation, but he spoke out more forcefully than anybody expected him. While we work diligently to ensure that our numbers are as accurate as possible, unless otherwise indicated they are only estimates. His total compensation in 2013: $240,641. Franklin Graham takes pay he once According to Samaritans Purse (the nondenominational evangelical Christian organization led by the late pastors son, Franklin), Graham died peacefully surrounded by family. While many believe that pastors make a modest living, Graham was an unusually wealthy man who preached to millions of people who traveled to hear him speak. All rights reserved. They also ignore the admonition not to marry. We care for people because we never know if that person could be us. The Rev. Billy Graham Photo courtesy of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. But it is not so. I wonder why nobody reported that Billy Grahams travelling partner for 20 years, Charles Templeton, resigned to live as an agnostic. Billy Graham was on the wrong side of history Opinions expressed on this site are the author's alone, not those of a third-party entity, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed. Matt 19:31 Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. Dr. King was critical of Billy Graham and his failure to speak out on segregation issues.. Graham rose from his sickbed to travel to Atlanta, where he publicly applauded his fellow Southern Baptists for their resolution. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton). When asked if Graham and King were friends and collaborators, the Rev. $25 million is no chump change. Graham occasionally preached racial tolerance and held integrated crusades during the civil rights era. They had five children together; their first child, Virginia Leftwich was born in 1945 and she is now an inspirational speaker and author. Here's How Much Billy Graham Was Worth - Town & Country He joined the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955 where he met and befriended Martin Luther King, Jr. That's And considering how often they beg to be paid to help the poor and needy all the while pocketing a large portion of it for themselves. King did indeed praise Graham for his stance on civil rights. Theres nobody I know of who can come in and get all the churches to cooperate, Martin said. Billy Graham, the famous evangelist who preached to full stadiums and advised presidents, died at the age of 99 on Wednesday. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Olivia Wilson is currently a reporter for AffairPost based in London, United Kingdom. Impressive, dont you think? Instead, they claim Jesus didnt really mean what he said about the end coming soon. Three days after the attacks on 9/11, Graham was invited to lead a service at Washington National Cathedral. Graham has famously met and prayed with every U.S. president since Harry Truman, and among the visitors to Graham's North Carolina home was President Barack Obama, who stopped by in 2010. He responded to letters of invitation from local pastors. Few other evangelists will be able to pack stadiums the way he did, drawing the widest range of Christians. But even some of his biggest supporters say Graham accepted segregation at some of his crusades, criticized marches and sit-ins, and would not risk his popularity by confronting segregation head-on. How Franklin Graham took the reins from a legendary preacher, A look at all the books Billy Graham wrote, 16 lesser-known facts about the legendary evangelist, Why almost everyone wants to say thank you to Billy Graham, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. We should have trust. In 1952 his salary was $15,000, according to Martin; by the late 1990s he earned nearly $200,000 a year from his organization, according to MinistryWatch, a North Carolina-based group that rates the financial health of Christian ministries. This 16 week event attracted more than 2.3 million visitors from around the country and helped propel Dr. King and the Civil Rights movement into the mainstream conscience. WebThe Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) reports, "nearly 215 million people in more than 185 countries" have been reached through his ministry. And by the same token, Graham could have supported (instead of ignoring) the multiple warnings against the rich. Martin Luther King Jr. electrified the nation when he gave his I Have a Dream speech, but Even person or child in need, should burden your heart. The crusade schedule cut back to two or three a year, and Franklin took over the administration of Graham's association. His first crusade there was in 1973. People confuse amassing money with security. We need to respect the positions of God, the Holy Spirit, and Christ. How Billy Graham became the most famous preacher in America, As early as 1953, Graham told a Chattanooga, Tennessee, crusade that he would not accept the usual practice of segregated seating and personally removed the ropes marking the section for blacks. After that, he continued with the practice and his sermons Franklin Graham, the president of Samaritans Purse and the son of legendary evangelist, Billy Graham, put out a call to Christian churches to deem the day a day of prayer for President Donald Trump. Their third child, Ruth was born in 1950, and is the founder and president of Ruth Graham & Friends, while the fourth child was their first son, Franklin, born in 1952, and who is now the president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, while also serving as president and CEO of the international relief organization,Samaritans Purse. Olivia studied journalism at Cardiff University, graduating in 2010. Graham, 86, has preached the Gospel to more people in a live audience format than anyone in history - more than 210 million people in more than 185 countries. They say he was a close friend and collaborator with King, that he insisted on integrating his crusades in the segregated South, and that he preached a gospel of racial tolerance so forcefully that some of his fellow Southerners called him a communist and a nigger lover., Graham actually helped dismantle segregation, says Steven P. Miller, author of Billy Graham and the Rise of the Republican South., Graham contributed to the theological defeat of segregation, Miller tells CNN. Biography of Billy Graham - Christian Evangelist - Learn Religions He could have plateaued his wealth at say $3 million, or $5 million, or even $10 million. No where in the Bible does it say that he had to be poor.