Seeking others who found faith in Graham

AS has been reported in the media, evangelist Rev Dr Billy Graham passed away in February at the age of 99.

The founder of Methodism, John Wesley, famously said “the world was his parish”, and this could certainly be said of Billy Graham.

Without doubt, Dr Graham had an unparalleled worldwide ministr y that brought many thousands to faith in Christ as Saviour.

One of his longest crusades was in London in 1954, when he preached to 11,400 in the Harringay Arena over three months.

He f irst came to Northern Ireland in April 1946, along with some other Americans, to promote the new organisation Youth for Christ.

He preached on April 1 in the Templemore Hall, then on April 2 and 3 in the Albert Hall, where there was an overf low audience of 1,500.

Dr Graham came back in 1947 to conduct a t wo-week mission in Belfast.

His next visit was to Windsor Park in June 1961, where he preached to an audience of 55,000.

What a memory and wonderful experience for those of us who were privileged to attend. I also attended one of his 1966 Earls Court London meetings, the auditorium holding 17,000.

His fourth and f inal visit to Belfast was in May 1972, when, among other engagements, he preached at the Sunday evening retirement ser vice for Dr Thomas Fitch, in Ravenhill Presby terian church, which I again had the privilege to attend.

Billy Graham’s ministr y has been a blessing to me through his weekly Hour of Decision radio programme and his monthly Decision magazine.

I know a number of people who were converted through Dr Graham’s ministr y in Northern Ireland, either through hearing him preach, through relay ser vices, through Billy Graham f ilms or through his books.

In order to gauge the extent and inf luence of his ministr y here in our province, I would be grateful if anyone who has been converted or helped in any way through Billy Graham’s ministr y would please contact me by email.

GEORGE WRIGHT georgefwright@hotmail.com