From the Author
William Franklin Graham Jr. entered the ministry in 1943 and, soon thereafter, began a series of revivals. In 1950, he founded The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, which has sponsored crusades and produced radio and television shows as well as films. Graham is the author of many best-selling books. He and his wife, Ruth, live in Montreat, N.C.; they have five children and nineteen gandchildren. grandchildren
From the Inside Flap
Billy Graham has touched the hearts and souls of millions with his message of faith. Now, for the first time ever, Dr. Graham tells his life story in a momentous work of insight. Hailed as the world's preacher, his calling as an Evangelist has taken him to every nation, from Europe to Asia, from major capitals to the most remote outposts. His crusades have spanned fifty years, and he has been a part of history in the making and friend to every president since Eisenhower. A pioneer in social issues (he refused to preach to segregated audiences in the South), he has led by his extraordinary example of integrity. In Just As I Am, Billy Graham looks back at it all with down-to-earth warmth and candor--remembering his dairy farm upbringing, his early preaching experiences, and the overwhelming international response to his public ministry based on his unshakable belief in Christ.
Billy Graham crusades have reached more than 200 million people in person, and millions more have heard him on radio, television, and film. He has been welcomed behind the Iron Curtain, into China and North Korea, and on every continent. And, at a time when many public figures seem scandal-prone, Dr. Graham maintains an unimpeachable reputation and powerful presence by managing his organization scrupulously, limiting his personal earnings, and urging cooperation among all religious people.
Just As I Am reveals Billy Graham to be as forthright and engaging as ever as he reflects with plainspoken immediacy on his private life. As he shares his own spiritual journey, he writes movingly of his everyday joys and struggles, and of his profound commitment to his wife, Ruth, and their family.
Discussing his relationship with heads of state as diverse as Queen Elizabeth II, the Shah of Iran, and Kim II Sung, Dr. Graham also shares such memorable encounters as his plane trip with civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., when an engine caught fire, and his tragic unsuccessful attempt to warn President John F. Kennedy, Jr. about the danger of his trip to Dallas.
Dr. Graham details his friendships with nine U.S. presidents, beginning with Eisenhower and including Johnson and Nixon and continuing to this day with Bill Clinton. As Dr. Graham points out, "When a president of the United States, for example, wept in my presence, or knelt with me to pray, or privately unburdened his concerns about his family, I was not thinking about his political philosophy or his personality but about his need for God's help."
This is an inspiring story of how a man of God grew into a man of great influence. Examining his life and ministry from the wise and humble perspective that has made him one of the world's most beloved and respected leaders, Billy Graham's Just As I Am is an unforgettable portrait that will be treasured by readers everywhere.
From the Back Cover
The number-one CBA, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today best-seller . . . now in paperback.
Approaching 80, Billy Graham looks back on an incredible lifetime of personal relationships (including every U.S. president since Eisenhower), whirlwind activity, and influence. In a warm, unassuming voice, he shares the stories of his beginnings in the church, the overwhelming success he has achieved as an evangelist, and the tolls this success took on his family. In Just As I Am, Graham shares how he came from ordinary beginnings to have an extraordinary life of prestige and influence all derived from his unshakable faith in Christ.
About the Author
William Franklin Graham, Jr., was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Novermber 7, 1918. He entered the ministry in 1943 and soon thereafter and began conducting evangelistic Crusades. In 1950, he founded The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, which has sponsored Crusades and produced radio and television programs as well as films. Dr. Graham is the author of more than a dozen best-selling books. He and his wife, Ruth, live in Montreat, N.C.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
During his shockingly short term, President Kennedy endeared himself to me in several ways. One day in Washington in 1962 the President invited Grady Wilson and me into his office. We informed him of our upcoming five-week crusade in Latin America. 'I'm going down there before that,' Kennedy said. 'I'll be your John the Baptist.' 'Don't forget,' Grady said, 'that he lost his head.' That did not dissuade the President, who laughed and repeated his offer. 'What can I do for you?' We told him we were having problems getting into Colombia, where some leaders warned of religious riots if we held large meetings. Our missionary friends there were praying that God would reopen the door. The President turned to an adviser and told him simply, 'Take care of that.' We got into Colombia, and attendance at our meetings was as high as twenty thousand, without incident. The Catholic President of the United States had made a good John the Baptist.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
During his shockingly short term, President Kennedy endeared himself to me in several ways. One day in Washington in 1962 the President invited Grady Wilson and me into his office. We informed him of our upcoming five-week crusade in Latin America. 'I'm going down there before that,' Kennedy said. 'I'll be your John the Baptist.' 'Don't forget,' Grady said, 'that he lost his head.' That did not dissuade the President, who laughed and repeated his offer. 'What can I do for you?' We told him we were having problems getting into Colombia, where some leaders warned of religious riots if we held large meetings. Our missionary friends there were praying that God would reopen the door. The President turned to an adviser and told him simply, 'Take care of that.' We got into Colombia, and attendance at our meetings was as high as twenty thousand, without incident. The Catholic President of the United States had made a good John the Baptist.
