I remember

growing up in one of the

oldest towns in Pahang, Malaysia.

I attended church every Sunday.

Church services were held

at the parsonage

as there were only about

twenty members at that time.

On special occasions,

our Pastor would let us

watch Billy Graham’s 

evangelistic rally 

on a VCR.

I was a teenager

the first time I watched

this charismatic

preacher on TV.

I was blown away

by Billy Graham’s

sincere and moving message

of God’s love and hope.

And I enjoyed his sense of humor.

I wished our Pastor would

deliver his sermons

just like him.

A preacher who could

awaken our souls and

not make us fall asleep.

Billy Graham had

inspired my faith 

but I wouldn’t say

I am religious,

perhaps more spiritual.

But what I am sure is that

I believe in God,

the creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in His word,

love and grace.

And I believe

in the power of prayer.

Billy Graham (1918 – 2018)

Memorable quotes by Billy Graham:

“Take one day at a time. Today, after all, is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.”

“We say to our children, ‘Act like grown-ups,’ but Jesus said to the grown-ups, ‘Be like children.’

“They asked her (Ruth Graham) did she ever think about divorce and she said, ‘No, I’ve never thought of divorce in all these 35 years of marriage, but,’ she said, ‘I did think of murder a few times.’”

“The only time my prayers are never answered is on the golf course.”

“God has given us two hands, one to receive with and the other to give with.”

“God will prepare everything for our perfect happiness in heaven, and if it takes my dog being there, I believe he’ll be there.”

“The message I preach hasn’t changed. Circumstances have changed. Problems have changed, but deep inside man has not changed, and the gospel hasn’t changed.”

“We are the Bibles the world is reading; we are the creeds the world is needing; we are the sermons the world is heeding.”

“When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost.”

“During all my years as an evangelist, my message has always been the Gospel of Christ. It is not a Western religion, nor is it a message of one culture or political system . . . it is a message of life and hope for all the world.”

“Someone asked me recently if I didn’t think God was unfair, allowing me to have Parkinson’s and other medical problems when I have tried to serve him faithfully. I replied that I did not see it that way at all. Suffering is part of the human condition, and it comes to us all. The key is how we react to it, either turning away from God in anger and bitterness or growing closer to him in trust and confidence.”

“The moment we take our last breath on earth, we take our first in heaven.”