Sharon Sullivan, RN | December 23, 2024 | SHARE: 
In November of 2024, I visited the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, NC for the first time. It was a cold rainy day, but the Christmas décor was on display and the kind-heartedness of the volunteers and staff made it feel like coming home. The library, full of precious memorabilia, tells the history of Graham’s remarkable life and ministry, which traversed the globe and spanned more than 55 years. What God accomplished through Reverend Billy Graham is nothing short of astounding, and a testament to the phrase, “one man can make a difference.”
During his career, Billy Graham preached to an estimated 215 million people world-wide in person (and an estimated 2.2 billion through television and technology), bringing “the Light” to a dark world. Through his ministries, an estimated 2.2 million souls made the decision to believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior! It’s an astonishing number. Can you envision the impact this has had on our world?
Graham has been called “America’s Pastor,” the “pastor to presidents,” and in 2013, through Senate Resolution 196, he was given the title “North Carolina’s Favorite Son” by the NC Legislature. The resolution honored both Billy and his late wife Ruth for their ministry and impact on the state and the world. Billy’s life was extraordinary and his legacy is vast. Ruth and Billy Graham raised five children, all of whom entered into ministry. Today they continue to share the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. Like their parents, they are shining light into a dark and lost world.
Certainly not all Christians are called to a global ministry. God blesses us all with our own unique gifts, butBiblically speaking, we are all called to a ministry of some sort. The Bible tells us that after His resurrection, before Jesus ascended to Heaven, He gave the Great Commission to, “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Mt 28:19-20, NIV) What this command looks like in action is different for each follower of Christ—but the calling is the same for us all—we must share the good news of salvation through Christ Jesus with others. We must be lights in the darkness too, wherever God has placed us.
The Billy Graham Library is full of beautiful examples of lives changed forever through the saving grace of Jesus Christ. The impact of these changed lives is infinite and eternal. One of my favorite parts of the library is a display that features Graham’s impact on State Representative Dean Arp (R-Union) and former State Representative Dr. Bert Jones. Rep. Arp’s mother was saved at one of Rev. Graham’s Crusades. By God’s grace, Rep. Arp, his wife Anne, and their children are all also followers of Christ. Rep. Arp has faithfully served in the North Carolina General Assembly since 2013, and the state is better because of his strong commitment to Christ and to the people of North Carolina.
Former representative Bert Jones also credits Billy Graham’s ministry for leading him to Christ. Dr. Jones served in the State House from 2011-2019. After retiring from the state legislature, he went on to become the state minister for the North Carolina Capitol Commission. In this role, Dr. Jones shares the Word of God with state legislators and others in the capital community. Both Rep. Arp and Dr. Bert Jones are bringing light to the world where they serve and, as North Carolinians, we all reap the benefits.
In 2015, in recognition of what God did through Reverend Graham in this state, country, and around the world, the North Carolina General assembly passed HB 540—Billy Graham/National Statuary Hall. The bill requested that a statue of Reverend Graham be commissioned and placed in the U.S. Capitol to represent North Carolina in Statuary Hall. The bill said, “There have been many great North Carolinians, but few have impacted the world more than Billy Graham.” The significance of this statue is profound as each state only gets 2 statues in the US Capitol. Rep. Arp and his wife Anne were guests at the unveiling of the statue in May of 2024.
As we enter into the Christmas season, I am reminded of what Jesus said about light in the books of John and Matthew. “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life,” (Jn 8:12, NIV); and “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven.” (Mt 5:14-16, NIV)
While the eternal impact of our lives will not be known until we stand before our Lord in glory, many more souls can be reached if we, like Billy Graham, answer the call to shine light into our broken world. Can we make a difference? The Word says that God wants to minister through us. I pray that as you celebrate the birth of our Savior this Christmas that you will know and share the love, joy, and peace that comes from the Light, our Lord Jesus—the One that made all the difference!
