Last Friday, I drove into the headquarerts of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, which sits on 63 beautiful acres of woodland in Charlotte, NC. It has the appearance of a massive chalet with beams and stones and picture windows looking out over groves of autumnal trees. A fire was roaring in the big fireplace near the main entrance. In the dining and assembly hall, I was introduced by my friend Jim Mullins, and I spoke about Romans 8:28. Afterward, Dell Moore gave me a top-to-bottom tour of BGEA. It’s amazing what is happening there for Christ and His Kingdom.
I then shuttled over to the nearby Billy Graham Library and Museum and was given a personal tour that brought back memories. The tour begins with a replica of the dairy farm where Billy was raised. There follows a walk-through series of exhibits, galleries, films, and photographs—it’s really a tour of 20th century global evangelism.
The final presentation is an effective Gospel challenge to receive Jesus Christ as Savior.
I want to recommend The Billy Graham Library as a travel stop, and if you have youngsters all the better. It’s designed to be child-friendly, and it would provide any youngster with a powerful exposure to God’s message, to His power, and to the story of what He has done to take the Gospel to the world in very remarkable ways.
I finished my tour with a poignant visit to the gravesite of Ruth Bell Graham. Her gravestone says: “End of Construction. Thank You for Your Patience!”
If you’re going to be in the Charlotte area, take time to visit the Graham Library. I came away very encouraged at God’s ability to use every one of us to take the Gospel to the masses of people who inhabit this earth.
You can check out the website at http://www.billygraham.org/BGLibrary_Index.ASP.