Short Biography: Ruth Bell Graham's Ministry

[3] Suddenly, the first contraction struck as the dinning room clock announced the beginning of November 7th, 1918. [1] As Morrow Graham screamed with pain, a new and unfamiliar cry joined hers; it was the scream of her first-born son, William Franklin Graham Jr. [5] Although Billy’s childhood was not spent serving the Lord, it did turn toward the Lord later in life and Graham’s ministry was very powerful and effect. [1] Not only did God change his life but also his wife Ruth Bell Graham. She was a big part of making his crusades possible.
[1] Billy Graham was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was raised a Reformed Presbyterian by his dedicated parents. [2] Although Graham’s parents felt that their denomination was the correct religion;
Billy was led in a different direction and ended up converting to the Southern Baptist church when he was 16.
[5] While a young boy, Graham was not interested in religion but pursued baseball and Tarzan comic books instead. [6] He was very hyperactive. [4] While a senior in high school, one of Graham’s teachers actually told the students “Billy Frank would never amount to anything.” [4] During a revival one night in 1934, Graham’s whole life was changed dramatically. [5] Although Graham was not extremely interested in revivals; God led 16-year-old Billy Graham and his friend Grady Wilson to one this night. [1] It was held in his hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina and was led by the Kentucky “fire-and–brimstone” minister, Mordecal Fowler Ham. [2] After beginning the revival with the song “When the Roll is Called Up Yonder,” Ham started his freshly wrote sermon by saying, “There’s a great sinner in this place tonight”. [3] Totally terrified, Graham began to wonder if this man knew all that he had done and was speaking only
to him. [1] It made sense that when Ham made an invitation to come to the altar Graham willingly agreed. [6] That night Graham accepted Jesus. [2] After Graham graduated from Sharon High School in 1936, he attended Bob Jones College but was not satisfied with what his saw so he transferred to the Florida Bible Institute in 1937. [1] He later graduated from Wheaton College, Illinois in 1943. [5] Although Billy Graham was not a believing man in his earlier days; God changed Billy’s Grahams heart and used his life to spread His word around the world. [5] While Chinese children worked and Buddhist priests prayed, Mrs.
Bell delivered her beautiful little girl, Ruth. [1] Ruth’s father, Dr. L. Nelson Bell, was a medical missionary in the eastern Chinese providence of northern Kiangsu. [1] Ruth and her family lived in the hospital compound, where they were safe. [1] Ruth and her sister too often watched, nervously and fearfully, while people died in China. [6] They were constantly on guard. [2] In 1937, when Ruth was 17, she decided to leave her family and the far west and go to Wheaton College in Illinois. [3] Providentially, at Wheaton College Ruth met Billy Graham. [3] Totally devoted to God and what He had for her life, she vowed, at a young age, that she would never marry. [5] Although Ruth felt God was calling her to the mission field overseas, she still continued her education at Wheaton. [2] As the years progressed, she became more interested in marriage and began dating. [4] Being a “beautiful slender, hazel-eyed movie starlet,” Ruth caught the eyes of many young men including those of Billy Graham. [3] Shortly After Billy’s first-talk with Ruth Bell, Graham asked her out on a date. [5] Even though Billy Graham fascinated Ruth with his “spirit and dedication to God”; it took nearly a month before she would accept his invention to dinner. [2] On July 6th, 1941 Ruth replied to Grahams in a letter saying that she would gladly accept his hand in marriage. [1] Two years later after both had graduated from Wheaton
College, the couple were married in an autumn leave covered Chapel. [1] Ruth and Billy Graham had five children: three girls and two boys. [1] Ruth is actively involved in the “Ruth and Billy Graham Children’s Heath Center” which she founded in 1966. [5] Although Ruth has worked hard her entire life, she is still giving back everything to the Lord that He has given her. [1] Billy Graham became a minister in the Southern Baptist church in 1938. [2] After entering Wheaton College, Graham left the Baptist church and began preaching in Chicago, in the early 1940s. [5] While he was in Chicago, he started a radio program so that more people would be able to hear the message of salvation. [2] Throughout Billy’s career, he used the media to spread his voice that carried the message of God. [5] Although Graham was already well known by 1949, he gained national attention with a preaching campaign he called “a crusade,” in Los Angeles. [2] After Graham graduated from Wheaton, he joined “Youth for Christ”. [4] Being very smart, Graham served as President of Northwestern College in Minnesota, from 1948 to 1952. [4] Traveling all throughout the United States and Europe as an evangelist, Graham led very touching and powerful crusades in the year of 1959. [1] Some of the very first crusades were held in Australia. [3] Astoundingly, these crusades were thought to be the most influential and effective gospel preaching in all of Australian history, and the effects led to the Christian church growing consistently for over the next 15 years. [1] It is said that without these crusades there may have been very few Christians in Australia. [5] Even though Graham had a large family, he spent all of 1963 in a series of crusades in France and West Germany. [6] He missed his family immensely. [2] Toward the end of his career, Graham was awarded “Ten Most Admired Men in the World” a total of 48 times, 41 being consecutive. [1] That is more times then any other human, in the world, has been awarded. [1] When asked about his status, Graham only says, “It was all God”. [3] Willing, Billy Graham took his God given ability and ministered to the world. [1] Through Graham’s willingness and through the power of the Holy Spirit, God was able to change people’s lives forever. [1] William Franklin Graham is surely one of the most remarkable men of this time. [2] From Billy’s childhood to Graham’s ministry and also his marriage to his loyal and comforting wife, Ruth Bell Graham, Billy Graham showed that God was in it all. [1] Graham loved and served the Lord all throughout his career and is still as passionate today as he was the very first day when he accepted Jesus. [5] Although Graham’s life was not an easy one, we could all learn from his example and become a more dedicated, persevering and self-denying person as was Billy Graham. [6] Graham “Fought the Good Fight” and continues to fight even today.