In the 1940s, a young Billy Graham gained attention around the world by using the media platforms available at the time. His willingness to try new technologies to reach people for Christ is inspiring as Dallas Leadership Foundation remembers the can-do attitude of the 1940s for its 20th-anniversary gala Oct. 1.
According to the Randall Balmer for the Encyclopedia Britannica, Graham sought "to dissociate himself from the image of the stodgy fundamentalist preacher. He seized the opportunity presented by new media technologies, especially radio and television, to spread the message of the gospel."
In 1949, according to Britannica, after a spiritual retreat in southern California, Graham "decided to set aside his intellectual doubts about Christianity and simply 'preach the gospel,' " Balmer wrote.
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Biography.com describes what happened this way:
The choice Graham made during his early years of ministry carved out a path to fulfill his ministry call -- with the contemporary platforms tools he'd been given. Graham reflected over what he learned in life during a 9/11 message he gave in 2001: “I’ve become an old man now. And I’ve preached all over the world. And the older I get, the more I cling to that hope that I started with many years ago and proclaimed it in many languages to many parts of the world.”
Support Dallas Leadership Foundation's gala as we celebrate 20 years in Dallas with our "Help Us Do More" theme inspired by the 1940s. Visit http://www.dlftx.org/ to purchase tickets or tables. You can also invite others to support DLF by sharing our posts on your favorite social networks and using the hashtag #Give2Transform.
According to the Randall Balmer for the Encyclopedia Britannica, Graham sought "to dissociate himself from the image of the stodgy fundamentalist preacher. He seized the opportunity presented by new media technologies, especially radio and television, to spread the message of the gospel."
In 1949, according to Britannica, after a spiritual retreat in southern California, Graham "decided to set aside his intellectual doubts about Christianity and simply 'preach the gospel,' " Balmer wrote.
.
Biography.com describes what happened this way:
It did not take long for people to identify with Billy Graham's charismatic and heartfelt gospel sermons. In 1949, a group called "Christ for Greater Los Angeles" invited Graham to preach at their L.A. revival. When radio personality Stuart Hamblen had Graham on his radio show, word of the revival spread. The publicity filled Graham's tents and extended the revival for an additional five weeks. At the urging of newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, papers around the nation covered Graham's revival meetings closely."Graham, the founder of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, has been a fixture in America for multiple generations. Through the association, according to its website, Graham started the "Hour or Decision" radio program, which was heard around the world for more than 60 years, developed television programming, wrote a syndicated newspaper column, penned 33 books, and published a magazine.
The choice Graham made during his early years of ministry carved out a path to fulfill his ministry call -- with the contemporary platforms tools he'd been given. Graham reflected over what he learned in life during a 9/11 message he gave in 2001: “I’ve become an old man now. And I’ve preached all over the world. And the older I get, the more I cling to that hope that I started with many years ago and proclaimed it in many languages to many parts of the world.”
Support Dallas Leadership Foundation's gala as we celebrate 20 years in Dallas with our "Help Us Do More" theme inspired by the 1940s. Visit http://www.dlftx.org/ to purchase tickets or tables. You can also invite others to support DLF by sharing our posts on your favorite social networks and using the hashtag #Give2Transform.
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