Description:
Billy Graham once said, "Mother always told me to preach the gospel, and keep it simple." Mother was right. It's safe to say that no single evangelist has left a bigger mark on Christianity in the past century than Graham, with his simple messages about salvation. Here, Lewis Drummond, who is the Billy Graham Professor of Evangelism and Church Growth at Beeson Divinity School, sets out to place Graham as an evangelist in the context of 12 biblical principles and church history. The result is a synopsis of Graham's teachings, theology, social ministry, and crusades, sprinkled with personal stories from Graham's life. Although Drummond says in his preface that "positive and negative discoveries alike are set forth," readers will find little criticism here and much enthusiastic tribute. The highlights are the anecdotes: Graham tearing down the barriers that separated whites and blacks at an Arkansas rally; the village in India that changed its name to "Billy Graham"; and meetings with former presidents. There are touches of humor, as when Graham throws on his bathrobe in the middle of the night to preach to drunken partygoers in an adjoining hotel room. But for the most part, Drummond plays it straight, outlining Graham's theological positions and recounting his historical crusades from the perspective of an unabashed admirer. --Cindy Crosby
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