Billy Graham’s Followers Reflect On His Legacy

CHARLOTTE, NC –Followers of Rev. Billy Graham are speaking out following his passing, and sharing what his words and actions meant to them.

Andrew Stovers started following Billy Graham and his message as a child.

‘Going to church and as a kid my parents did one of his devotions with me and at night we would read one of the books he wrote,” Stovers says.

Billy Gramhams messages shaped the was he lived his life, and now the way he parents his kids.

‘Try to live out and share the gospel with our kids at Jesus lived a perfect life died for arsons and that was the message that Billy Graham shared that’s the message that we share with them.’

Stover is just like the millions of people Anne Blue Wills wrote about in her book, Billy Graham: American Pilgrim. The Davidson College Religious Studies Professor researched Graham for years.

“It’s just a lot more there than I ever realized as a kid growing up or even as a young adult so that’s been great to kind of get to know those parts of him,’ says Anne Blue Wills.

Wills says Billy Grahams influence went far beyond religion.

‘Things that he did in terms of Technology and using technology to spread a religious message you know we take that for granted that was something very new.”

But those who followed him, like members of Hickory Grove Baptist in Charlotte, say his message is timeless.

“Ultimately the things of the world are going to pass away but only what we do for Christ and following him what’s going to matter in the long term,’ says Stoover.