BILLY - The early years

As a companion book to the soon to be released movie Billy, McKay and Abraham write a compelling story of the early years of the world's best known Evangelist and Christian Statesman.

Billy covers Billy Graham's life and ministry up until the now famous Los Angeles Crusades that launched him into the national spotlight and made him the household word he is today. The book covers Billy's journey that brought him to that pivotal time in his life, his conversion, his journey through several Bible schools and his relationship with Ruth.

But it is Billy's relationship with former evangelist Charles Templeton that drives the story forward. The story of Billy Graham is told through the eyes and perspective of Charles Templeton, and old friend and fellow evangelist with Billy Graham. Charles, while ill in the hospital, recounts the story of Billy to a visiting reporter.

While Billy Graham lived in mere obscurity, Charles Templeton was one of the most charismatic and famous evangelist of the time. Most people at the time expected Templeton's popularity and influence to only increase. But as Billy's star rose and his popularity grew, Charles began to spiral into a crisis of faith. This book illustrates not only Billy's faith and call to ministry but does so against the contrasting backdrop of Templeton's life, ministry and eventual fall into agnosticism.

I found Billy to be a delight to read. The author's were able to portray this iconic figure with all of his humanity in tact. It was easy to discover within the pages of the book that Billy, was a real person, with real dreams and challenges, but who was willing to do and go where the Lord called him. Billy's call as an evangelist wasn't clear from the very beginning. Billy, a boy who wanted to be a baseball player, who then thought he would be a pastor and then seminary president, found himself thrust into the world as one of the most influential evangelists that the world has ever seen.

Even if you think you know about the life of Billy Graham, this book adds another dimension to understanding this amazing man of God.

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