Just As I Am: The Autobiography of Billy Graham

Never thought that I could finish reading the whole book, but I did and re-read it whenever I want to revisit his ministry journeys. What a great pastor for our presidents and for the people of the whole world.

Good, open and honest view on a humble, godly man who allowed himself to be used by God to reach across races and generations with a simple, clear message of salvation. I am better for having read this book.

This is an excellent Christian book. It goes into detail Billy's travels and ministry. I realize his life is full and his travels are many, but this is a very long book to read. It's over 1,000 pages and it just may be too much detail. The second thing I didn't like (but it may be covered in one of his other books) is his family life, his relationship with his children and his life as a family man. Too much detail about his ministry and not enough detail about his family life and his beliefs. But a good read and it does go fast.

When I heard Billy Graham had passed on from this life, it did not make me sad. Mostly because I knew he'd gone on to a better place – heaven. There was surely a huge celebration in heaven as this was a man who had dedicated his whole life to God and winning souls for Christ. His life is well documented in this autobiography published in 1997. It took Billy Graham ten years to write it and when reading you will see why.

Most of the book is about all the famous people he met and how many people were at the crusades. It is mind boggling how he managed to be acquainted with everyone who was anyone. The chapters dedicated to presidents he counseled are very interesting. I was amazed by the precise detail he remembered, right down to the exact words in a variety of conversations. It seems he had a photographic mind.

What was surprising about this book was how funny it was. I lost track of all the times I laughed out loud. His stories of his childhood were also amusing and he reveals some parts of his young life that might almost be shockingly honest. The delicious descriptions of southern home cooking also made me hungry for buttermilk biscuits.

Through this autobiography you will come to realize the specific instances that helped in the formation of his character, especially his childhood on his father's farm. His mother's advice during his life also helped him through some tough spots.

While reading I was impressed by Billy Graham's bravery as he literally goes into all the world to preach the Gospel. There are stories of harrowing plane rides that will keep you on the edge of your seat! The story of finding 50,000 evangelists in the world was also amazing.

One of the final chapters is about Billy Graham's family and how he regrets he did not spend as much time with his wife and children. But I am sure they will have their rewards in heaven for being understanding of Billy Graham's mission to save the world. As the daughter of an evangelist I can say that my father was also gone to places like India for months at a time and I survived.

Some of the highlights of this book are the sections of photographs throughout the book. This gives a real human aspect to the book and shows how many famous people Billy Graham influenced in his life. What I can admire is the fact that Billy Graham always had something nice to say about anyone he met. He seems very fair and seems to have always given good advice.

So I would say this book was one of the most interesting books I've ever read. The world has lost an extraordinary soul, but heaven had gained. Some say that Billy Graham changed some of his ideas as he got older but this book in particular seems to show he was very firm in his beliefs. I will leave you with this quote from the book:

“The greatest need in the world is the transformation of human nature. We need a new heart that will not have lust and greed and hate in it. We need a heart filled with love and peace and joy, and that is why Jesus came into the world.”

~The Rebecca Review

It takes a while to get through this biography, but then Mr. Graham has done a lot in his eventful life. The book goes through his life chronologically, and it reads as if Mr. Graham was telling stories about what happened during that time of his life. So often he will throw in a little remembrance that is only a couple of paragraphs long. It makes for a real personal feel to the book.[return]I enjoyed this book immensely. Some chapters were of less interest than others of course, my favorites were the ones in which he described his relationships with political leaders. I highly recommend this book, especially for those interested in famous people and/or religious leaders.

I came at this book from a different direction than the vast majority of its readers: to take notes for a scholarly project rather than to read it for its entertainment or inspirational value.

Graham is a celebrity by any standard—he notes that Richard Nixon once said that Graham knew more international leaders than he did—and so Graham’s reminiscences of other famous people (especially US presidents) are of interest even when they’re not particularly profound. Likewise, having spent sixty years traveling the world, Graham includes many amusing (and sometimes hair-raising) travel anecdotes.

This is a long book, roughly 750 pages. To my taste, the first couple hundred were more thought provoking than the later, somewhat repetitive descriptions of his Crusades. (The “Acknowledgements” of this book should be read because they suggest the book’s meandering gestation. Graham’s wife thought he needed to write at least three volumes!)

Unlike all too many celebrity preachers of our era, Graham’s private and financial affairs have been entirely ethical and transparent. Nevertheless, Graham appears unreflective about changes that have occurred in his theological and social views. For instance, in 1978 he told a magazine interviewer, “I used to believe that pagans in far-off countries were lost—were going to hell—if they did not have the Gospel of Jesus Christ preached to them. I no longer believe that.” There’s almost no mention of such intellectual change in the book; and once Graham reaches celebrity status, the autobiography has a static feel because he seems uninterested in his own development over time.

I am thankful for this first person autobiography of Mr. Graham. He is not perfect. He and Wesley, Luther, Calvin, and Augustine had their strengths and weaknesses.
My great grandmother, Mrs. Lucian Durham, had his magazine in her house. I saw DECISION, the Graham organization magazine, for the first time in 1971, I believe.
This book I am reviewing reveals how God led Grady Wilson, T. W. Wilson, George Beverly Shea, Cliff Barrows, and George Wilson to help Mr. Graham set up his organization in 1950.
Jerry Jenkins and Mel Lorentzen (of Wheaton College, IL) edited the book.
You will cry and laugh and be amazed at how Ruth was involved. People world wide have seen the integrity, but also the failings of Graham and his organization.
He has been an answer to prayer. I am disappointed that the Billy Graham Schools of Evangelism are no longer held. Thousands of us attended in many parts of the world.
Dr. Robert E. Coleman, my professor near Chicago, for seminary, was dean for a number of years, for the overseas schools of evangelism. I attended, with others, in South Bend, IND, Washington, D. C., Asheville, N. C., and Baltimore, MD.
Rick Warren has taken his mantle. Franklin, his son, and Will, his grandson, and other family have shared simple Bible teaching also, in many places. Will is in Africa
right now. Franklin will be, God willing, in Iceland and Thailand this year. Quinn, Will's son, will preach Christ and Christ crucified in years to come.
Pray about your part. You may be the next Billy Graham for your generation. "The Lord will lead you!" Isaiah 58:11
You are praying. You are learning. Pray as you read this book. The Holy Spirit will show you and teach you from Billy and Ruth Graham and their staff in MN,
NC, and worldwide as you read, as you humbly read with a humble and teachable heart. Maybe you are in prison, for your faith or due to crime. You can learn, too.

I have known of Billy Graham virtually my entire life. He has always been one of those out in the limelight within the evangelical Christian circles in which I was raised. It was nice to read of his life, how he became who he is, and how he has dealt with being sent in a direction he never intended as a young person. I have always admired the integrity that has been shown within his ministry, especially after so many "ministries" came crashing down due to poor moral choices regarding money, the opposite sex, and unwise dealings with power and fame. I appreciated Mr. Graham's honesty about his mistakes and regrets. Yet, he never wavers from his burden of carrying the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ into the world. Recently, Mr. Graham has come under attack from ultra-conservatice Christians as supposedly claiming that there are other ways into the presence of God other than thru Jesus Christ. That is bunk. I don't care whatever sound bite these folks may have yanked out of context. Read the man's testimony and his uncompromising statements regarding salvation. How dare they question this man's relationship to God. May any of us have lived with such integrity and obedience.

A lifelong warrior for the Lord through his gentleness and love for humanity, Billy Graham has never given up on people, nor condemned them. He has always taught the love of God. His autobiography is a precious look at his life, not the usual accomplishment filled ego trip most autobiographies turn out to be. This book will touch your heart, it touched mine. I also found great help in a book by Lin Tomasso which I recently downloaded to my laptop. It's called Prayer Warrior: How to Get Your Prayers Answered. I paid $2.99 for it at smashwords.com. You can download it to your computer or any device, nothing special needed. The author is straight forward and funny, and will have you laughing at her real life experiences-she puts on no airs. Thanks to her book, I learned how to pray correctly. There's a formula for prayer which actually produces results, so if you're going to pray, you'd might as well do it right. I'm seeing positive results now since I corrected my former errors. I highly recommend both books, and I want to say again that Lin Tomasso's Prayer Warrior: How to Get Your Prayers Answered at smashwords.com will truly help you get your prayers answered so I’m spreading the word so that others can receive the benefits I have. I believe both these books will help every reader.

I really enjoyed this book. Dr. William Franklin Graham, Jr. (Billy Graham hereafter) is one of the most influential American Christian evangelists of the 20th Century and ranks on the list of most influential Christians with the likes of the Apostle Paul (lived during the first century AD; executed in Rome in about 67 AD).
Graham takes you through his life from his early childhood in North Carolina, to College, and then to his unprecedented ministry. The general tone of the book is similar to a conversation by a fireplace, talking long into the night and recalling with a smile the great events of the past. Graham's style is highly readable; one never gets lost in the text.
The only time I have ever seen Mr. Graham in person was when he came to Toronto in 1995. He has traveled more than any person I have ever read or heard about; he has been to every one of the 50 American States several times, to Europe (Western and Eastern; Eastern Europe during the Cold War), to Africa, to the Middle East, India, Asia, Japan and Australia. He has also personally met with and often counseled every US President since President Truman (mid-1940's, right after World War II) to President Clinton (to 1997). There are chapters on numerous US Presidents and Graham's relationship with them (he always acted as a pastor and a personal friend; never as a political adviser or a partisan).
Dr. Graham was also been a great pioneer in the ecumenical (different Christian denominations working together) and inter-faith (different religions working together) co-operation movements YET he never comprised the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Graham's unwavering service to Jesus Christ and his simply amazingly high degree of personal and organizational integrity really impressed me. Graham has been very influential in founding schools of evangelism, founding the magazine, "Christianity Today," and, of course, bringing thousands upon thousands to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.
Dr. Graham has also been a pioneer in healing the great racial divide that still permeates the United States. Indeed, during the 1950's and 1960's, Dr. Graham was one of the first white leaders to oppose segregation; he refused to preach to segregated audiences. Dr. Graham was also a friend of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and desperately wanted to attend King's funeral but unfortunately he was doing a series of Crusades (preaching the Gospel in organized city-wide efforts) in Australia at the time and so was unable to attend.
Another interesting part was his tours of Asia. His wife, Ruth, was originally born in China to American missionary parents and only left in her late teens to go to America because of the Japanese invasion of World War II. The couple went back to visit Ruth's home and the medical compound that it was situated in during the early 1980's. Later, in 1992, Billy Graham was one of the first Westerners to travel to North Korea since the Korean War of the 1950's. Ruth had attended summer school here during her time in China; that fact no doubt helped Graham into the country. Graham made an effort to make some initial steps toward some state of reconciliation (he conveyed a message from the US President to the President of North Korea and vice-versa). Despite this, Graham has always been an Ambassador for the King of Kings, first and foremost, that is to say Jesus Christ. By the way, there are numerous photographs throughout the book documenting Graham's meeting with such persons as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II, numerous US Presidents and, of course, his large family. In addition, there is a bibliography of books by Graham at the end of the book. The two final sections list all the places he has traveled to by year and a complete index to facilitate looking up references to people or places.
There is one poignant section I would really like to quote. The setting in 1945 or 1946 in Western Germany; a land totally shattered and defeated in the aftermath of World War II. Dr. Graham is alone in the office of Chancellor Konrad Adenauer (leader of Western Germany)
"Ever more memorable was German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer. One time when I was preaching in Germany, he invited me to his office. Coffee was served, but before my first sip, he started in. `Young man, do you believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ?' `I most certainly do,' I replied. `So do I. If Jesus Christ is not risen from the dead, there is not one glimmer of hope for the human race. When I leave office, I'm going to spend the rest of my life studying and writing about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It's the most important event in history.'"
One last note, despite his many incredible accomplishments, Graham keeps a great sense of humility and gratitude to God. Many lesser people would let such an amazing life go to their head but Billy Graham stays humble in such way that deserves to be followed by Christians everywhere. Graham finishes the main text of the book with a retelling of the essential, unchanging message of the Gospel and ends his acknowledgements with the Latin words: Soli Deo Gloria (To God alone be the glory).

Not terribly deep in terms of spirituality, but there's a lot of wisdom that could, certainly, be applied to the practical side of ministry.
The other major value I derived from it is the interesting historical perspective, and coming from a man whose life and ministry has helped to define so much of modern evangelicalism I'd say its definately full worthy of the read. I particularly enjoyed some of his perspectives on Nixon, and surely God has used this man to open up doors for the Word of God to penetrate several communist nations, such as Hungary, North Korea, and China (though indegenous underground Christians in such nations have been thriving under the boot of their oppressors since the overtaking of each (Check out some information on Pastor Hsi(from before Mao's takeover), Watchman Nee, Nora Lam, and Brother Yun as examples of Christians in China, for example), Graham was an excellent religious figurehead of the West to such nations, as he was widely accepted by the political heads of America, as well as many other Western nations).
Dr. Graham was an evangelist, and his ministry seems to have done well one of the major roles of that particular venue of ministry: publish the gospel, and get the door opened for God's word in the hearts of the lost.

Graham has risen from his backwoods roots in the days when he made statements about everyone having luxury cars in Heaven (where they'd travel on streets paved with gold) to a more mature evangelical version of an elder statesman. The man who once reportedly confessed in a taped conversation with President Nixon to believing all Jews were damned, went on to become a cautious proponent of ecumenism beloved by men and women of all faiths, from the Queen of England to Pope John Paul II. Despite having lived a life that has taken Graham around the globe an estimated 1,100times (!!!) and seen him preach his faith in front of several score million, this man radiates a touching modesty that is very lacking in our present-day society, where the famous are too often the infamous. In this autobiographical account of the highlights of his amazing life, this "Baptist Pope" tells of his relationships with a half-dozen US Presidents and with witnessing a simultaneous rebirth of spiritualism in America, while beholding a decline in common morals that he finds almost disheartening. Near the conclusion of this memoir, the Reverend Graham discusses his hopes for the future of an America made better by a common obedience to a righteous God, and he testifies to an optimism that should be admired by all.

Graham's autobiography is refreshingly candid and the author pulls no punches over the struggles he experienced while growing up and resisting the call to the ministry.
The writing style is simple and unpretentious, just like the author! Among the many interesting experiences in his life mentioned in the book include:
1. Growing up in the Charlotte NC area and his salvation experience while attending a revival.
2. The struggles of resisting the call to ministry and wondering why God would choose him.
3. The work involved in preparing for his crusades and the resulting fruits of his labor.
4. Friendships with presidents, heads of state, celebrities, and the common person.
5. Relationships with his family and struggles they faced when he was away from home.
6. Development and expansion of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
7. Early days at Youth for Christ and college.
8. Courtship of Ruth Bell.
After reading this wonderful book, is it any wonder why God would use a humble and ordinary man to draw millions to Jesus Christ?
Read the book and be encouraged!

This long but well-written book takes you through the life of Billy Graham. I couldn't put it down and read it over about 2 weeks despite its length (700 plus pages!!). Some reviewers say he is arrogant for "dropping important names" so frequently. But these are just the plain and simple facts. Billy Graham had incredible opportunities to preach all over the world and met many important world leaders and figures. He was (and is) highly respected by just about everyone, and has managed to remain a humble and simple-living man. He doesn't hesitate in the book to admit when he made a mistake in judgment or should have handled a situation differently. He and his main ministry assistants kept very high standards of accountability among themselves. Much of the book focuses on his crusade ministry and world travels. But in the final chapters of the book, he does get more personal and mentions some of the problems and challenges there were for his family because he traveled so much of the time. Long but worth the read!

The most prolific evangelist in Christian history, a pastor to the Presidents, and a Christian man of integrity -- this is Billy Graham. Or, at least that is how most people see him. Here we have the story of his life, from his simple farm-boy beginnings, through his tent revival conversion, his college days and marriage to Ruth, his early fiery and outspoken preaching days, his years of global ministry and maturity, and ending today, as a respected man of God by virtually everyone in the world.
The story is told with an easy-going pace and reading it you have to smile at Graham's style, which is honest, humorous, and very... normal. It's really amazing to see how God took this average fellow and used him in such amazing ways. This book is also a treasury for any other pastor, evangelist, or other person who wishes to live a life of integrity. Graham relates a wealth of wisdom gained from experience that the church would be wise to remember. We would all do well to remember Billy, and to honor his legacy by remembering his life and everything that he stood for. Just As I Am is an autobiographical masterpiece from a man I deeply respect.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I always have respected Billy Graham and admired his work, but now I have been provided insight into his heart and soul. Beginning with his childhood, Graham describes how God worked in his life to take him to international prominence as an evangelist. He is undoubtedly the greatest evangelist of the 20th century, and the events described in this book are nothing short of miraculous. Many of us grew up with Billy Graham, and may have simply taken his ministry for granted. Here in this volume however, we see how God was moving powerfully through a humble, single-minded Baptist preacher to shake the world for Christ. If you have a heart for evangelism, you won't want to miss this book. If you don't have a heart for evangelism, then reading this book may very well change your priorities. This title already is quickly becoming a classic.

Billy Graham is a testament to what can happen to any person if they get in line with what God wants them to do with their life. I read this book in preperation for doing ministry and it has inpsired me to help serve the world through a ministry position. I am thankful that I was alive while Billy Graham was alive, he is an amazing man, with an amazing story.
You cannot help but read this book and be moved. This man, who continues to share the Gospel into his 80's is a living saint. This comprehensive work is filled with story after story of how Billy and his team traveled around the world and shared Christ with many different kinds of people.
One highlight of this book is how many governments would not even communicate at all with our government, but they would let Billy Graham come as a messenger of hope, this, was a moving part of this work.
Thanks to Billy Graham for the impact his life had, and continues to have, on mine.

Good memories of a well lived life; Billy Graham has fulfilled his calling. He writes of his foremost "...ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known...(Romans 15:20)," and goes on to write that he once told an interviewer that "I would be glad to preach in Hell itself--if the Devil would let me out again!" (page 421). Interesting that Graham's entire life has been devoted to saving souls from Hell, just as the early Church preached, but their conviction was the Good News of the gospel included the "final option," or "Larger Hope" ---that even those in Hell would be released once they accepted the grace of God through Christ (since the Holy Spirit is ever working on souls even in Hell: Psalm 139:8). This "final option," or "Larger" understanding can be found in the book: "God's Great Scheme; All Creation for Christ; Christian Holism" (2015).

Billy Graham finally tells his story from his point of view, and he does it so well that even non-Christians, I think, are likely to get something out of this wonderful autobiography. We go from the farm fields of Billy's home as a youngster to the packed stadiums and fields of every continent (except Antartica!); and along the way we hear stories of the rich and famous along with the poor and downtrodden.
Sometimes the book can get a little confusing--Dr. Graham can sometimes overwhelm us with details--but the stories of his success in preaching and ministering MORE than make up for any tediousness! Every president since Truman gets his own "chapter"--detailing how the nation's pastor has worked with the nations' leaders. And the fair, highly Christian ideal that this man has lived up to in the face of atheists, secularism, and even opposition from within his OWN church is an inspiration to all.

The publisher echoes popular opinion in hailing Billy Graham "the world's preacher," on the back cover of Graham's behemoth 759-page autobiography. There is a harrowing moment when the lowly seminary student is put to the task of analyzing the work of such a monolith as "the world's preacher." Luther, Calvin, and others before them have at least paid the courtesy of dying several centuries ago, providing an anesthetizing distance from which critique can be safely made. However, such a moniker must certainly illuminate the already insurmountable contribution that Graham has made in the modern era of church history. Considering his ultimate role in church history, Graham's autobiography does leave the reader with two distinct questions: what role did Graham's ecumenical theology play in his success and how much does being the world's preacher demand of a figure like Graham?

If no other element of his theology is evident in this work, it is clear that Billy Graham has an ecumenical motivation. Early in his life, he was willing to accommodate the theological misgivings the Southern Baptist Convention might have had by being baptized (again) through submersion. He also submitted to ordination by the SBC. Graham did not commit to these actions because of a personal conviction over doctrine, though. He came into agreement with the SBC for the sake of unity and not hindering the work of the ministry. While his Baptist brethren saw his actions as a "conversion" from the Presbyterian Church to the SBC, Graham saw his actions as diplomatic. This ecumenicist tendency is maintained throughout his own account of his life and ministry.

Graham writes, "If a man accepts the deity of Christ and is living for Christ to the best of his knowledge, I intend to have fellowship with him in Christ." (Graham, 251) He writes this as an appraisal of the "dead and lifeless" churches that are bound by fundamentalist denominationalism. Some may find the critique a hasty generalization, but it is an account that solidifies his intent to see the world reached through a unified Church. Farther down the road of his ministry, Graham often encounters US presidents, world leaders, and prominent religious leaders. The outcome seems always to be the same; Billy Graham is a coalescent agent. While his ecumenical agenda cannot be appreciated by everyone, there is no doubt that he maintained a faithful Christian testimony in tandem. Interestingly, it seems to be the ability to unite that brought Graham into the confidence of so many. The conclusion seems like it must certainly be foregone. However, with so few following Graham's example and not experiencing the same success, it must be very near to the nucleus of his success. His modus operandi apparently echoed St. Paul's desire to be all things to all men, but at what cost?

As with King Solomon in the writing of Ecclesiastes during the twilight of his life, Graham's account seems to be haunted by the specter of regret. Though a temptation, philosophical queries into the greater good should not penetrate the tension created by this element of Graham's work. While Graham's ministry has been nigh unto miraculous, it has come at a cost to his family. Rather than explain it away, Graham seems content to recognize the pain of its existence and lament its impact. Graham chronicles his family's attempts to dismiss his absence, but does not let himself or the reader off the hook so easily.

In fact, Graham offers a warning to young ministers. "Do not make the mistakes I did," he writes solemnly. While Graham's tumultuous relationship with his son, Franklin, is widely known in some circles he does not address it in detail. Nonetheless, it is clear that Graham paid a price to become the world's preacher. He goes so far as to compare his wife to a single mother by expressing his sympathy for the single parents of the world. Perhaps an objective evaluation of whether this was necessary is impossible, but is equally impossible to ignore the fact that (by Graham's own words) the success of his ministry had a nearly grievous effect on his family.

Consequently, church history has seen many important figures that have been the figureheads of polarizing movements within Christianity. Billy Graham has deviated from this tradition by seeking first to unify those with whom he comes into contact. The ecumenical agenda does not satisfy everyone and will not solve the world's problems, however, it sets Graham apart as a man who seems to have started a trend to take the best of the Reformation's outcomes and reconcile its atrocities. The hope of unification comes with a warning, though. Everything costs, and it seems that world-changing events are purchased at a higher cost than others. God's hand surely, inevitably protected Graham's family, but Graham's own words should be heeded by any would be "world's preachers."

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I always have respected Billy Graham and admired his work, but now I have been provided insight into his heart and soul. Beginning with his childhood, Graham describes how God worked in his life to take him to international prominence as an evangelist. He is undoubtedly the greatest evangelist of the 20th century, and the events described in this book are nothing short of miraculous. Many of us grew up with Billy Graham, and may have simply taken his ministry for granted. Here in this volume however, we see how God was moving powerfully through a humble, single-minded Baptist preacher to shake the world for Christ. If you have a heart for evangelism, you won't want to miss this book. If you don't have a heart for evangelism, then reading this book may very well change your priorities. This title already is quickly becoming a classic.

Billy Graham is a testament to what can happen to any person if they get in line with what God wants them to do with their life. I read this book in preperation for doing ministry and it has inpsired me to help serve the world through a ministry position. I am thankful that I was alive while Billy Graham was alive, he is an amazing man, with an amazing story.
You cannot help but read this book and be moved. This man, who continues to share the Gospel into his 80's is a living saint. This comprehensive work is filled with story after story of how Billy and his team traveled around the world and shared Christ with many different kinds of people.
One highlight of this book is how many governments would not even communicate at all with our government, but they would let Billy Graham come as a messenger of hope, this, was a moving part of this work.
Thanks to Billy Graham for the impact his life had, and continues to have, on mine.

Good memories of a well lived life; Billy Graham has fulfilled his calling. He writes of his foremost "...ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known...(Romans 15:20)," and goes on to write that he once told an interviewer that "I would be glad to preach in Hell itself--if the Devil would let me out again!" (page 421). Interesting that Graham's entire life has been devoted to saving souls from Hell, just as the early Church preached, but their conviction was the Good News of the gospel included the "final option," or "Larger Hope" ---that even those in Hell would be released once they accepted the grace of God through Christ (since the Holy Spirit is ever working on souls even in Hell: Psalm 139:8). This "final option," or "Larger" understanding can be found in the book: "God's Great Scheme; All Creation for Christ; Christian Holism" (2015).

Billy Graham finally tells his story from his point of view, and he does it so well that even non-Christians, I think, are likely to get something out of this wonderful autobiography. We go from the farm fields of Billy's home as a youngster to the packed stadiums and fields of every continent (except Antartica!); and along the way we hear stories of the rich and famous along with the poor and downtrodden.
Sometimes the book can get a little confusing--Dr. Graham can sometimes overwhelm us with details--but the stories of his success in preaching and ministering MORE than make up for any tediousness! Every president since Truman gets his own "chapter"--detailing how the nation's pastor has worked with the nations' leaders. And the fair, highly Christian ideal that this man has lived up to in the face of atheists, secularism, and even opposition from within his OWN church is an inspiration to all.

The publisher echoes popular opinion in hailing Billy Graham "the world's preacher," on the back cover of Graham's behemoth 759-page autobiography. There is a harrowing moment when the lowly seminary student is put to the task of analyzing the work of such a monolith as "the world's preacher." Luther, Calvin, and others before them have at least paid the courtesy of dying several centuries ago, providing an anesthetizing distance from which critique can be safely made. However, such a moniker must certainly illuminate the already insurmountable contribution that Graham has made in the modern era of church history. Considering his ultimate role in church history, Graham's autobiography does leave the reader with two distinct questions: what role did Graham's ecumenical theology play in his success and how much does being the world's preacher demand of a figure like Graham?

If no other element of his theology is evident in this work, it is clear that Billy Graham has an ecumenical motivation. Early in his life, he was willing to accommodate the theological misgivings the Southern Baptist Convention might have had by being baptized (again) through submersion. He also submitted to ordination by the SBC. Graham did not commit to these actions because of a personal conviction over doctrine, though. He came into agreement with the SBC for the sake of unity and not hindering the work of the ministry. While his Baptist brethren saw his actions as a "conversion" from the Presbyterian Church to the SBC, Graham saw his actions as diplomatic. This ecumenicist tendency is maintained throughout his own account of his life and ministry.

Graham writes, "If a man accepts the deity of Christ and is living for Christ to the best of his knowledge, I intend to have fellowship with him in Christ." (Graham, 251) He writes this as an appraisal of the "dead and lifeless" churches that are bound by fundamentalist denominationalism. Some may find the critique a hasty generalization, but it is an account that solidifies his intent to see the world reached through a unified Church. Farther down the road of his ministry, Graham often encounters US presidents, world leaders, and prominent religious leaders. The outcome seems always to be the same; Billy Graham is a coalescent agent. While his ecumenical agenda cannot be appreciated by everyone, there is no doubt that he maintained a faithful Christian testimony in tandem. Interestingly, it seems to be the ability to unite that brought Graham into the confidence of so many. The conclusion seems like it must certainly be foregone. However, with so few following Graham's example and not experiencing the same success, it must be very near to the nucleus of his success. His modus operandi apparently echoed St. Paul's desire to be all things to all men, but at what cost?

As with King Solomon in the writing of Ecclesiastes during the twilight of his life, Graham's account seems to be haunted by the specter of regret. Though a temptation, philosophical queries into the greater good should not penetrate the tension created by this element of Graham's work. While Graham's ministry has been nigh unto miraculous, it has come at a cost to his family. Rather than explain it away, Graham seems content to recognize the pain of its existence and lament its impact. Graham chronicles his family's attempts to dismiss his absence, but does not let himself or the reader off the hook so easily.

In fact, Graham offers a warning to young ministers. "Do not make the mistakes I did," he writes solemnly. While Graham's tumultuous relationship with his son, Franklin, is widely known in some circles he does not address it in detail. Nonetheless, it is clear that Graham paid a price to become the world's preacher. He goes so far as to compare his wife to a single mother by expressing his sympathy for the single parents of the world. Perhaps an objective evaluation of whether this was necessary is impossible, but is equally impossible to ignore the fact that (by Graham's own words) the success of his ministry had a nearly grievous effect on his family.

Consequently, church history has seen many important figures that have been the figureheads of polarizing movements within Christianity. Billy Graham has deviated from this tradition by seeking first to unify those with whom he comes into contact. The ecumenical agenda does not satisfy everyone and will not solve the world's problems, however, it sets Graham apart as a man who seems to have started a trend to take the best of the Reformation's outcomes and reconcile its atrocities. The hope of unification comes with a warning, though. Everything costs, and it seems that world-changing events are purchased at a higher cost than others. God's hand surely, inevitably protected Graham's family, but Graham's own words should be heeded by any would be "world's preachers."

"Just as I am" reveals the grace of God, illustrated by the life of Billy Graham. Graham is refreshingly honest and humble about his life's purpose and God's will. His life is evidence of what a human is capable of if he/she lets God take control.
It's an amazing testimony of one man's journey from a humble farm boy to an international preacher. As a political science nut I was fascinated by his interactions with so many US Presidents. Billy Graham has truly influenced the path of our nation, and therefore, the world.
Yet this book is careful to point out that his success is not due to Billy Graham, but God working through Graham's life. Everyone who reads this book must consider the "Hour of Decision." Billy Graham's testimony demands that apathy is not a choice in the decision regarding eternity.

Christian or not, you'll enjoy Graham's encounters with world leaders, American presidents, and those he has impacted in his many large worldwide crusades. Always gracious and never malicious, Graham gives his impressions of American presidents from Truman to Clinton. Christian readers will be impressed and uplifted by Graham's accounts of God's hand in opening doors for preaching the gospel despite many obstacles and organized opposition. It was gratifying to read accounts of men and women whose lives were changed by his preaching and his traditional calls for committments to Christ every campaign evening. Though some evangelists have been discredited over the years, Billy Graham has remained clean and honest in representing the gospel of Christ's salvation.

This amazing autobiography takes the reader from childhood to nearly 80 years old. Showed me exactly what this man is made of, being perhaps one of the most recognizable figures of the twentieth century, and how incredibly humble he was, truly giving all glory to God. He gave personal insight into so many candid relationships he had with US presidents, royalty, entertainers, and others in the spotlight. He went into amazing details of his crusades all over the world, obstacles faced in many countries closed off to Christianity, and magnificent victories for the Gospel. It is so incredible how many lives have been touched by this man and the BGEA. He suffered many bouts of serious illness, caused often by working too hard and too long. He went into extreme hardships he faced, and awe inspiring miracles that made things happen. He lived a life that was so alive and adventurous, exciting and difficult, but so rewarding. This man without a doubt has changed the course of history and left an indelible mark upon the world. He is a man to learn from, and this book helps do just that. Soli Deo Gloria

Billy Graham takes us on a fascinating tour of his life. He talks about his teen years, his feelings about women, his salvation testimony, his college years, his romance with Ruth Bell, and of course, his many evangelistic Crusades. There are many stories here that will inspire you to want to do more for Christ.
But the parts of the book that I liked most were the discussions about his relationships with heads of state. It really gave you a unique look at the spiritual side of these leaders. And in a way, this book reads almost like a 20th century history of America and of Christian evangelicalism. Highly recommended.

Unless Billy did a fantastic job in hiding all of the difficult and trying times of his life (as I suspect in the case of his troubled relationship with his son Franklin), WHAT A LIFE this man had!!! Who would not want to have what he had: travels; meetings with the rich, the famous, the wise; success; financial stability; a loving wife; great kids; and most of all, the honor and privilege to lead millions to Christ. Can you imagine the party they'll throw in heaven when he gets there? However, the book was very mediocre in my view. Very seldom the author opened his heart and expressed his true feelings...Lots of anecdotes, details, insignificant (to the reader) stuff; it was not a total waste of time, because you always get the feeling that this man loves his Lord and truly wants to serve Him. Not much to say against that...I just wish he could have made deeper remarks about people and events in general.

I always wondered what it was about Billy Graham. I found out when I read this book. He is a humble man, a true servant of God, who took all things to the Lord, no matter what it was, before he made any decision. I recall from the book Pastor Graham flying over the middle east, wondering how he was going to speak to the people there about Jesus. And he thought, this is where Christ was born, where he lived and walked, and that is how he approached them. He found a way to connect Jesus Christ with everyone he ever spoke to. I learned much about humility and being a true servant of God from this book, and I recommend it highly.

At last, Billy Graham's autobiography, it tells the story of a compassionate fundamental and evangelical christian, if only there were more such prominent people, who has done much for Christianity this century. Refreshingly candid as well he mentions his failures and mistakes in evangelism, one famous incident when he met President Truman, and it also seems to read as a famous Who's Who of statesmen and Christians, from Martin Luther King to Corrie Ten Boom to John Stott to CS Lewis.

I've often admired The Rev. Dr. Billy Graham, and this book is truly enlightening, I'm still reading it and enjoying it, as I am recuperating from surgery. My dreams indwell his story as I am carried about in my own crusade. His memories of the early years of the campaigns and crusades are exciting and poignant. "My thoughts, God, you used this messenger for your glory and Kingdom, use me."

The part interested me most is the relationship between Billy Graham and the presidents of the United States from Dwight Eisenhower to Bill Clinton, which takes one third of the book and covers half of the century of the U.S. history. He talked their charactors and family lives. Only Billy Graham has this kind of experience. You will learn those presidents from a different angle, a Christian leader's point of view. It is a very unique book. Regarding Christianality, if you do not have time to read the whole book of 735 pages, you can read the last chapter, chapter 40: The Best is Yet to Be, which concludes his faith and philosophy. It touched me that someone asked him if he thought God was unfair, allowing him to have Parkinson's disease. He answered: "Suffering is part of the human condition, and it comes to us all. The key is how we react to it, either turning away from God in anger and bitterness or growing closer to Him in trust and confidence."