Billy Graham & Prayer

This is the inaugural column focusing on faith and the church community in Kosciusko County.  

There is a rich history of Churches and Christian impact here locally and ministries that have

gone around the world from Kosciusko County.  Many recall the days when a young

Billy Graham preached in Winona Lake for Youth for Christ in the 1940’s.

Dr. Graham served as the first Director of YFC.  But at 3 AM on July 13, 1949 an all-night

prayer meeting was held with 40 to 50 young men in attendance, many of them who

impacted the world through ministries such as World Vision, Ken Anderson Films and others.  

Even during a busy YFC schedule that week they took time in the Rainbow Room at

Westminster Hotel to pray for Billy and his team as they prepared to head to Los Angeles

for revival meetings. The rest is history as that moment was a pivotal point of the

beginning of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.  On February 21st Billy Graham

stepped into eternity after 99 years on this third rock from the sun and now with Jesus,

the one he pointed to through 60 years of ministry.  It is estimated that he spoke to over

215 million people in over 185 countries with the Good News. Billy once said, “"Have you

ever said, 'Well, all we can do now is pray?' ...When we come to the end of ourselves,

we come to the beginning of God.”  That night many years ago God began using a

young man from a dairy farm in North Carolina to share His message of grace and mercy.

Prayer is where we should all begin no matter the situation as we seek God for His guidance

and direction.  It may not take you around the world but it will take your heart to a beginning with God.

“Pray without ceasing” – 1 Thessalonians 5:17

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