Well done Billy Graham, well done!

When I got home from work yesterday, I finally saw the news online and on TV that Billy Graham had died at the age of 99.  Tears welled up in my eyes.  They were not tears of sadness but of joy….he had not died….he had finally gone home!!!

I pictured him standing before the Lord.  I was overwhelmed by the scene in my mind and could barely hold it in.   He would be receiving his crown from the Savior he had served through years and years of service.  He held 417 crusades in his lifetime…..and I was present at number 272 in Mexico City, Mexico.

I was transported immediately to 1981.  I was 11 years old and living in a huge, beautiful city.   One of the largest in the world with almost 17 million people (back then!).  Billy Graham would be there in El Estadio Azteca (the Aztec Stadium).  At least, that is where I remember where it was to be held.  My father would be helping as an usher through our church there.    He got a ticket for me and my mom.  We were way up in the nose bleed section.  I remember that Billy Graham looked so tiny from so far away but his message was so big…..!!  It was all about Christ and how it would only be through HIM that we could have true love, peace, and eternity.  It was a classic salvation message.    I remember thinking about several different things even at my young age.  The first was….this is so cool….so many people here to listen to him.  He’s American, I’m American.

Yes, the first few thoughts were very child like thoughts.  But then, I thought of Mexico and how this man was there in my second home country preaching a message of salvation.  I remember praying right up there from my perch that many would come to Christ and that Mexico would see a wave of conversions.   I remember his big voice…or maybe it was the translator’s voice….either way, I heard the message in a big, loud way.   AND IT WAS AWESOME……..

At the end of that night’s Crusade many people received Christ and I was sooo excited.    I  realized, we make a difference as Christians.  I had heard it at church but I finally understood it at this Crusade.  He was making a difference in a “huge” way but it wasn’t just reserved for him.  I could do it too….I walked out of there on fire!!!  I am grateful to this day that in seeing him some day in March of 1981, I saw the impact one man can make….the impact one Christian can make.

Billy Graham’s stage was the world and he always gave glory to the Father…in fact, I am sure he would say….it was the Lord’s stage and he was just teaching from the heart.  He always struck me as very humble and so many people have echoed this and they actually knew him.

When God received Billy Graham on Wednesday, 2/21/2018….He threw open His arms and said:  “Well done, good and faithful servant;  you have been faithful over…things.”  (Matthew 25:23) and his humble servant, Billy, bowed in adoration…wow!

Billy Graham made a difference in just my life at the age of 11….and he made an impact on more than 250 million lives (just in person) and countless others through radio, television, etc.  He repeated God’s message of salvation.  We can all make an impact one life at a time….he was an evangelist that showed me, I could do it too….

One day I hope to hear my Father say…..Well done, Yvonne, well done.  You were my good and faithful servant.  And out of the corner of my eye, I am sure I will see Billy Graham’s young self not too far away just as happy as can be….in fact, never happier.

From my small corner of the world, I say:  Well done Billy Graham, well done!!