Billy Graham

William Franklin 'Billy' Graham (November 7, 1918 – February 21, 2018) was an American evangelical Christian evangelist and pastor who became one of the most influential religious figures of the 20th century. Rising to prominence in the 1950s, Graham conducted massive evangelical crusades across the United States and internationally, drawing hundreds of thousands of attendees and reaching millions through television broadcasts. His charismatic preaching style, combined with his ability to communicate Christian theology in accessible terms, made him a bridge between traditional Christianity and modern American culture. Beyond his public ministry, Graham served as a spiritual advisor to multiple U.S. presidents, from Eisenhower through George W. Bush, significantly influencing American religious and political life. He founded the Billy Graham Evangelical Association and the International Justice Mission, establishing lasting institutions that continue his work. His crusades pioneered modern techniques of mass religious gathering and media evangelism, fundamentally changing how Christianity was practiced and communicated in America. Despite controversies surrounding his later associations with conservative politics, Graham's legacy as a spiritual leader and cultural figure remains immense, having reached an estimated 215 million people during his lifetime through his various ministries and broadcasts.