Evangelist Billy Graham Marks 91st Birthday: Expected to Celebrate Quietly at
Home With Friends and Family
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Evangelist Billy Graham
will celebrate his 91st birthday on Nov. 7, and is looking forward to visits
over the weekend from several family members at his western North Carolina
home to mark the occasion.
"I've experienced God's gracious love in a personal way all these years," Mr.
Graham said, pausing to reflect on life's blessings as he enters his tenth
decade. "Today my heart is filled with gratitude to the Lord for all He has
done for me, and for all the prayers from so many people over the years."
Mr. Graham remains in good overall health with a strong heart and clear mind,
while dealing with various age-related conditions -- such as macular
degeneration and hearing loss. He continues to exercise, including short walks
at his mountain home every day, relying on a walker for balance.
The global evangelist continues to stay abreast of current events through
nightly local and network television newscasts and cable programs. He still
subscribes to several domestic and international newspapers and periodicals,
from which his staff shares articles of interest. He also remains focused on
the ongoing ministry of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA),
which he founded nearly sixty years ago, now under the leadership of his son,
Franklin.
"Although my health now keeps me mostly at home, Franklin and our BGEA team
continue proclaiming God's love and the Gospel of Jesus Christ to lost people
in many places around the world," Mr. Graham said.
Mr. Graham continues to be involved with writing projects and spends time each
morning and evening in Bible study and prayer with his family and friends or
his staff. His pastor, Dr. Don Wilton of First Baptist Church, Spartanburg,
S.C., also visits weekly for times of prayer and encouragement. But he still
misses his lifetime marriage and ministry partner Ruth Bell Graham -- more
every day -- since her death in June of 2007.
"While I know God keeps me here for a purpose, I look forward to the time when
I will be reunited with Ruth in Heaven," Mr. Graham said. "However, I am
enjoying this season of life, watching my children and grandchildren -- and
now even my great-grandchildren -- grow more fully into their own ministries.
It is another blessing of these senior years."
SOURCE Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
A. Larry Ross, +1-972-267-1111, Melany Ethridge, +1-214-912-8934, both of
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
