Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) is an organization started by Billy Graham in 1950. The main focus of the BGEA is to spread the gospel

Gospel

A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...

of Jesus Christ to as many people as possible. BGEA does this through a variety of ways, including Graham's trademark "crusade"-style ministry, with large gatherings in major metropolitan areas; evangelism training; youth outreach; disaster response; television broadcasts; radio programs; Decision Magazine; and the newly opened Billy Graham Library

Billy Graham Library

The Billy Graham Library is a public museum and library documenting the life and ministry of Christian evangelist Billy Graham. The complex opened to the public on June 5, 2007. The library is located on the grounds of the international headquarters of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in...

in Charlotte, North Carolina

Charlotte, North Carolina

Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...

. BGEA was formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...

during Graham's time in the region; it later moved to Charlotte, North Carolina

Charlotte, North Carolina

.

The purpose of every evangelistic event conducted by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is:

To seek to evangelize the community using a variety of methods with primary emphasis on personal evangelism
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....

.
To seek to strengthen the local church for continuing witness and discipleship through renewal and training activities during event preparations.

Graham's son, Franklin Graham, and his grandson, Will Graham, also hold evangelistic outreaches under the banner of the BGEA. Franklin Graham's Festivals and Will Graham's Celebrations have reached millions of people around the world.

BGEA's television specials are broadcast across the United States in primetime an average of four times a year. BGEA also produces a radio program called Hour of Decision, which began in 1950 and is broadcast around the world. BGEA publishes Decision Magazine eleven times a year.

In 2006 the BGEA launched a youth evangelism training program called "Dare to Be a Daniel." This program seeks to help preteens deepen their faith and share Christ with their friends and family. The Dare to Be a Daniel individual training kit is available free of charge through the BGEA.

BGEA's web site logged more than 6,600 decisions for Christ in 2007 .

BGEA began an international evangelism project in 2002 called My Hope, in which local believers invite friends, neighbors and relatives to their homes to watch a national telecast featuring Billy or Franklin Graham, translated into their language. The project has seen more than 9.8 million people make decisions for Christ since its inception.

BGEA's Christian Guidance department handles letters, phone calls, and e-mail from tens of thousands of people annually—many of whom are in desperate circumstances, experiencing every conceivable type of problem.

Graham and his ministry have also been instrumental in the setting up of many other independent groups, such as Christianity Today Magazine, Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization, and the Internet Evangelism Coalition.

BGEA's Charlotte headquarters is the site of the Billy Graham Library

Billy Graham Library

, which was formally dedicated on May 31, 2007, with former U. S. Presidents Jimmy Carter

Jimmy Carter

James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...

, George H. W. Bush

George H. W. Bush

George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...

, and Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton

William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...

in attendance.

External links

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