Archive for category Billy Graham

My Story

Jan 24

Posted by Mike Stallard in Billy Graham, Gospel-centered | 1 Comment

My personal testimony can be found under the My Story menu at the top of my blog site.  However, I have decided to include it here since many readers only look at the blog entries.

All men in their innermost being want their lives to matter.  I am no different.  I have, since my earliest recollections, wanted to be someone whose life counted in a significant way.  As I have come to know and understand, a life that really counts is also one that counts for eternity and not just for this life’s journey.  Also, I can never remember a time when I did not believe in the existence of God.  From the time when I was five years old and prayed my first prayer when I had to go to the hospital for surgery to the time I prayed a few years later for God never to let Mom, Dad, my brother Jimmy, or me ever die, I believed I could talk to a heavenly Father.  Where this desire to communicate to the Creator came from I cannot tell.  I never attended a church service except for one occasion before I was twenty years old.  I can only believe that the Scriptures are true and wise when they speak of the innate knowledge of God and eternity that the Maker has placed in every one of us.

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Why I love Billy Graham…

Oct 7

Posted by Mike Stallard in American history, Billy Graham | 3 Comments

 I can never hate the man who should receive a lot of credit for me coming to Christ.  Over the years I have disagreed with him on many things he has said and practiced.  I believe differently about the details and I do things in church work differently than Dr. Graham.  But I have never come to a place where it seems ok for me to vilify him as I have seen others do over the years. 

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, he was the only preacher I would give serious attention to.  I do not know why that is the case.  But when he came on television I was riveted and I paid attention and thought about his words. 

Then in June 1974 my twin brother and I began a spiritual search to find a church that “sounded” like Billy Graham.  We were twenty years old and not raised in church.  We began to attend various kinds of churches, listening to see if it sounded like Billy.

When we came to the West Huntsville Baptist Church in Huntsville, Alabama, we knew we had come to the right place.  While mulling over the claims of the gospel of Christ, my brother and I spent two months attending services and studying the Bible’s teachings.  Then on August 18, 1974 through the message and ministry of Dr. Sam Wolfe, the pastor of the church, both my brother and I answered the call to trust Christ.  That day I trusted him as my savior.  I certainly cannot deliver myself from my sin.  I have not gotten over the impact the gospel of Christ had in my life that day.  Much of the credit goes to Dr. Graham.  Because of that, I will never ever be able to express an out of bounds negativity or downright hatred for such a man who has served as a servant of the Lord to bring many to Christ.  When I get to heaven, I will look him up and hug his neck and say “thanks.”