Remembering Brother Billy

Several decades ago a dairy farmer and his wife in North Carolina held a prayer meeting. One of the things they prayed for was someone in their area who would go on to have a massive worldwide ministry. Their prayers were answered through their own family. On November 7, 1918, the dairy farmer's wife gave birth to William Franklin Graham Jr.  

It is widely believed Billy Graham preached the gospel to more people (an estimated 215 million) than anybody else in history. He was also a spiritual adviser to multiple U.S. presidents. In an era when preachers are not as respected as they used to be, Billy was constantly on the upper rungs of Gallup's List of Widely Admired People.

During the late 1990s, I worked at World Wide Pictures, the film ministry of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. My job there was calling pastors throughout the United States scheduling evangelistic films to be shown in their churches. Although telemarketing work can get tedious, my job at World Wide Pictures was quite enjoyable. Most of the pastors and church secretaries I talked to had great respect for Billy. On rare occasions, I encountered what co-workers labeled “Billy bashers.”

There were a couple of occasions when I got to talk with the Rev. Graham himself. I met him for the first time during the 1996 employee picnic. I told Billy that God had called me to be an evangelist as well. Billy replied, “Make sure you study the Scriptures.”

The following summer at another employee picnic, I told Rev. Graham I had just finished reading his autobiography “Just As I Am” and really enjoyed it. With a serious look in his eye Billy replied, “Every time I read it, I get bored!” He had a unique way of being humorous and humble at the same time.

Billy retired from mass crusades in 2005 but remained active in getting the gospel out. A few years ago, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association led a campaign called My Hope America, combining the impact of video programs with the power of personal relationships. Christians across the United States opened their homes to share the Gospel with friends, family, colleagues, and neighbors featuring life-changing testimonies and powerful messages from Billy Graham.

This past Wednesday, Billy Graham died in his North Carolina home at the age of 99. A few ministers had prophesied that following Billy’s passing, another great spiritual awakening would occur. It will be interesting to see what happens in the days ahead. In the meantime, I’m sure multitudes in heaven are thanking Billy for his Christ-like example and commitment to preaching the gospel throughout the world.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 

- 2 Timothy 4:7

Me Is Exalted

People called to full-time ministry often face the temptation of making things happen by the arm of the flesh. I’ve heard stories about messes ministers created when trying to expand their ministries ahead of God’s timing. Jesus said in Luke 14:11, “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

I’m willing to help a brother or sister advance in their calling if the Lord leads me to. Romans 12:10 talks about “giving preference to one another.” Still, I find it annoying when preachers promote their ministries on my web pages without asking first. A few individuals had frequently done this on my Facebook Wall despite my asking them to stop. That prompted me to change my account settings so people could only write comments in response to my articles and praise reports.

Then one pastor started posting announcements (irrelevant to my writings) about various endeavors he was involved in. The first two times I simply removed his posts. After a third time, I asked this pastor to refrain from doing that. He wouldn’t like it if I promoted my ministry on his Facebook pages. The pastor initially responded with defensive emails insisting I repent for “not helping Jesus.” Eventually, he calmed down and apologized.

The Lord expects us to do our part in fulfilling the Great Commission and assisting brethren in need. That doesn’t mean we are to be manipulated to join a specific cause. God may not want you teaming up with a particular minister because his motives aren’t right. Acts 20:30 warns, “Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.”  

Ministers truly lifting up the name of Jesus (and not themselves) shouldn’t get upset if a certain Christian won’t support them. Mike Murdock says, “You are not called to everybody but to somebody.” Ministers should also avoid trying to validate themselves. As Proverbs 27:2 says, “Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.” God will send the right people to bring encouragement when needed.

Are you called to the five-fold ministry? Great! I exhort you to step out and fulfill what God has put on your heart to do for Him. But don’t try pressuring a church or another preacher to facilitate you. The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 15:20, “And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man’s foundation.” I’ve had friends who repeatedly but unsuccessfully sought another ministry to intern under. Surely young Christians need to be discipled. But there comes a time when one must walk on the water and look to God alone for open doors to go through. 

Remember when the Lord uses you to advance His kingdom, always give Him the glory and not yourself.

“If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.” - 2 Corinthians 10:17 (NLT)

A Eulogy for Leonard

Back in 1995, I became friends with another serious soul winner who was part of the evangelism ministry at Living Word Christian Center in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. Leonard Micklin led hundreds to the Lord apart from the church’s scheduled outings. Often when I arrived prior to an outreach or service, Leonard was sitting in the sanctuary confessing the word. I admired his faith in God meeting his needs without having a job or car.

Leonard didn’t seek to promote himself but the gospel. He often wore a baseball cap with the name of Jesus on it and sang praise songs after leading someone to salvation. During one outing in downtown Minneapolis, I was the leader but perceived the Lord wanted Leonard to lead our team for a while. Leonard was reluctant but agreed to do so. Later I learned the heads of the evangelism ministry were already nudging Leonard to become a team leader.

Not long after I started working for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Leonard often said, “Say ‘Hi’ to Billy for me” (I would do so at an employee picnic). Eventually, the Lord directed me to step out and live by faith as well. Leonard and I traded testimonies of provision to encourage each other since we were sometimes criticized by well-meaning Christians for not having “a real job.”

In 1999 the Lord led Leonard to briefly work for a mutual friend’s roofing company. I joined them on one assignment even though my heart wasn’t really into it (I was never fond of manual labor jobs). A short time later, Leonard left the Twin Cities area. For seventeen years I often wondered what happened to him. 

This past Monday night before another Living Word outreach, it was announced Leonard had died at the age of 71. Just before his passing on October 1st, Leonard had served six years as the evangelism pastor at a church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. 

I’m sure many believers in heaven who came to Christ through Leonard are thanking him for his obedience to the Great Commission. May that be our mission as well.

“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’” - Matthew 25:21

Addressing a Minister

Three years ago I reconnected with a pastor who used to work with me at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. One day at his church, we got into a discussion about how pastors should be treated. My friend had congregation members calling him by his first name despite asking to be addressed as “Pastor Lee.”

Romans 13:7 tells us to give honor to whom honor is due. Civil authorities expect to be addressed by certain titles. Courtroom judges are called “Your Honor.” Policemen are often addressed as “Officer.” If you were a White House guest, you would refer to Barack Obama as “Mr. President.” If you lived under a monarchy, you would address your king or queen as “Your Majesty.”  

While serving in the U. S. Army, I quickly learned to address my superiors the right way or I would get in trouble. If a noncommissioned officer such as a sergeant gave me an order, I was expected to respond, “Yes, sergeant.” If I accidentally addressed him as “Sir” (a title reserved for officers), the sergeant would yell back, “I’m not a sir. I work for a living!” If I talked to one without addressing him by his rank, he or she would say, “Who you talking to?”  

Likewise, it’s proper to honor our spiritual leaders. Jesus said in Matthew 10:41, “He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward.” 

However, some ministers take titles too seriously. One man I stayed with wanted to call me “Evangelist Post.” I didn’t object since that is my primary ministerial calling. At the same time, this man insisted I address him as “Apostle So-and-so.” The only ministry I saw him actively involved in was helping out at a local food pantry.

On rare occasions people have called me Reverend Post. I don’t care for that title because it sounds old and ancient. It’s also worth noting the word reverend appears only once in the King James Bible and refers to God Himself. Psalm 111:9 says, “He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.” Catholic priests are called “Father” despite Jesus saying in Matthew 23:9 (AMP), “And do not call anyone [in the church] on earth father, for you have one Father, Who is in heaven.” I find it odd Mormon missionaries call themselves an “Elder” when most of them are college aged.

Some spiritual leaders shouldn't be concerned about titles and just do the stuff.

“Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand.” - 2 Corinthians 1:24

In Remembrance: Steve Hill (1954-2014)

This past Monday I initially woke up just after midnight. Unable to fall back to sleep, I went online for a couple of hours. Through Facebook friends, I found out a well-known preacher went home to be with the Lord hours before. Steve Hill, best remembered as the evangelist God used to spark the Brownsville Revival, died after a long battle with cancer. He was 60 years old.

Born in Ankara, Turkey to a military family but raised in Alabama, Steve Hill got caught up in a lifestyle of drugs, alcohol, and crime. On October 28, 1975, Steve’s life changed when a Lutheran minister stopped by his house. Steve got born again not by going through the Four Spiritual Laws, the Romans Road, or some other popular witnessing method. The minister simply encouraged Steve to repeatedly call on the name of Jesus and was instantly delivered from drug addiction. Romans 10:13 says, “For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

A few weeks later, Steve was arrested due to unlawful activities prior to his conversion. He was eventually probated to Teen Challenge, which prepared him for the ministry. Steve later spent several years on the mission field planting churches and conducting evangelistic crusades in various countries. All of that came to a halt on Father’s Day 1995 when Steve was the guest speaker at Brownsville Assembly of God in Pensacola, Florida. The rest is revival history.

The first time I listened to Steve Hill was in October 1997 during my initial visit to the Brownsville Revival. I hadn’t yet heard any of Steve’s sermons and was taken aback by his in-your-face preaching style. Eventually, I grew to appreciate Steve’s boldness and passion for souls. He always compelled sinners to run for the altar. Steve often extended altar calls whenever he perceived someone had one final opportunity to get right with God.

During my second trip to Pensacola in January 1998, the Lord spoke to me about downsizing my personal belongings since I would be traveling more as a missionary. Later at the revival, I received a confirmation through this prophetic word spoken by Steve…

“The Lord would say to everyone in this place – live unsettled! Don’t sink too deep into the soil of this earth. Keep your head up and your feet moving…loose yourself of any ties that bind. If you don’t loose yourself – I’ll help loose you! Prepare the way in your own heart and then help prepare the way in others…I will return for a pilgrim people.” 

For the next three years, I attended many more Brownsville Revival meetings as the Lord directed me to make temporary moves to Pensacola. Steve Hill prayed over me numerous times although I never got to talk with him personally. I briefly chatted with his wife one time after finding out she is a North Dakota native like me (Jeri Hill was born in Williston).

While most of Steve Hill’s messages were very serious, he occasionally displayed a sense of humor. I was at Brownsville when Steve preached one message called “Just the Facts” wherein the beginning, the worship leader played the old “Dragnet” theme. Steve then announced, “This is the city...Pensacola, Florida. I carry a Bible.” He often made clever use of visual aids while preaching.

Steve Hill ministered up to four nights a week at the Brownsville Revival during its first five years. Then in 2000, Steve relocated to Dallas and resumed worldwide evangelism outreaches. He later started Heartland World Ministries Church. During the last few years of his life, Steve was weakened by skin cancer but continued preaching the gospel mostly through video plus writing books and numerous articles.

Steve’s death surprised me. I thought he had recovered from his illness after watching him on Sid Roth’s “It’s Supernatural” program last year. In addition, Christian singer Carman also went through a recent cancer scare but experienced miraculous healing. Instead of questioning why Steve didn’t get healed, let’s rejoice in the fact that he’s now in heaven and will be joined there by multitudes touched by his ministry. 

Let’s also take to heart this tribute written by Dr. Michael Brown, the former president of the Brownsville Revival School of Ministry...

“May Steve Hill now be like a seed planted in the ground that dies, only to bring forth much lasting fruit. And may there be a supernatural multiplication of Spirit-anointed, Jesus-centered, revival-carrying, sin-hating evangelists raised up in his name and sent out to America and the nations.”

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 

- 2 Timothy 4:7

A Response to Billy Bashers

During the late 1990s, I worked for World Wide Pictures, the film ministry of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. My job there was calling pastors throughout the United States scheduling evangelistic films to be shown in their churches as part of an outreach event. Although telemarketing work can get tedious, my job at World Wide Pictures was quite enjoyable. Most of the time, I talked with pastors and church secretaries who treated me courteously even if they weren’t interested in booking a film.

Occasionally I spoke with individuals who were critical of Dr. Graham (some of my co-workers labeled them “Billy bashers”). One objection that regularly came up was that Billy is “too ecumenical.” The New Oxford American Dictionary defines ecumenical as “promoting or relating to unity among the world's Christian churches.” One can aim to unify the body of Christ without compromising the integrity of the gospel. Jesus Himself prayed in John 17 that we all “become one.”

A few days ago I exchanged emails with a Facebook friend who initially criticized Billy Graham because of a 2006 Newsweek article claiming the evangelist no longer believed in the inerrancy of the Bible. Since I never read that article for myself, I decided to investigate this matter. (Keep in mind the secular news media these days usually write biased reports concerning evangelical Christians.) I couldn’t locate the original Newsweek article online but did find this blog entry that mentioned a clarifying response from Billy himself…

http://www.russellmoore.com/2006/08/28/billy-graham-still-believes-the-bible

Recently the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association removed “Mormonism” from their website's list of cults after Billy and his son Franklin met with (and offered support for) Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. At first, I was troubled when hearing about this for it appeared to be condoning false doctrine. Later I read this prepared statement by Ken Barun, the BGEA chief of staff: “Our primary focus has always been promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ…we do not wish to participate in a theological debate about something that has become politicized during this campaign.”

Although I don’t agree with every decision made by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, I’m honored to have worked for a ministry that’s probably led more people to Christ than any other. Billy Graham has retired from doing crusades but continues to speak out and stand for Biblical truth (note the above newspaper ad). So until he goes home to be with the Lord, let’s keep Billy in our prayers. Scripture commands us to honor our fathers in the faith, not pass judgment on them.

“Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as you would to your own father. Talk to younger men as you would to your own brothers.” - 1 Timothy 5:1 (NLT)