Lon Allison - Billy Graham: An Ordinary Man and His Extraordinary God

PRAISE FOR

BILLY

GRAHAM

AN ORDINARY MAN

AND HIS EXTRAORDINARY GOD

This is a book you must read because this is a man you should know. Through him, millions have come to know the God who loves them and gives hope. And this God, the God who made the universe and you and me, loves you. He loves you deeply and dearly. There are so many of us who loved Billy Graham, myself included, and Lon is someone who knew and loved Billy and had the privilege of serving by his side. His is a unique perspective into a unique man whose message will impact your unique life.

DR. MICHAEL OH, Global Executive Director and CEO, Lausanne Movement

This is a book that is about an extraordinary God who spoke through and is displayed himself through Billy Graham. In chapter after chapter, you will read about how you also can experience a close relationship with God.

STEVE DOUGLASS, President, Campus Crusade for Christ/Cru

Lon Allisons winsome biography about Billy Graham is much more than a biography. Not only do we get a look at Billys ordinary life which became an extraordinary life, we get portraits of Jesus Christ in almost every chapter. Mr. Graham never wanted the attention to be on him. He wanted Jesus and his Gospel to shine. In this book, you will see Jesus shine forth, and it will be an encouragement to Christians and a helpful explanation for non-Christians.

ED STETZER, PhD, Billy Graham Chair of Church, Mission and Evangelism, Wheaton College

I woke at 5:00 AM this morning and read the entire book! I love good biographies and this book is no exception. Lon Allison explores the extraordinary life of Billy Graham: his roots, conversion, ministry, family life and even his regrets. You will be drawn to the person of Jesus, who fills every chapter. I highly commend this book to you.

BECKY MANLEY PIPPERT, author of Out of the Saltshaker and into the World

As a lover and collector of biographies, I am thrilled with Lon Allisons new book on Billy Graham. There are already a dozen biographies of Graham on my shelf, but Lons contribution is a unique profile of this great evangelist and Americas pastor. And thats because Lon himself is a passionate evangelist and pastor. He gets Billy Graham. Lon loves to share the gospel, which is woven into this biography with gripping clarity. This is a book to read for yourself and to purchase for your friends!

JIM L. NICODEM, Senior Pastor, Christ Community Church, St. Charles, IL; author of Prayer Coach

I love this book! Lon, who personally knew Billy Graham in both formal and informal settings, is just the right man to introduce us to the human side of the famous evangelist. Yes, there were the large crusades, fiery preaching, and press conferences. But there is also that other side of Billy, relaxing in a chair, visiting, asking questions, and encouraging all whom he met. Once again you will be impressed by Billys humility, his deferential attitude toward others, and his down-to-earth view of the world. No matter how much you have read about Billy Graham you will discover this is a delightful page-turner. Read it and pass it along.

DR. ERWIN W. LUTZER, Pastor Emeritus, The Moody Church, author of Rescuing the Gospel

Billy Grahams recent graduation to the presence of the Lord provides the perfect chance to reflect on the life lessons, faith, vision, and passion for the Gospel that characterized his life and can characterize the lives of all followers of Jesus. Mr. Graham modeled a refreshing humility and confidence in the power of the Good News to radically change lives. He devoted his life to a simple yet powerful message, and Lon Allison shares the belief that nothing in life is more important than communicating this message far and wide. Read this book and be inspired to follow in the footsteps of one of the great ones.

KEVIN PALAU, President, Luis Palau Association

With an insiders perspective, Lon has captured Billy Grahams relentless commitment to evangelism, heartbeat of grace-filled relationships, and God-trusting enormous vision. Lon shows through his own life how Dr. Grahams timeless core is an inspiring model to study and emulate.

DR. ROGER PARROTT, President, Belhaven University

A great introduction to one of the defining figures of our times. My friend and fellow evangelist, Lon Allison, has given us an honest and insightful portrayal of Billy Graham that authentically conveys both the man and the power of his message.

J. JOHN, Reverend Canon and Evangelist, England

My two favorite evangelists of this generation are Billy Graham and Lon Allison. I believe its no accident they had a long partnership in ministry and relationship. Not only will you get great insights from this book about Billy Graham, youll get great insights as well about how to represent the Christian faith in our generation with class and power.

RAY JOHNSTON, Founding and Senior Pastor, Bayside Churches, California

There are many exhaustive books on Dr. Billy Graham. What makes this one special is its unique accessibility. Lon covers the contours of Dr. Grahams life, while finding the applicability for our own. Yes, you will learn the life story of Dr. Graham, but you will also learn his life motivationgiving himself unreservedly, so that people like us, from all walks of life, from all over the world, would know we are loved by God. Through this book, as you take an interest in Dr. Graham, you cannot help but take encouragement knowing God knows you and loves you.

GARY WALTER, President, The Evangelical Covenant Church

BILLY

GRAHAM

AN ORDINARY MAN

AND HIS EXTRAORDINARY GOD

LON ALLISON

Foreword by Dr. Leighton Ford and Jean Graham Ford

2018 First Printing

Billy Graham: An Ordinary Man and His Extraordinary God

Copyright 2018 by Lonnie J. Allison

ISBN 978-1-64060-087-4

Unless otherwise noted, quotations from Holy Scripture are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are taken from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (CEV) are taken from the Contemporary English Version 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.

The Paraclete Press name and logo (dove on cross) are trademarks of Paraclete Press, Inc.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Allison, Lon (Lon J.), 1952- author.

Title: Billy Graham : an ordinary man and his extraordinary god / Lon Allison ; foreword by Dr. Leighton Ford and Jean Graham Ford.

Description: Brewster, MA : Paraclete Press, Inc., 2018. | Includes bibliographical references.

Identifiers: LCCN 2018008555 | ISBN 9781640600874 (hardcover)

Subjects: LCSH: Graham, Billy, 1918-2018. | EvangelistsUnited StatesBiography.

Classification: LCC BV3785.G69 A75 2018 | DDC 269/.2092 [B]dc23