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• According to a study released by The Bar- citizen. In 2001 he was knighted as he re-
na Group on January 14, 2005, senior pas- ceived the Honorary Knight Commander
tors across the spectrum of Pentecostal, of the Order of the British Empire (KBE)
Baptist and “mainline” churches named for his international contribution to civic
Billy Graham as the individual who has and religious life over 60 years.
the greatest influence on churches today, • Billy Graham’s Decision magazine began
and as the most trusted spokesperson for publication with the November 1960 is-
Christianity. sue; it had a print run of 299,000 copies at
• When Billy Graham gave the invocation its inception. (JAIA p. 295)
at the National Prayer Service following • Originally planned for six weeks, Billy
President Bush’s inauguration, it was his Graham’s 1957 New York City crusade in
ninth time participating in an inaugural Madison Square Garden was extended
event. This ties the participation record to 16 weeks and included one meeting at
held by Chief Justice John Marshall who Yankee Stadium which was attended by
administered the oath of office nine times 120,000 people. A final rally was held in
in the early 1800s. Times Square where Mr. Graham used the
• When Billy Graham was named in the movie marquee titles from 42nd Street
Gallup Poll’s list of the Ten Most Admired theaters as the theme of his message.
Men in the World in December 2017, it • Billy Graham’s favorite hymn is “And Can
marked the 41st consecutive time he was It Be”.
on the list, and the 60th time overall,
more than any other individual in the
world.
• When Billy Graham took over as presi-
dent of Northwestern Schools in Decem-
ber 1947 he became the youngest college
president in the nation. (JAIA p. 116)
• In the early 1950s, the president of Para-
mount Studios, Frank Freeman, offered
Billy Graham a role in one of his movies.
Billy declined, saying he was called to be
an evangelist, not a movie star. (JAIA p.
175)
• Billy Graham’s first crusade took place
in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1947, two
years before his Los Angeles Crusade
launched him to national prominence.
• In 1996 Billy Graham was awarded the
Congressional Gold Medal, the highest
honor Congress can bestow on a private

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