Billy Graham's Daughter Brings Her Father's Legacy To Calvary Church

On June 15th, 1962, 116,000 people came to hear a message of hope from Billy Graham at Soldier Field.

Almost 50 years later, his daughter Ruth Graham continues the legacy of preaching to others in need of guidance. Last weekend, Ruth Graham ministered at , offering a message of hope, healing and restoration. 

Graham spoke about her faith, her father and forgetting past mistakes while in Orland Park.

"There were some life changing experiences of healing at Calvary, not physical but emotional,” she said about the visit. “That is so important because we drag this stuff around with us and it really keeps us bound. The people are so transparent and honest. They're not wearing masks. To see a congregation that's really striving to take the mask off is so encouraging to my heart. I would love to see every church in America like this."

Graham is no stranger to struggles. Divorced twice, she talked openly about her son's battle with drugs and her teen daughter's unplanned pregnancies. Graham gives God credit for helping her through many days with a broken heart.

"Through my life, God has given me grace to make an impact in some lives,” she said. “There are so many hurting people out there. The church has not always been good at touching those lives. If I could make a difference in that, it would be great."

Graham shared stories from her two books Fear Not Tomorrow, God Is Already There and In Every Pew Sits A Broken Heart, including a particularly trying situation.

A few years ago, one of her daughters delivered a baby whose life was hanging on the edge.

“While I was driving to get to the hospital, I had praise music on,” she said. “It went in one ear and out the other. I couldn't even think of one bible verse, my mind was frozen. I was concentrating on the problem such as how is this baby going to survive and what health problems will the baby have.

“I then remembered the ABC list I carried in my bible. I began to go through my ABC's on what God is. He is Almighty, beautiful and compassionate. He desires us and He is eternal. He is faithful and good. I went through the whole alphabet. When you get to X, Y and Z, it's a little tricky. Then I recalled Y. Promises of God are yes and amen. He is the zenith of everything. When you get to Z you are no longer focused on the problem, you're praising Him. Your focus changes, it doesn't change the situation.

“I still had to collect my hysterical daughter,” Graham said. “We still had to go check on the baby, but God was there. If you want to know God, trust Him, praise Him and love Him with your heart. I would encourage you to make your own ABC list. Pull it out at those times you can't think of anyone else. Life is hard, it's uncertain we all face real issues but God is there."

Graham described her 93-year-old father as well traveled yet aware.

"Let me just tell you, my dad has a lot of miles on his body,” she said. “The miles are telling but he's got a great spirit. I talked to him this week. He knows I'm here. He'll be very interested in what I had to say. His eyesight is going and his hearing is almost gone. We've decided he has selected hearing. 

“My dad has written a new book called Nearing Home. It's about going to heaven. He has not enjoyed the aging process at all. His next book he wants to do is about salvation. I'm encouraging him. It gives him purpose and joy. He still wants to preach, he wants people to hear the Gospel. Don't quit praying for us, we will need it."

As Graham's sermon ended, women came up for advice, for prayer and to tell their own stories. She listened and she prayed, similar to her father’s past practices.

"Time will tell what my legacy is,” Graham said. “My greatest legacies are my children and grandchildren. For God, I trust that He will have used me to address the need of the broken in the pew. We need to minister to them. We can't forget them. I encourage the church to be a safe place where people can come as they are. They need to confess and then take the next step in their walk with Christ. If I could have that legacy I would be thrilled and honored. God has been very faithful. He has taken my mess and used it."

Ruth Graham blogs regularly about her travels, sermons and life.