2015 Year-End Giveaway
December 29, 2015
Categories: Events
As 2015 nears to its end, we are taking a look back at the past year. We have welcomed nearly 145,000 visitors to the Library this year – thousands of whom attended various events from annual favorites and special author book signings to our Christmas at the Library celebration. Many more supported the ministry of the Billy Graham Library through prayer and by following along on our social media accounts and through this blog. We are tremendously thankful for YOU! We hope that you will continue to join us in praying for all those who will visit the Library in coming years, and especially for God’s provision and guidance for the care of continued ministry endeavors – for without His grace and mercy none of what we do would be possible.
As a special “Thank You” we are giving away a selection of books from authors who visited the Library in 2015.
Giveaway Rules:
To enter to receive a selection of book from 2015 book signing authors, share your favorite memory from 2015 in the comments. The winner will be chosen randomly from comments received at http://billygrahamlibrary.org/2015-year-end-giveaway before Friday, Jan. 1, 2016 at 12 p.m. ET. No purchase necessary. Odds of winning depend on the number of comments received. Void where prohibited.
Here’s a recap of the amazing things that happened at the Billy Graham Library in 2015:
In January, we welcomed Tim Brown – who was later elected to the NFL Hall of Fame – author of “The Making of a Man.”
Dr. James Dobson and Shirley Dobson were here at the Library on Valentine’s Day to sign copies of their books. The Dobson’s also took time to share a special message with guests in attendance.
Coach Bobby Bowden said that visiting the Library was the “highlight of [his] year” when he was here in March. Coach Bowden spoke from the platform at two Billy Graham Crusades over the years. “He affected me more, spiritually, than anyone in my whole life, other than my own father,” Bowden said. “He is a hero to me. He is the most godly man I have ever known.
In April, David and Jason Benham signed copies of their book “Whatever the Cost” at the Library and in September spoke to more than 200 at the annual Men’s Breakfast.
Also in April, former governor Mike Huckabee visited the Library. Before meeting guests, Gov. Huckabee talked about his book and his view of American culture: “So many people in America believe that, at the foundation of our culture and civilization, there has to be this understanding that God is the One who makes the rules. We don’t get to edit or change them. We either live by them or die of failure to live by them.”
We welcomed hundreds of families during the Mother’s Day breakfast and Doughnuts with Dad to celebrate Father’s Day. As a thanks for their service, retired, guard and active duty military service members attended the Military Appreciation luncheon in July. Local law enforcement officers were treated to breakfast at the Library in September.
Both the Ladies Tea & Tour and Ladies Night Out were sell-out events this year.
At the Ladies Tea, Amber Brantly, whose husband Dr. Kent Brantly survived Ebola, recalled the trials and triumphs that God brought their family through during Kent’s diagnosis and treatment. Together, the Brantly’s made the first-stop on their nationwide tour for the launch of their book “Called for Life.”
Kendra Graham, wife of evangelist Will Graham, gave an encouraging Christmas message of renewal at the third annual Ladies Night Out. She also took time to sit down and answer questions submitted through the Library blog and social media. (Kendra will be leading a women’s Bible study at The Cove in Asheville, N.C. beginning January 12.)
More than 1,300 motorcycle riders rode into the Billy Graham Library to donate over 4,500 gift-filled boxes to Operation Christmas Child during the Bikers with Boxes event. What’s the most important thing anyone can put in an Operation Christmas Child shoebox? “It’s your prayers,” said Franklin Graham, president of both the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse, at the event.
December marked two HUGE milestones at the Billy Graham Library – the arrival of our 1 millionth guest to the Journey of Faith and the eighth annual Christmas at the Library which saw more than 41,000 guests from Dec. 1-23 alone.