Only God could know the important role that a dairy farmer’s son would play in world evangelism. From his humble beginnings on a farm in Charlotte, North Carolina, to his decision to follow Christ at a local revival on the edge of town, Billy Graham pursued a singular vision—to share the love of Jesus Christ.

Long before Graham gained worldwide recognition, he committed himself to evangelistic work. When he was just 20 years old, Billy Graham made a crucial decision. As a student at Florida Bible College, he came to a crossroads during a late-night walk. “I remember getting on my knees and saying, ‘O, God, if you want me to preach, I will do it.’ Tears streamed down my cheeks as I made this great surrender to become an ambassador for Jesus Christ.”

Over the course of his life, the reach of Graham’s message increased as he preached in packed stadiums and auditoriums—Crusades that were often broadcast even farther on radio and television. As he traveled to more than 185 countries and territories, he was able to witness firsthand the impact the Gospel had on people from all walks of life. In 1973 in Johannesburg, South Africa, Graham stated passionately, “Christ belongs to all people! He belongs to the whole world!”

At the Billy Graham Library, Billy Graham’s evangelistic work lives on. Nestled on a serene, 20-acre property—just minutes from the Charlotte Douglas International Airport—the Billy Graham Library brings his story to life through the self-guided Journey of Faith tour. Every visitor has the opportunity to hear the same message he preached for eight decades: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Just a short walk away, the Billy Graham Archive and Research Center houses all of the evangelist’s papers and artifacts in one location. This allows students, leaders, and scholars the opportunity to study his records and correspondence on the same campus where they can also visit his boyhood home, gravesite, and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association headquarters.

For more information, as well as special event information and group booking details, visit BillyGrahamLibrary.org.

“Until [the 20th] century the extent of an evangelist’s outreach was determined by the limits of his voice and the distribution of his writings. Within the last few years, it has literally become possible to proclaim the Gospel to the entire world. If Jesus were here today, I have no doubt He would make use of every means possible to declare His message.” —Billy Graham