At the Billy Graham Library, the Gospel message is shared with every person who walks through the doors—and behind the scenes are faithful volunteers who make it all possible.

Zach Lewer has given countless hours serving as a Library volunteer over the past eight years, but to him, what he’s received in return far outweighs what he has given.

Nine years ago, Zach moved to Charlotte from Georgia. Not knowing many people and searching for connections in a new city, he turned to the internet to find things to do—and the Billy Graham Library quickly rose to the top. “Just like now, the Billy Graham Library is still number one on top things do in Charlotte on TripAdvisor,” the 33-year-old explained.

He admitted he knew little about Billy Graham at that point in his life, beyond having watched a few of his sermons as a new believer seeking Biblical teaching. But Zach’s his first visit to the Billy Graham Library would begin another new chapter in his life. “I remember walking through The Journey of Faith and feeling so inspired, encouraged, and amazed at Billy Graham’s life,” he said. “And what struck me the most was the way volunteers prayed for me at the end.”

“I had a litany of things that I needed prayer for, but most importantly, I didn’t have any friends,” Zach added. That moment of prayer stayed with him. In the weeks that followed, he found himself returning—sometimes even on his lunch breaks—just to be prayed for again.

After becoming a regular visitor at the Library, Zach was given the opportunity to serve as a volunteer. Looking back, he can clearly see God’s hand at work. “God connected the dots together. God placed me here for a reason,” he said.

What began as a place where Zach came seeking prayer for himself soon became a place where he would offer it to others. Reflecting on the volunteers who first ministered to him, he said, “If I can be what the volunteers were for me to someone else—that’s a huge win.”

Over time, the Library became more than a place to serve for Zach—it became home. Just as Zach had once prayed for friends, God delivered more than what he could have imagined. “Instead, I found a family,” Zach said.

When he first began volunteering, he was engaged to be married. He remembers fellow volunteers celebrating that milestone with him and even receiving an engagement gift. As the years passed, they walked alongside Zach through marriage, and now into fatherhood—and most recently, celebrating the arrival of his second child.

“This has been my family—my spiritual family,” Zach added. “It’s not a stretch to say that they really have seen me grow up. There’s no other place like the Billy Graham Library.”

After eight years of serving, one encounter stands out to Zach. He recalls meeting Lewis*, a truck driver who was passing by Charlotte and stumbled upon the Billy Graham Library.

“I remember him saying, ‘I really don’t even know how my schedule allowed for me to be here. Like, this never happens,’” Zach recalled.

The Lord was moving in Lewis’ heart, and after going through The Journey of Faith, he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. Zach had the privilege of praying with him at that life-changing moment.

“You get to exercise your gifts and your abilities that God has given you in a very special way. You get to minister to hundreds, sometimes thousands, of people,” Zach explained. “As a volunteer, we’re in a unique spot where we get to see the God’s hand at work in people’s lives, even when they don’t see it.”

Knowing that God can use him—however big or small—to point someone to Jesus Christ, is the very reason why Zach continues to volunteer year after year. “To be able to minister and care for people at a pivotal time in their life … It really doesn’t get any better than that—it’s priceless,” he added.

On top of that, Zach is deeply thankful for the community he’s found at the Billy Graham Library. “Knowing I’m coming back each time and I’m going to see people who deeply care about me—not only me but my growing family—and are praying for me and sincerely wanting to see God work in my life… there’s no other place like this ministry,” he said.

What began as a search for connection in a new city became something far greater than Zach ever expected. He came looking for prayer, yet found purpose. He came seeking friends, but instead found family. And now, eight years later, he’s helping others discover the same.

You can serve alongside Zach and the many volunteers at the Billy Graham Library and be a part of a ministry that sees lives transformed through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Find out more about becoming a volunteer.

*Names changed to protect privacy.