The “Sunshine State” of Florida has played a significant role in the life and ministry of Billy Graham. A young Billy Graham answered God’s call on his life to become a preacher of the Gospel on a moonlit golf course next to where he was attending college at Florida Bible Institute. Florida is also where he was ordained, where he was baptized, where he first spoke on the radio, and where he preached his first official sermon.

And, the evangelist returned to the state multiple times throughout his ministry. Notably, in 1953, he toured through a number of Floridian cities; and again in 1961, he held evangelistic events in 15 cities from Jacksonville to Miami.

In 1985, Billy Graham spoke in Fort Lauderdale, where he delivered a sermon entitled “Living on Death Row.” In his message, he talked about how “to be with Christ is far better than to be even in Florida,” and he looked forward to the day when his faith would become sight:

“The Bible teaches that we’re citizens of two worlds now. I’m a citizen of the United States, but I’m also a citizen of Heaven. I’m a citizen of another world, Heaven, and that’s where I’m going. And I’ll be there, it won’t be too many months or years before I go. The vast majority of my life has already been lived. My record has already been made. I don’t have very much longer, I know that. … We all die! I’m not going to escape it. I don’t want to escape it. I want to go! …

“I’m looking forward to seeing him. Face to face. There’s an old English prayer that says, ‘Lord, grant that my last hour may be my finest hour.’ Paul said, ‘I’ve fought the good fight, I’ve finished the race, I’ve kept the faith.’ An Anglican bishop of the last century said, ‘I hope when I come to die I shall not have to say I wish I had loved Christ more.’”

Billy Graham became a ‘citizen of heaven’ in February 2018. But his legacy continues with his son, Franklin Graham, and grandson, Will Graham, as they follow in his footsteps and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ around the world.

In October 2025, Will Graham will bring a message of hope to Florida through his four-city Sunshine State Good News Tour.

• Oct.26 – Tallahassee
• Oct. 28 – Gainesville
• Oct. 30 – Sarasota
• Nov. 1 – Pompano Beach

If you know anyone that lives near any of these tour locations, would you invite them to attend so that they can hear the Good News? And if you’re looking for a way to share the Gospel easily with anyone who lives anywhere, you can invite them to visit PeaceWithGod.net.