SBC to unveil Billy Graham tribute sculpture at ‘06 meeting

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) — The Southern Baptist Convention will unveil a bronze statue honoring the life and ministry of evangelist Billy Graham at the 2006 annual meeting in Greensboro, N.C., SBC President Bobby Welch announced during the closing session of the 2005 annual meeting in Nashville, Tenn.

Kent HarvilleBP

During a special recognition service June 22 for the ministry of Billy Graham, SBC President Bobby Welch presented a bronze model of Graham in a pose familiar to millions world-wide from his many crusades. Graham, unable to attend due to preparations for his final crusade in New York City, was represented by his grandson, William Franklin Graham IV, pastor of Wakefield Baptist Church in Raleigh, N.C., and a graduate of Southeastern Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C. The SBC annual meeting was held in the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Tenn., June 21-22.

The announcement was accompanied by a tribute to Graham, which included messengers approving by acclamation a statement drafted by the SBC Executive Committee honoring Graham and a video chronicling the evangelist’s ministry.

The sculpture, which will depict Graham under a cross offering an evangelistic invitation with uplifted hands, will be produced by Wyoming artist and Baptist bivocational pastor Terrell O’Brien. A bronze model sculpted by O’Brien was revealed to messengers during the tribute.

Funds for the sculpture will be provided by Matt Samuelson and Chris Fryer, owners of CCL Associates, an Atlanta-based church construction consulting firm, Welch said.

“There is no better-known name in all the entire world, when it comes to being a person of faith, than Billy Graham,” Welch said. “... In addition to that, there has never been a man on the planet who has preached face to face to as many multiplied hundreds of millions of people [as] this man.

“Beyond that, there has never been a man like that ... who has preached such a clear Gospel of Jesus Christ to be Savior and Lord of your life. And in addition to all of that, he is one of us. He’s a Southern Baptist. That’s a pretty good son to have.”

Faithful to the call

Graham’s grandson, William Franklin Graham IV, acknowledged the tribute on behalf of his grandfather and noted that the evangelist could not be in attendance due to a crusade in New York City.

“Thank you on the behalf of my grandfather, my father and all of the Graham family,” William Franklin Graham said. “I wish my grandfather could be here. He sends his regards. He loves being a Southern Baptist.”

The younger Graham, pastor of Wakefield Baptist Church in Raleigh, N.C., urged Southern Baptists to use the statue as a reminder to be faithful to their own callings rather than longing to be like Billy Graham.

“I want to remind people that when they see this statue, I don’t want them to think, ‘Man, I wish I could be like Billy Graham.’ My grandfather and I would say, ‘You’re shooting too low.’ ... He’d say to aim higher. He’d say, ‘Just be faithful to the call you have,’” Graham said.

Graham is a graduate of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., and Southeastern Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C.

A framed copy of the tribute statement was presented to the Graham family by EC President Morris H. Chapman.

The statement affirms Graham’s ministry as unprecedented and uniquely effective, noting, “No one in history has preached the Gospel to as many people, and no one has been used of God to lead so many to faith in Christ within his own lifetime,” citing Graham’s use of rallies, crusades, publications, broadcasting, evangelism schools and feature film releases over the past 60 years.