Northwestern Bible School - Scroll Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

Page 16 text:

WILLIAM GHAHAM j ' ■ He taught them as one having authority , . ' (Matthew 7:29) Someone has said of Dr. W. B. Riley that he always spoke as one who had authority. When he stood in the pulpit of his own church, or as a guest speak¬ er in his travels across America, the people gave careful attention, for this man spoke with authority. His challenging messages, always grounded firmly upon the impregnable rock of Scripture, echoed in the corridors of world Protestant¬ ism for more than half a century. Then, in the providence of God, this voice —this messenger, was stilled. The message was not stilled, A new voice—a new messenger had been raised up. Of this man also it has been said, he speaks as one who has au¬ thority. This man is America ' s young evangelist. Rev, Billy Graham, The story of Billy Graham is the story of twentieth century American youth, blessed by God, It is the story of a small town school—and an American col¬ lege campus. It is the story of heartbreak and discouragement—and of victory and achievement, ft is the story of small study groups—and of huge stadium throngs. It is the story of God s choice and use of a man such as is written only once in a generation . . , and sometimes not that often, Io know Billy Graham it is necessary to see him as a young boy, reared in America s hospitable Southland, partaking of the culture and tradition that is the Souths, growing into an active youth, playing basketball and baseball, and one day meeting his Saviour in an evangelistic meeting, and giving his life to that Savior for whatever use He would make of it. To know Billy Graham it is necessary to see him in Bible school, spending serious hours in study, spending hours, too, in a vigorous display of youthful enthusiasm, seeking earnestly God ' s will and program for his life, crying out to God to use him or else to show him another calling, yielding to an invitation to preach, and thereby seeing his life pattern shape up into a great soul-win¬ ning career. From that day, when in God ' s great out-of-doors he pleaded with God to grant him a place oi service or else show him that he did not belong in the ministry,