Northwestern Bible School - Scroll Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

Page 17 text:

and when God sent a man to him by the roadside with an invitation to speak in a small mission service; from that small service, at which eleven souls came to Christ as he presented the Gospel, to the huge stadium rallies that have often seen 20 r QQQ in attendance with more than 1,000 decisions for Christ at his invi¬ tation, is a long distance, humanly speaking. But with God using Billy Gra¬ ham, the way has been short, indeed. Numbers of persons in attendance at meetings are no criteria of a man s greatness and usefulness; yet Billy Graham has probably preached to more people than any other man at his age. The miles traveled in a preaching min- istry are no standard of its excellence; yet Billy Graham has probably traveled more miles in a world-spanning ministry than any other man of his age. Numbers of decisions for Christ make a poor basis for comparison of the ef¬ fectiveness of a servant of God; yet Billy Graham has probably been used to lead more men to Christ than any other man at his age. Truly, he has spo¬ ken with the authority of God, and in this, as in any other age, men have lis¬ tened. When, in his declining years. Dr, W. B. Riley faced the problem of choosing one to follow him in his important work as President of the Northwestern Schools, he looked to this young man, still in Wheaton College and pastoring a small church in addition to his scholastic work. Dr, W. B. Riley made his deci¬ sions and choices carefully and firmly, Billy Graham was his emphatic choice to head the Northwestern Schools. Years and their events have demonstrated the wisdom of W. B. Riley s choice, A continent-spanning ministry . , , first vice president of Youth for Christ, International ... a world-wide evangelistic ministry , . the blessing of God upon his labors, resulting in the salvation of thousands of souls; these have been the portion of Billy Graham, Today under his leadersip the Northwestern Schools have the greatest op¬ portunity for usefulness in God s purpose that has ever been accorded to any organization of its kind. To match his steps to the giant strides of W, B. Riley would be a difficult task for any man. For some it would be an evident impos¬ sibility. Future history will decide upon that which present events are now demonstrating, that Billy Graham can and is taking his p:ace as the leader which God, through one of His choicest servants, elected him to be. His voice has been raised. He speaks as one having authority.

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,

Page 18 text:

DEANS I. EDWIN HARTILL Dean of Men B.A., Muskingum College B.D., Northwestern Doctrine, Hermeneutics. MRS. W, B. RILEY Dean of Women B.A„ University of Minnesota LL.D., Rob Jones College Sarbonne, Paris, France RICHARD V. CLEARWATERS Acting Dean of Seminary A. B., Kalamazoo College B. D., D.D., Northern Baptist Theologican Seminary A.M., University of Chicago Homiletics, Scriptural Interpretation « 14 »