Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

{{Short description|Christian outreach organization}}
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[[File:Billy Graham bw photo, April 11, 1966.jpg|thumb|Founder [[Billy Graham]] in 1966]]
The '''Billy Graham Evangelistic Association''' ('''BGEA''') is a non-profit [[Christianity|Christian]] [[community outreach|outreach organization]] that promotes multimedia [[evangelism]], conducts [[evangelistic crusade]]s, and engages in [[disaster response]]. The BGEA operates the Billy Graham Training Center in [[Asheville, North Carolina]], and the [[Billy Graham Library]] in [[Charlotte, North Carolina]].{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}

==History==
The organization was founded in 1950 by [[Billy Graham]] in [[Minneapolis, Minnesota]]; it later moved to [[Charlotte, North Carolina]].<ref>Randall Herbert Balmer, ''Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism: Revised and expanded edition'', Baylor University Press, USA, 2004, p. 80</ref>

The organization broadcast the ''[[Hour of Decision]]'' radio show for more than sixty years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/local/rev-billy-graham-his-life-by-the-numbers-years-and-millions/83-523431321|title=Rev. Billy Graham: His Life By The Numbers, Years, and Millions|publisher=WFMY|access-date=December 11, 2018}}</ref> In August 2018, six months after Graham's death, the BGEA launched the Billy Graham Channel on [[Sirius XM Holdings|SiriusXM]] to broadcast Graham's sermons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://standardnewswire.com/news/1646714277.html|title='The Billy Graham Channel' Will Become Permanent on SiriusXM Channel 460|website=Standard Newswire|access-date=December 11, 2018}}</ref>

[[Franklin Graham]] serves as president and CEO.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://billygraham.org/about/biographies/franklin-graham/|title=Franklin Graham|website=Billy Graham Evangelistic Association|access-date=December 11, 2018}}</ref> Several times a year, he and his son, [[Will Graham (evangelist)|Will Graham]], preach at [[evangelistic crusade]]s<ref>{{cite web|url=https://billygraham.org/what-we-do/evangelism-outreach/festivals-crusades/about/|title=About|website=Billy Graham Evangelistic Association|access-date=December 11, 2018}}</ref> modeled after those Billy Graham was known for holding.{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}}

The BGEA's internet evangelism ministry, Search for Jesus, was launched in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://billygraham.org/story/5-million-decisions-for-christ-internet-evangelism-nears-ministry-milestone/|title=5 Million Decisions for Christ: BGEA's Online Ministry Hits Milestone|website=Billy Graham Evangelistic Association|access-date=December 11, 2018}}</ref> The outreach is aimed at sharing the Christian gospel with people around the world through websites in multiple languages. More than 50 million people have visited the websites since 2011, according to the BGEA.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://billygraham.org/story/online-ministry-celebrates-10-million-indicated-decisions-for-christ/|title=Online Ministry Celebrates 10 Million Indicated Decisions for Christ|website=Billy Graham Evangelistic Association|access-date=December 11, 2018}}</ref>

The organization produces a television special<ref>{{cite web|url=https://billygraham.org/tv-and-radio/television/classics/|title=Billy Graham TV Classics|website=Billy Graham Evangelistic Association|access-date=December 11, 2018}}</ref> each month, which is broadcast on TV stations across the United States<ref>{{cite web|url=https://billygraham.org/tv-and-radio/television/tv/broadcast-listings/|title=Broadcast Listings|website=Billy Graham Evangelistic Association|access-date=December 11, 2018}}</ref> and posted online. The organization also publishes ''Decision'' magazine monthly.{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}}

The BGEA began an international evangelism project in 2002 called My Hope, in which Christians invite friends, neighbors, and relatives to their homes to watch a national telecast featuring Billy or Franklin Graham, translated into their language. BGEA claims that the project helped more than 9.8&nbsp;million people "make decisions for Christ."<ref>[http://www.billygraham.org/IntlMin_WorldTVProject.asp BGEA: Our Ministries: International Ministries: World TV Project] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080202065824/http://www.billygraham.org/IntlMin_WorldTVProject.asp |date=February 2, 2008 }}</ref>

Billy Graham and his ministry were also instrumental in founding ''[[Christianity Today Magazine]]'', the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization, and the Internet Evangelism Coalition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lausanneworldpulse.com/themedarticles-php/288/04-2006|title=The Internet Evangelism Coalition and Online Evangelism - Lausanne World Pulse Archives|access-date=December 11, 2018}}</ref>

BGEA's Charlotte headquarters is the site of the [[Billy Graham Library]], which was formally dedicated on May 31, 2007, with former U.S. Presidents [[Jimmy Carter]], [[George H. W. Bush]], and [[Bill Clinton]] in attendance. Former U.S. Presidents [[George W. Bush]], [[Bill Clinton]], and [[Donald Trump]] visited the Billy Graham Library to pay their respects following Billy Graham's death.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2018/02/27/which-presidents-attending-billy-graham-funeral/376510002/|title=Which US presidents are attending Billy Graham's funeral?|website=Citizen Times|access-date=December 11, 2018}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of Billy Graham's crusades]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.billygraham.org/ BGEA website]
* [http://www.billygrahamlibrary.org Billy Graham Library in Charlotte]

{{Billy Graham|state=collapsed}}
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[[Category:Organizations based in Charlotte, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Billy Graham]]
[[Category:Evangelism]]