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| Billy Graham - I taught at his School of Evangelism in Wheaton, Illinois. We went there several times while in the LCA. Paul Kelm was sending WELS students there in the 1980s, but their favorite places were Fuller and Trinity Divinity. |
Billy Graham: Influential US evangelist dies at 99 - BBC News:
"US evangelist Billy Graham - one of the most influential preachers of the 20th Century - has died aged 99.
Graham became one of the best-known promoters of Christianity, preaching to audiences worldwide in large arenas, beginning in London in 1954.
He died at his home in Montreat, North Carolina, a spokesman for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association said.
In a 60-year career, he is estimated to have personally preached to 210 million people.
Graham reached millions more through TV."
'via Blog this'
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GJ - The LCA clergy really hated Billy Graham, but The Lutheran magazine ran enormous ads for his crusades. Why? The LCA members and clergy wanted to hear the Gospel that was denied so often in the official outlets.
I recall the LCA clergy shunning me for going to Wheaton College for the School of Evangelism. Mrs. Ichabod and I went several times, and I taught there once. We saw and heard the entire Graham circle in South Bend, where they taught at a local church and appeared at the ND stadium. One of his supporters paid for pastors and wives to attend together - how kind, thoughtful, and wise of him.
Graham and his team taught faith in Christ, which is more than the officials of WELS, Missouri, and the ELS can say. The Graham emphasis was Scriptural and religious - never about denominations, demographics, marketing, and gimmicks.
Graham and his associates taught some very good lessons about spoken and written communication. I use them to this day.
President A. Panning had a Graham poster on his door - for the Graham School of Evangelism. A note on it said - "See Paul Kelm about this." I learned from Professor Balge's son Jon that WELS sent people to Fuller, Trinity Divinity, you name it, for continuing education. His father said, "How about mentioning this seminary?" That was so revelatory.
I already despised Fuller Seminary and the Church Growth Movement. Imagine my shock when I discovered WELS had 10,000 rules about fellowship while going to Fuller, lying about it, and promoting the school's anti-Gospel marketing and occult (Cho) delusions.
