Statue of Billy Graham Unveiled in Statuary Hall of US Capitol
Salvation in Christ Jesus was offered in National Statuary Hall May 16, 2024 at the unveiling of a 7-foot tall bronze statue of the iconic late global evangelist Billy Graham (who died at age 99 in 2018) which has John 3:16 and John 14:6 carved in its base.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, Spiritual Fitness: How Long Does It Take to Read the Bible? ]
US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson, other congressional members, dignitaries, and the Graham family and friends officiated at the hour-long ceremony, which was carried live on C-SPAN.
In his prayer of invocation, US Senate Chaplain Dr. Barry Black described Mr. Graham’s life as “the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless day, and like the brightness after rain that brings the grass from the earth. Lord, we celebrate his laudable example of blameless living, of obedience to your commands, and of telling your good news of salvation around the world. Inspired by his great and sacrificial life, may we emulate his commitment by refusing to deviate from integrity, living above reproach, and striving to transform dark yesterdays into bright tomorrows.” [Editor’s Note: These expressed characteristics are the same advocated by living the SemperVerus life.]
[ Read the SemperVerus article, Spiritual Fitness: Top 12 Acts for a Christian ]
Johnson finished the ceremony by reading from one of Mr. Graham’s study Bibles, the very passage that the statue’s bronze Bible is open to. “In his left hand he holds an open Bible. And with his right hand, he’s inviting all those to read. It’s open to Galatians 6:14,” Johnson said as he described the statue. Then he turned to the copy of God’s Word used by Mr. Graham: “The page is well-marked. The verse is underlined in red: ‘But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.’”
Read the rest of this article at Baptist Press: Gospel Invitation Given at Statuary Hall Unveiling of Billy Graham Statue
Also see:
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association: Billy Graham Statue Unveiled at U.S. Capitol, Inviting People to the Gospel
Religion News Service: Lawmakers Unveil Statue of Billy Graham in US Capitol
US Capitol Statuary Hall Website: Billy Graham Jr. Statue
Listen to Billy Graham sermons in the Billy Graham Audio Archives
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