First published through The Paris News on Feb. 26, 2018. The article can be found on their website at http://theparisnews.com/opinion/article_5fe8ec62-1b13-11e8-b6be-9783df5c28c8.html and was backdated.

Today [Feb. 26, 2018], the public has the opportunity of paying condolences to the late American evangelical Billy Graham at Graham Library from 8 a.m.-10 p.m. until Tuesday, according to the Washington Post.

After waking up Wednesday morning and getting word Graham passed on, I messaged a few close friends who are prominent in the church to see how he impacted them.

Personally, I’ve heard of this man throughout my entire life, and it wasn’t until the past few years I watched his sermons on YouTube.

Graham’s character alone is something to live up to. He once said, “When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost.”

My dad said Graham led many people to the foot of the cross preaching the gospel.

“Also, Billy would tell you that Heaven is where Jesus is and, ‘I am going to see him soon.’ He would also tell you that one day he shall be ‘more alive than I am now,’” Dad said. “Wednesday morning, Billy heard Matthew 25:23, ‘Well done good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things I will make thee ruler over many things: Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.’”

Misti, who has been involved in church since she was real young, said she never followed Graham’s work he was doing for Christ, but she knew he inspired many. Misti said her favorite testimony of Graham is one shared by Sadie Robertson on Instagram.

Robertson said on Instagram she held a book signing at Billy Graham Library and was inspired to learn about Graham.

“It made me so passionate to pursue the Lord as a true lifestyle,” Robertson’s post said. “I am thankful for the way he lived and created courage for myself and so many others”

“After I read it, my immediate thought was, ‘You don’t know for sure if the person’s heart was for God,” Misti said. “His works showed his heart. I believe that God used this man for good, like he uses everyone for good.”

Jimmy Don, Misti’s father, said he grew up watching Graham.

“He had a delivery of the message that I could understand. It was good for me to have a role model in the ministry who would not give up,” Jimmy said. “So many people would have gone through their lives without hope if not for hearing the word of God preached by Billy Graham. The name Billy Graham and the Holy Spirit go together just like ingredients in a good, hot bowl of soup on a cold wintry day.”

Kent, who is a youth pastor at Bethel Baptist Church, said growing up, Graham was mentioned several times and always associated with God or the Gospel of Jesus — Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins and God resurrecting him.

Kent said, “I don’t think I really started listening to Graham on my own until after graduating high school — man, had I been missing out!

“He had such a simple, yet elegant, way of presenting the truth of Jesus and the way to Heaven that I’ve spent countless hours just listening to his earlier sermons in hopes of sharing Jesus in a similar, impactful fashion,” Kent continued. “As an individual, he inspires me to seek Jesus more and seek more opportunities to share Jesus with others.”

Cameron, who is a youth leader for Maxey Baptist Church, said Graham — a man who traveled all over the world, preached to millions of people and advised the likes of presidents and world leaders — was

amazing.

“We as Christians saw a man so Christ-like and determined, we ourselves hope to be half the man he was in scripture and in life,” Cameron said. “He showed me no matter where you are, no matter what I fear, I can speak to the world just like he did. God’s word made a great man out of him, and I can only hope, in due time, others will see a shimmer of light in me compared to his spotlight he held over millions.”

Clayton Jennings, a young evangelist, said on social media it felt as if he was punched in the gut when he found out about Graham’s passing.

“I wouldn’t be preaching revivals across the country if Billy Graham hadn’t inspired the young me years ago,” Jennings said. “I used to spend hours watching footage of Billy’s Crusade’s on TV as a kid. There will never be another one like him.”

Graham said he would preach on his favorite verse, John 3:16, in a crusade, “usually on the opening night.”

However, he lived by Galatians 6:14, “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

A man who lived by this verse his entire life has entered into a far better place than any of us could ever imagine.

Cameron said it best, when he said, “The world has lost a great evangelist, but more importantly, a man after God’s own heart.”