Billy Graham: An Ordinary Man and His Extraordinary God - Softcover

Allison, Lon

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1640602054 ISBN 13: 9781640602052

Publisher: Paraclete Press, 2019

Synopsis

Just in time for the first anniversary of Billy Graham’s death, Allison’s reflection on the life and work of America’s pastor is now available in paperback.
 
New preface by the author, new to this edition.

Billy Graham said, “You have no idea how sick I get of the name Billy Graham, and how wonderful and thrilling the name Christ sounds to my ears.” So why another book about him? Lon Allison, evangelist himself, and popular evangelical pastor in Wheaton, Illinois, has learned much from Billy. Allison retells the highlights of what has been, by any objective account, a fascinating life, and tells it in a way that resonates with the Graham legacy of serving God and seeking to spread the Good News.

Every stage of Graham’s life is included, even the rough spots, with appreciation and a desire to answer the question: What can we learn from the life and ministry of Billy Graham? What is his legacy? What was his message and how might it still be relevant for today.

“Many will welcome the intimate details of his life revealed by Allison. Their close relationship allows the author to present a ‘bird’s-eye view’ of the evangelist.” —David Gibson, Catholic News Service

About this title

About the Author

Lonnie J. Allison came to Wheaton Bible Church in 2013 from his previous role as Executive Director of the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College. Lon has taught master’s and doctoral evangelism courses at Gordon Conwell Seminary, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and Northern Seminary, and is a visiting professor at Wheaton College Graduate School. He maintains an active speaking schedule at churches and conferences around the world, and is the author of Going Public with the Gospel, That the World May Believe, and Possible: Discover the Joy of a Prayer, Care, Share Life. He and his wife, Marie, have three grown children and live in West Chicago, IL.

Review

“With all the books out there about Billy Graham, do we really need another? Lon Allison, former executive director of the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College, says Graham’s recent death provides a fresh opportunity to look at the man and his message. The result is Billy Graham: An Ordinary Man and His Extraordinary God. Allison has written this attractive volume for ‘a generation that has never heard of Billy Graham.’ So he has kept the writing informal and pastoral, with frequent asides to explain key points to the uninitiated about the man and his evangelical theology...Allison, who is an accomplished evangelist himself, departs from previous treatments of Billy Graham by repeatedly highlighting the gospel that he preached, following the evangelist’s desire that people focus not on him but on the God who had saved him. In describing ‘an ordinary man and his extraordinary God,’ Allison has succeeded admirably.” —Stan Guthrie, editor at large, Christianity Today

“Lon’s compelling reflections of Dr. Graham’s life, ministry, and character give us an up close and personal acquaintance with one of history’s most significant proclaimers of the Gospel. Lon artistically weaves stories of his friendship with Billy in the context of Dr. Graham’s relentless passion to bring people to Christ.” —Joe Stowell, President, Cornerstone University

“With an insider’s perspective, Lon has captured Billy Graham’s relentless commitment to evangelism, heartbeat of grace-filled relationships, and God-trusting enormous vision. Lon shows through his own life how Dr. Graham’s timeless core is an inspiring model to study and emulate.” —Dr. Roger Parrott, President, Belhaven University
 
“I love this book! Lon, who personally knew Billy Graham in both formal and informal settings, is just the right man to introduce us to the human side of the famous evangelist. Yes, there were the large crusades, fiery preaching, and press conferences. But there is also that other side of Billy, relaxing in a chair, visiting, asking questions, and encouraging all whom he met. Once again you will be impressed by Billy’s humility, his deferential attitude toward others, and his down-to-earth view of the world. No matter how much you have read about Billy Graham you will discover this is a delightful page-turner. Read it and pass it along.” —Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer, Pastor Emeritus, The Moody Church, author of Rescuing the Gospel

“There are many exhaustive books on Dr. Billy Graham. What makes this one special is its unique accessibility. Lon covers the contours of Dr. Graham’s life, while finding the applicability for our own. Yes, you will learn the life story of Dr. Graham, but you will also learn his life motivation—giving himself unreservedly, so that people like us, from all walks of life, from all over the world, would know we are loved by God. Through this book, as you take an interest in Dr. Graham, you cannot help but take encouragement knowing God knows you and loves you.” —Gary Walter, President, The Evangelical Covenant Church

About this edition

• Publisher: Paraclete Press
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 1640602054
• ISBN 13: 9781640602052
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 160