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Tribute to Billy Graham

As I work on the flyer for my upcoming women’s conference, I’m delighted to find this flyer that I gave out with such joy when Billy Graham came to town! My Mom and I got to serve as prayer counselors at the crusade and my Mom also served as an usher and sang in the choir! My Dad went to the crusade and my Senior Pastor got to say an opening prayer from the platform. It was truly a blessed time!

I’m still so honored to have gotten to serve at Billy Graham’s last crusade in NYC.  In Book 4 I’m mentioning how his ministry helped me during some critical times in my early Christian walk.

What a life Billy Graham lived and what a legacy he leaves behind for all of us! I feel like I’ve lost a friend but it’s also as if he’s passed the torch to us.

I’m so grateful for Billy Graham’s commitment to faithfully preaching the Word of God! I’d like to share a few lessons I’ve learned from Billy Graham’s life:

Preach the Word of God with boldness! Billy Graham traveled the world sharing about God’s unconditional love for us and how we can have eternal life in heaven through Jesus. Glory! Don’t be shy about sharing your faith. Ask the Lord to give you the courage and the right words to say to your family, friends, co-workers, neighbors and anyone else the Lord leads you to.

Live a life of integrity! I’m so glad that Billy Graham was faithful to Christ and didn’t get sidetracked by any scandals. He lived knowing that God was watching him. Billy Graham used his gifts to glorify God.  As I listen to people paying tribute to Billy Graham, I keep hearing people describe him as a man of integrity. Let’s live a life worthy of our calls whether we’re serving in a church setting, the marketplace or in our homes.

Fight the good fight of faith! Billy lived to be 99 years old. What an accomplishment! But the true beauty is that he served Jesus until the end. The inscription on his gravestone will read, “Preacher of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ” and includes the Bible verse John 14:6 which says, “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” How fitting that Billy Graham would point to Christ even on his tombstone!

The Bible says that being absent from the body means being present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8 ). I’m happy that Billy is finally home.

As for us, we get to continue proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ until Jesus returns or takes us home. Don’t give in to discouragement. Don’t let the world dim your light! Keep shining for Christ and obeying His lead. Billy Graham showed us it’s possible to live a life of faith and integrity.

I’d like to leave you with a few quotes from Billy Graham that I found on this site:

  • “I am not going to Heaven because I have preached to great crowds or read the Bible many times. I’m going to Heaven just like the thief on the cross who said in that last moment: ‘Lord, remember me.’”
  • “The greatest legacy one can pass on to one’s children and grandchildren is not money or other material things accumulated in one’s life, but rather a legacy of character and faith.”
  • “Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened.”
  • “The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, ‘O God, forgive me,’ or ‘Help me.’”
  • “Being a Christian is more than just an instantaneous conversion – it is a daily process whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ.”
  • “God has given us two hands – one to receive with and the other to give with. We are not cisterns made for hoarding; we are channels made for sharing.”
  • “I’ve read the last page of the Bible. It’s all going to turn out all right.”

To learn more about Billy Graham, click here.

Please feel free to share your kind memories of Billy Graham or favorite quotes from him below. Blessings!

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Early Bird Registration Now Open for Abounding Faith’s Women’s Conference

 

Don’t miss Abounding Faith’s Mighty Women of Valor Women’s Conference on April 14! Come to this lovely time of refreshing and inspiration expecting God to meet us in a special way!

Invite your friends to join you at this empowering event that includes an encouraging Bible-based word and group discussion, a time of sweet fellowship with other dynamic women of different ages and backgrounds, door prizes, light breakfast and the opportunity to buy copies of my books.

***The Early Bird rate of $20 is only available until February 28th. Reserve your spot today by registering here.

I’m looking forward to sharing more conference news in the upcoming weeks.

Hope to see you on April 14th! Register today!

So what does a Mighty Woman of Valor look like to you? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.

Blessings!

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Register for Abounding Faith’s Mighty Women of Valor Women’s Conference!

Audacious Dreamer and Doer, you’re invited to Abounding Faith’s Mighty Women of Valor Women’s Conference on Saturday, April 14th for a lovely time of refreshing and inspiration! Come and be blessed by an encouraging Bible-based word and by sweet fellowship with other dynamic women. This will be an intimate gathering where you can connect and pray with your beautiful sisters of diverse ages and backgrounds

There will also be door prizes, light breakfast and the opportunity to buy copies of my books Crossing Your Jordan River, Abounding Faith and Waiting on God Well that are inspiring Pastors, Pastors’ wives, missionaries, chaplains, ministry leaders and those just starting out on their Christian walk.

*** Attention Early Birds! If you register from February 12 – February 28th, the rate is only $20!

Online registration from March 1 – April 12 is the regular rate of $25.

Onsite registration on April 14 is $30.

***Ready to get that special Early Bird rate available only from 2/12 – 2/28? Fantastic! Click here to go to the registration page. Please note that all sales are final. No refunds are available.

Speaker Bio:
Nancy Gavilanes is an Author, Speaker, Life Coach, Evangelist and Entrepreneur who has a passion to encourage people to grow in their love for and their faith in God! That love has compelled her to go on short-term missions trips to five countries (and counting) and on numerous outreaches in New York City. She has a master’s degree in journalism from New York University and has written for various publications including The New York Times. She is the author of Crossing Your Jordan River: How to Possess and Prosper in Your Promised Land, Waiting on God Well: How to Prevent Breaking Down on Your Way to Your Breakthrough and Abounding Faith: 30 Bible Heroes Who Will Inspire You to Believe God for the Impossible! She has spoken to various groups including to Christians working at the United Nations as well as at Nyack College, The Bowery Mission’s Women’s Center and has given her brief testimony at her home church Times Square Church. You can learn more about Nancy at www.AboundingFaith.com.

If you have questions or are interested in sponsoring this empowering event for world-changing women in New York City, please email info@aboundingfaith.com.

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