Igniting the Fire: The Movements and Mentors Who Shaped Billy Graham

by Jake Hanson

Everyone knows Billy Graham. . .but who knows what propelled him to world prominence as the greatest evangelist of his time? Find out in Igniting the Fire. This brand-new biography focuses on Graham’s formative years, from his boyhood through college, to his bursting onto the national scene in 1949. Author Jake Hanson, like Graham a graduate of Wheaton College, has drawn upon scores of original documents and new interviews to detail the environment, the movements, and the mentors that created Billy Graham’s passion to spread the Gospel. You’ll see how God, in His sovereign wisdom, brings unique influences to bear to accomplish His will.
 

Genres: Biography, Christian

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2015

About the author

Jake Hanson is a graduate of Wheaton College (B.A.) and Beeson Divinity School (MDiv). A preacher and teacher, Jake also operates a web site (TheDecidedLife.com) devoted to biography, Bible study, and theology. He lives near Birmingham, Alabama with his wife Charissa and three girls.
Find out more about Igniting the Fire by going to IgnitingTheFireBook.com!

Reviews

[Jarrod Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jake Hanson has written a compelling examination of Billy Graham’s formative years in Igniting the Fire: The Movement and Mentors That Shaped Billy Graham. Igniting the Fire is an important work not only for its contributions to the history of Billy Graham and evangelicalism but also its devotional dimension whereby the reader is both encouraged and challenged by Hanson’s insight into God’s call and Graham’s faithfulness, respectively. Hanson’s intimate introduction of a host of people and institutions that shaped Graham leaves the reader feeling themselves shaped by these same people and institutions. Hanson has demonstrated in these lesser-known mentors and friends critical to Graham’s development how humble faithfulness in the formation of souls can result in a worldwide impact never imagined. The author’s original research, the evidence for which may be found in a substantial but accessible endnotes section for those interested, provides the most minute yet interesting details - many of which will simply not be found elsewhere. Igniting the Fire truly kindles a flame in the reader’s heart to see “the roaring flame of the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.“

[Massanutten Regional Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joy, Central patron, July 2019, 5 stars:

Great details about Billy Graham. Would be most interesting to evangelical readers but can be enjoyed by others. Actual documented research with notes so you can check author’s sources and research items you’d like to learn more about. At times it read dryly but was worth persevering to read it all because it was like a 20th c. Book of Acts. If you want an idea of what shaped 20th c. Evangelicalism, this book is a great starting point. Especially useful to tie in key figures such as leaders of Cru, Youth for Christ, Navigators, Edman and so on. Fascinating info on how Billy Graham’s Ev. Assoc. Made decisions on how they’d follow up with converts.

[Heather Martinez · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to say, this book was pretty dry. It is the early life of Billy Graham. There was interest in the beginning but it began to lose my attention and fizzle out after about chapter 3. It is basically the story of the early life and beginning stages of Billy Graham's ministry. I did not complete this book but read 3/4 of it. I count it complete because I could gauge what the ending of the story would be.

[Angel King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating look at the people who impacted Billy Graham the most. I had no idea that so many Christian leaders came from the same decades and Wheaton College was the common denominator of many of them.

[Sharon Foust · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful book telling the story of how Billy Graham the noted Evangelist came to be so.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting how he came to be.

[Sharon Powers · Rating 5 out of 5]

My goodness, this is a great book! I assumed I'd enjoy it, but had no idea I'd learn so much and be so inspired in my own life. Jake Hanson's Igniting The Fire is extremely well-researched, and reads well, with a refreshing seamlessness. I'd thought I had a decent awareness of the life and bygone ministry of Billy Graham, but realized from reading this just how little I knew--such as how much Graham strove to not let church denominations be a barrier in his work, and how incredibly focused he was (thanks in large part to the mentors he had along the way). There is more I could and would like to say on this, but for now, I'll just end by saying I *highly* recommend this book to you: you are sure to learn something new and be inspired to apply many of the lessons that Graham learned to your own life.

[Dunktdunk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book I received from goodreads.

Billy Graham is a name both Christians and non-Christians alike have come to know. This book gives you a glimpse into the heart and mindset of a young Billy Graham before he became world renown. It highlights those whom influenced him and helped set ablaze his internal fire for Christ.

He is arguably one of the most influential evangelists to have ever lived. This book is inspiring in helping to shed what a life looks like when it set its sights on God.

[Kim Hampton · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent account of the early life of Billy Graham, from the events leading up to his salvation, through his early years in the ministry. Anyone who wants to know more about him should definitely check out this book.

[Susan Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very good book about the youth and early years of the ministry of Billy Graham. I did not know a lot of Bill Grahams early life and this story was very interesting. I learned a lot and enjoyed this read immensely!

[Bob Ayres · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable. Not a scholarly work but based on sound research. The book tells of the people and educational settings that influenced Billy Graham.

[Ben Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jake Hanson does a good job of painting pictures of the people around Billy Graham and how they impacted him as an evangelist. The subtitle to the book does a really good job of encapsulating exactly the aim of the book. However, it could be better said that the book addresses the mentors and influencers in Graham's life. The only movement that seems to get and real time spent on it was the Christian and Missionary Alliance. While the Navigators are mentioned occasionally the real influence was the man behind the Navigators and not the Navigators organization itself.

Each section of the book deals with a particular facet of Graham's progress towards becoming the figure that we are familiar with today. Starting with a prayer meeting that was held on Billy Graham's parents farm and really finishing (but less thoroughly) with organizational members of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. In each stage of Graham's life Hanson identifies one or two major influences for that time period and gives us insight into how they impacted Graham's life.

Over all the book is excellent if you are interested in the the foundations of Billy Graham as a person and how he came to be the figure we saw him as at his evangelical prime.