USA Today Bestseller List. Many have written about Billy Graham, the evangelist. This is the first book about Billy Graham, the father, written from the perspective of a son who knew him best.
As a beloved evangelist and a respected man of God, Billy Graham’s stated purpose in life never to help people find a personal relationship with God through a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. This was a calling that only increased over time, and Billy embraced it fully throughout his active ministry and beyond. Yet Billy pursued his life’s work, as many men do, amid a similarly significant calling to be a loving husband and father.
While most people knew Billy Graham as America’s pastor, Franklin Graham knew him in a different way, as a dad. And while present and future generations will come to their own conclusions about Billy Graham and the legacy that his commitment to Christ has left behind, no one can speak more insightfully or authoritatively on that subject than a son who grew up in the shadow of his father’s life and the examples of his father’s love. This vulnerable book is a look at both Billy Graham the evangelist and Billy Graham the father, and the impact he had on a son who walked in his father’s steps while also becoming his own man, leading ministries around the world, all of it based on the foundational lessons his father taught him.
“My father left behind a testimony to God,” says Franklin, “a legacy not buried in a grave but still pointing people to a heaven-bound destiny. The Lord will say to my father, and to all who served Him obediently, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant’ [Matthew 25:21].”
"William Franklin Graham III (born July 14, 1952), known as Franklin Graham, is an American Christian evangelist and missionary. He is president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) and of Samaritan's Purse, an international Christian relief organization." -- Wikipedia
I felt like the author was cashing in on a legacy by writing this book. I know that the book is well written and great if you are a fan of Billy Graham. Is the book telling all? Does the author leave the best parts for the sake of not up lifting his father's name? Well that is for the reader to decide.
It took me eight months to finish this book about Billy Graham, a legendary evangelist.
In 2007, the Billy Graham Library (before his death at the age of 99) was dedicated in the presence of former president Jimmy Carter (who recently died at the age of 100).
Carter also followed Jesus and taught Sunday school classes before, during, and after his time in the White House.
Through My Father's Eyes is a memoir of Billy Graham written by author Franklin Graham. I wanted to read this book because Billy Graham is a Christian inspiration. Mr. Graham preached Jesus for seven decades.
This book met my expectations because not only did the author speak of his earthly father he also spoke of our heavenly Father and each person's need for a savior. I believe Franklin Graham wrote this book not to brag on his dad but so his dad could reach out to a dying world with the truth of Jesus one last time.
The things I enjoyed most about this book are the scripture references at the beginning of each chapter and the pictures in the book. It was a nice surprise to learn that Billy Graham's most trusted advisor was his father-in-law, Dr. L. Nelson Bell.
I also learned that Ruth Graham would keep the memory of Billy Graham current, while he was traveling, by sharing stories of what he was doing wherever he was, with their children. So when he came home it was as if he never left. My favorite quote is one on prayer found on page #88. `Pray humbly, pray believing, and pray with thanksgiving.' Prayer is such a huge part of the Graham family that Franklin devoted a whole chapter to it.
I recommend this book to Seekers and Believers because it's more than a memoir of an earthly father, it is a tribute to a heavenly Father.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
I read THROUGH MY FATHER’S EYES cover to cover and loved the details in this book. Franklin Graham tells numerous personal stories about his family, his father, Billy Graham, and his mother, Ruth Graham. I was fascinated with the details.
For example, “My father taught me a great deal about prayer. If something happened that caused him to rejoice, he immediately wanted to pray and thank God for the blessing. When something tragic happened to others, he felt an immediate burden to pray for them. While on a Sunday afternoon walk with me in December 2007, my father mourned a shooting that had just taken place at a center in Colorado for young people serving in a ministry known as YWAM (Youth With A Mission). A gunman went into their complex and opened fire. Later, as we watched reports on the evening news, he turned the television off and said, “Franklin, let’s pray for the families who are going through this terrible crisis.” This was my father’s way of life, and it made a profound impact on me.” (Page 88)
I enjoyed THROUGH MY FATHER’S EYES and highly recommend this excellent book.
This is an excellent book about Billy Graham written from the perspective of his son and offering insights into how his father taught, mentored, guided and loved him over the years. Billy Graham’s utter dedication to doing the will of God and to preaching the good news of the Gospel is evident throughout as well as his humility in the midst of great success.
The chapters toward the end of the book especially pleased me as Franklin describes his Decision America Tour encouraging Christians to pray, pray, pray and to vote. The details of Billy Graham’s death and burial in 2018 are also inspiring. Read the Afterword.
Franklin Graham has a vast ministry of his own and also now heads up the Billy Graham ministry. And his son Will is following in his grandfather’s and father’s footsteps. What an amazing family. May we all aspire to be as totally committed to God and his purposes for each of us.
For decades, one word expresses the purpose of Billy Graham and the Graham family. Evangelism. This book is no exception. The desire expressed in every chapter and most pages is for a world, lost in sin, turn to God and accept his Son, Jesus Christ, and be saved.
Intermingled in all that are some insights on the Graham family and history of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, covering crusades, meetings with presidents and other world leaders and there is a particular focus on Franklin's learning by his father's example. There are touching stories and amusing interactions. Also it includes a beautiful 24 page section of photographs, many in brilliant color.
This book was a gift from my son, Paul for father's day, and for that, I am grateful. This was a good and easy read. I recommend it for all ages.
I got the feeling that the purpose of this book is to polish up Franklin's image. God does not appear to gifted Franklin as a preacher ( that gift went to sister Anne) nor as a writer. It appears that awkward and frankly rather boring.
There are few people that I respect more than Billy Graham. He was a faithful preacher of God’s Word and had a sincere desire that all would be saved. As an evangelist, his theology was Arminian, using invitations to lead to individual decisions, rather than God’s sovereign election. This book by his son Franklin, has a title that has a double meaning. Though some readers may rightly believe it refers to the author’s earthly father, it also, more so, refers to his heavenly father. The book contains lessons that the author learned from his earthly father. It is part biography and part autobiography and is saturated in scripture. The author had been working on the book for a number of years. Each chapter starts with a Billy Graham quote. The book covers a wide variety of subjects and contains some wonderful stories. The author addresses controversies in his father’s life, such as comments that led some to believe that he felt that there were multiple ways to get to Heaven, family disagreements about where his mother would be buried and his father’s view of Jewish people. Some of the topics that are covered in the book include: • Forgiveness, salvation and the cross • Warm remembrances of his mother Ruth Bell Graham. He bought both his mother Ruth (who died in 2007) and his father (who died February 21, 2018) wooden caskets made by prisoners at the Angola Prison. • The Bible • The church • Communicating the Gospel through television. • Sin and the moral decline in America • Prayer • Preaching the Gospel through evangelistic crusades • Letter writing • Sharing the Gospel in hostile situations • His leadership of Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelical Association (BGEA). • Billy Graham’s final TV message “The Cross” Franklin Graham loves this country. He writes of his “Decision America” tour leading up to the 2016 presidential election. He stated that it was “high noon” for America, as he preached on the steps at each state capitol and led the attendees in prayer at noon during the week. He didn’t endorse either of the candidates, but instead encouraged voters to become familiar with the party platforms and then vote for the party which most closely aligns to biblical principles. Billy Graham’s death in February was addressed in the Postscript. I enjoyed this book which covered a large number of topics by a son who loved and was loved by both his earthly and heavenly fathers.
No one can deny that Billy Graham left a remarkable legacy of faith, devotion and evangelism on the world. However, "In Through My Father's Eyes", Franklin Graham (with Donna Lee Toney) details the legacy Rev. Graham left on his family.
Billy Graham's life was far from private. Everything he did was scrutinized, and sometimes criticized, but there were private moments he spent with his family hidden from the public eye. Franklin Graham has attempted to share some of these moments and allow us to see his father through the eyes of a son. But what we see is far more powerful.
Rev. Graham's life exhibits a faith in and intimacy with God that highlighted his life for decades. We also see how much he hated the attention for himself seeking instead to glorify God.
I grew up watching Billy Graham crusades with my grandparents. I remember a young Billy Graham full of fire and enthusiasm, and I watched over the years as the fire and enthusiasm continue to grow even until his 90s. He had a love for people that transcended all differences. His primary purpose was seeking all people accept Christ as their Savior and receive Eternal Life.
The wisdom and insight contained in "Through My Father's Eyes" is the result of a lifetime of intimacy with God that we are fortunate was a part of Billy Graham's legacy. It is encouraging to see that the public face of Billy Graham was no different from the man his family saw every day.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Booklook Bloggers, as part of Thomas Nelson‘s Book Review Blogger Program. I was not required to write a review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
This book is outstanding. But just how does one qualify this book exactly? Is it a biography on the man who has delivered the good news of Christ to the world many times over? Is it an autobiography written by the man who grew up in his father's shadow and has immerged as one of the hardest working carriers of the gospel in recent years? Is it a resource to aid the believer in growing in his or her understanding of the ways of God? Is it an illustration of what God can do through a life that is totally surrendered to Him? Is it a sweet tale of a man and a woman, faithful to each other, prayerfully raised a family together, and whose bodies now lay side by side? Or is it the means by which the reader can hear the uncompromising message of God's powerful love for us and His plan to set us free from the shackles of sin? Whatever your motivation for reading this book, you will walk away satisfied.
This account of Billy Graham's work to lift up Jesus is filled with scripture and preacher's illustrations. I didn't get that full of a sense of Billy Graham the man from reading it, though, and I felt like there was something missing. The full story of Franklin Graham's relationship with his father isn't told in this book. He refers to a rebellious time in his life, but doesn't explain it. Perhaps that's in another book of Franklin's, Rebel with a Cause? I haven't read it, so I don't know. The book is intended as a testimony to Jesus, so in some ways I understand why Franklin Graham may have left out some parts of his family's story. I just wish I got a fuller picture than the one presented here of how Billy Graham and his son became so effective at spreading the gospel.
I’ve always loved Billy Graham so this book by his son I thought would be interesting especially telling about his fathers life. When Franklin would quote his dad, I could hear Billy’s voice. I had the joy of hearing him preach years ago when I was in my twenty’s and it was such a blessing. I really liked hearing how simple somethings were that he did. The casket was a surprise but then again knowing of such a loving man, a firm believer in Jesus Christ and also his wife made me smile. This book shows love from a son to his father and from his father to the main father Jesus. There’s a lot of history which is good but made for a longer read but still enjoyed the book. I love the quotes of Billy and will probably use a few myself:)
Have it admit I was enjoying the book but regrettably in the last two chapters Franklin Graham chose to include the 2016 election & eventually states whom he favors. It’s not that he chose one party over another, it’s as a preacher he should recognize “we are not a part of this world.” John 18:36 mentions the Lord’s kingdom is not part of this world, yet here we have an Evangelical preacher engaging in the rulers of this system of things. Is it not written In all things give thanks, praise & supplication to our God. And do not lean on our own understanding. Personally in my viewpoint I believe the Rev. Billy Graham’s eyes might have shone a bit brighter if his son had not wandered onto the political commentary stage.
I grew up on the ministry of Billy Graham and he was/is a hero in the faith. So why the low rating? Well, I don’t feel like this book was as good as it could have been. It wasn’t really about Billy Graham. I felt like it lacked focus and had a lot of common stuff I heard in both Billy and Franklin Graham’s preaching. I’m not saying it was bad for everyone, just didn’t grab me like some of Billy Graham’s books. Maybe I’m being too harsh. 🤷♂️ I would have appreciated more of a biographical treatment or Franklin telling stories about what he appreciated from his father’s life in ministry. Some pieces of that showed up in the book, but it lacked focus.
A good book by Franklin Graham. I have ready plenty from his father Rev. Billy Graham. It was an interesting view of his learning experiences by watching his father. Some good historical stories that Rev. Graham never really wrote about but explains more about his Dad from the actions of the man. Rev. Graham never really speaks about himself in his books just on Christ’s message, so I was glad to hear a little more about his life. Overall a good read with a good mix of scripture and the message as well.
A Christian book from Franklin Graham about his father's life of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ around the world. Later in Billy Graham's life he could not travel so he preached from his home until his death. Billy Graham's library is his legacy, it is open in South Carolina for all to see. A wonderful book that Franklin Graham wrote about his own life, his father, mother and sisters. I enjoyed reading it, when I was younger watched him on television.
A MOVING AND INTROSPECTIVE REMINDER OF THE THOUGHTS AND BELIEFS OF BILLY GRAHAM SEEN THROUGH THE EYES OF HIS SON FRANKLIN. LOTS OF SCRIPTURE REFERENCES BACKING UP THE THEMES OF EACH CHAPTER ALONG WITH STORIES OF THEIR LIVES TOGETHER WITH MANY QUOTES FROM BILLY GRAHAM HIMSELF AND THE EXPERIENCES OF THE TWO UP UNTIL HIS DEATH. I ESPECIALLY LIKED AND WAS CHALLENGED BY THE CHAPTER ON PRAYER. A TIMELESS BOOK BECAUSE OF THE TIMELESS TRUTHS THAT REFLECT BILLY GRAHAM'S LIFE AND HIS MINISTRY.
A bit choppy at times, this is a fascinating look at the life and ministry of Billy Graham. I read each chapter as a themed essay - that fit the style of how Franklin wrote it, I think. There are many biographical details but also scripture and calls to repentance so it's a bit of a mixed bag, but effective.
This is an interesting take on Billy Graham through his son Franklin’s eyes. It is the story of Franklin as much as his father but it is also an evangelistic piece. My favorite section was the chapter titled- In His Steps - concerning both Franklin’s walk with his earthly Father and his Heavenly Father
Appreciated the personal insights and sources that Franklin used to tell the more personal side of Billy Graham's story which is often focused more on his public ministry. One more thing I appreciated about reading this was the insights it had on fatherhood as I was becoming a new dad while I was reading it.
Reading about Billy Graham's life was a truly wonderful experience. The scriptures and stories about his family provided deep insights into their journey, highlighting the immense sacrifices they made for Christ and their dedication to ministering to people around the world. It was incredibly inspiring to learn about their unwavering faith and commitment 😊📖✨
Have to say that I liked Rebel With A Cause much better. Although, there are a lot of similarities and many stories from his first book are retold. Loads of spiritual inspiration and insight to the Graham’s ministries.
This book is comprised of the wisdom that Franklin Graham gleaned from his Father over several decades of ministry. It reads like a composition of journal entries, making it very easy to digest.