Ruth Bell Graham - the wife of Billy Graham, arguably one of the most faithful of God's calling as an evangelist - died on June 14, 2007. I saw the news of her death online and following that, I started looking for news articles of her and also went to the memorial dedicated to her at Billy Graham's website.
When I read the news articles and went through the memorial website, I was very humbled by her faithfulness to God and her submission to His greater plan rather than her own ambitions and goals.
She actually had a close link to Asia. She was born in Qingjiang in the Jiangsu province in China to medical missionaries working at a Presbyterian hospital. As a young girl, she already had a very strong calling to abandon all for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When she was 13, she was sent to a boarding school in Pyongyang in North Korea. Up till her early adult years, she had set her mind and heart on staying single and becoming a missionary in Tibet.
She enrolled in Wheaton College and three years later, she was introduced to "Preacher" or Billy Graham. After much struggling in prayer, she decided to surrender her ambitions and devote her life to Billy Graham's passion for evangelism.
She raised her five children almost single-handedly as her husband was away on extended national and international evangelistic crusades.
In 1952, Billy briefly entertained the possibility of running for US President. Ruth quickly quashed that notion by calling him to say: "I don't think the American people would vote for a divorced president, and if you leave ministry for politics, you will certainly have a divorce on your hands."
She always had a burden for the people of Asia and she encouraged her husband to visit and also accompanied him on his historic visits to China. (Side note: Billy Graham also visited Singapore in the early 1970s for evangelistic crusades and according to some of my older church friends, his rallies were always fully packed and he was a very powerful and anointed servant of God.)
I think the impact of her life would be best described by the ones closest to her:
“My father would not have been what he is today if it wasn’t for my mother. She stood strong for what was biblically correct and accurate. She would help my father prepare his messages, listening with an attentive ear, and if she saw something that wasn’t right or heard something that she felt wasn’t as strong as it could be, she was a voice to strengthen this or eliminate that. Every person needs that kind of input in their life and she was that to my father.”
- Eldest son Franklin Graham
“I don’t believe Mother has adequately been recognized and honored for what she had done; because, without her, Daddy’s ministry would not have been possible.”
“How does one live with one of the world’s most famous men? God began training my mother for this position years ago in China. Her parents exercised a profound effect upon the development of her character, and laid the foundations for who she was. What she witnessed in her family home, she practised for herself—dependence on God in every circumstance, love for His Word, concern for others above self, and an indomitable spirit displayed with a smile.
“Her happiness and fulfillment did not depend on her circumstances. She was a lovely, beautiful and wise woman, because early in life she made Christ her home, her purpose, her center, her confidant, and her vision.”
- Youngest daughter Ruth Graham
“Ruth was my life partner, and we were called by God as a team. No one else could have borne the load that she carried. She was a vital and integral part of our ministry, and my work through the years would have been impossible without her encouragement and support.
“I am so grateful to the Lord that He gave me Ruth, and especially for these last few years we’ve had in the mountains together. We’ve rekindled the romance of our youth, and my love for her continued to grow deeper every day. I will miss her terribly, and look forward even more to the day I can join her in Heaven.”
- Husband Billy Graham
Proverbs 31:10-31
A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 "Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Note: Most of the material above is taken from the memorial package dedicated to Ruth Bell Graham at Billy Graham's website.
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