The Gospel fueled Graham's life, say pastors

COEUR d’ALENE — Local pastors reflected on the legacy of America’s most prominent evangelist Wednesday.

“Billy Graham exemplified integrity in ministry,” said senior pastor Paul Van Noy of Candlelight Christian Fellowship said. “He was a role model to all Christians on how to share the simple Gospel message without compromise.”

Rev. Jon Muhly of Christ the King Lutheran Church said Graham’s understanding of the Gospel drove him around the world.

“He recognized that the primary calling of Christians is to be confessors into the world of who we are apart from God and who Jesus is for us,” Muhly said.

Senior pastor Tim Remington of The Altar Church said Graham’s lifelong focus on the essential Gospel message, as opposed to denominational distinctives, opened doors for his evangelistic work.

“He crossed borders that nobody else could ever cross because he refused to be legalistic about anything,” said Remington. “He just wanted to preach the Gospel and that’s what he did.”

Senior pastor Jim Putman at Real Life Ministries said the amazing thing about Graham was that he “finished well.” For 99 years, he avoided the financial and sexual scandals that plague many in ministry, and became renowned for his refusal to put himself in morally compromising positions.

“Billy lived out what he said to everyone else, and that means more to me than how many he preached to,” said Putman.

Muhly and Remington said Graham will also be remembered for his nonpartisan ministry to American presidents. President Donald Trump and every living former president shared their respect for the evangelical minister on social media Wednesday.

Muhly explained that in a world divided across lines of political parties, social movements, lifestyles, and identities, Graham saw all people “as people for whom God would send Jesus to die and rise again.”

The ministry of Franklin Graham and others trained up under the elder Graham will continue to add luster to Graham’s legacy, Van Noy said. Graham’s life and ministry haven’t ended, he said.

“The news reported that Billy Graham is dead,” said Van Noy. “Billy Graham is not dead. He lives on in the presence of the Lord.”