“Don’t make the mistake of thinking that because God is love everything is going to be sweet, beautiful, and happy and that no one will be punished for his sins . . . God’s love provided the cross of Jesus, by which we can have forgiveness and cleansing.”

American evangelist and Southern Baptist minister

Billy Graham was an American evangelist, ordained Southern Baptist minister, and civil rights advocate, active in the 20th century. Born William Franklin Graham Jr., he became widely known for broadcasts and world tours built around live sermons. Over a career that lasted more than six decades, Graham rose to prominence as an evangelical Christian figure in the United States and abroad. His public work made him a familiar voice in religious broadcasting and large-scale preaching, and his influence extended well beyond the pulpit.