“We can never live this [Christian] life on the highest plane unless we are continually growing and moving forward. You should be closer to God today in heart, soul, and body than at any other time so far in your life.”

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.