A Prophet with Honor

The Billy Graham Story (Updated Edition)

By: William C. Martin

Narrated by: Maurice England

A Prophet with Honor is the biography Billy Graham himself invited and appreciated for its sympathetic but frank approach. Carefully documented, eminently fair, and gracefully written, it raises and answers key questions about Graham's character, contributions, and influence on the world religious scene. In this engaging and comprehensive book, William Martin gives readers a better understanding of the most successful evangelist in modern history, and the movement he led for over fifty years.

A Prophet with Honor makes a vital contribution to the Billy Graham legacy and allows us to understand why his words, actions, and personality endeared him to popes and preachers, kings and presidents, and millions of Christians in virtually every nation and culture around the world.

Martin draws on

• extensive conversations with Graham himself
• nearly two hundred interviews
• previously untouched resources, including documents from six presidential libraries and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association archives
• personal observation of Graham's crusades and conferences in the United States and Europe
• decades of research on evangelical Christianity

Martin pays particular attention to Graham's controversial relationships with Presidents Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon. He also describes how Graham's lifelong determination "to do something great for God" led him to organize international conferences that spearheaded the worldwide spread of the liberating message of Jesus, and prompted him to help strengthen religious freedom in the Soviet bloc and China.

Tracing Graham's life and ministry from his rural and religious roots in North Carolina to his place as the elder statesman of American evangelicalism, examining both his triumphs and his tribulations, Martin shows the multidimensional character of the man who has become one of the most admired persons in the world.

Unbelievable life

Billy Graham’s has been a presence throughout my life, but I had no idea his ministry touched SO MANY through out the entire world! Praise God for this book. Extremely eye opening of the history of evangelism,the Church, global powers, and a life live with a singular focus of reaching everyone with the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ.

Five stars is not enough

Best biography that I’ve ever encountered. Not only because of who Billy Graham was, but also because of thoroughness of research.
A must read for anyone that has heard praise or criticism of Billy Graham.

A compete Biography of Billy Graham

William Martin takes an honest approach to the life of Billy Graham. The events of the 20th century all include some aspect of Billy Graham being present. He was not a politician yet influenced many who knew him. Martin also depicts an imperfect and tireless crusader for Christ who would not have accomplished half of what he did without the wisdom and guidance of his beloved strong willed, and enormously intelligent wife Ruth. Worth reading for Christian and Non-Christian historians.

A Man of Integrity

I started this book less than a week after Billy’s death, mostly just to get to know the man. Like anyone born in the last 50 years, I’ve always known about Billy Graham and heard about the wonder of his crusades, but I never really knew his story. Two things that really stand out to me about Billy:

First, the man was one of deep integrity. Learning about the measures he took to abstain from certain sins or to keep his marriage and his ministry clean from scandal or even a bad reputation was remarkable. Anything remotely fishy, he worked tirelessly to keep away from. That’s a huge encouragement to me and I’m thankful that the Lord preserved him in that way.

Second, I do not agree with Billy Graham on every theological point that he might have held, but every one of us could learn a thing or two from him on how to love others. He had this way of seeing and seeking the best in people, sinners though they were, and showing them an unconditional love without shunning them for their differences. He preached Jesus, and he did not budge on that, AND that did not keeping him from trying to persuade others with love. Something like that is very rare, this day and age.

William Martin has done an amazing work here. I cannot imagine the time and effort that goes into a project such as this. Over 800 pages (or 36 hours of an audiobook), telling the story of a man who was seemingly larger than life. One who had a deep conviction for preaching the simple gospel that Christ saves sinners. He was never above that. And he never seemed to take his eye off it.

Wonderful Life, Wonderful Biography

I've read some great biographies, but the updated edition of The Billy Graham Story, for me, is one of the best. Or probably the best. Of course, Mr. Graham's life was amazing and inspiring. The author's (William C. Martin) research and writing was incredibly thorough and wonderful. The narration by Maurice England made listening to this book better, at least for me, than reading it. I was sorry when the book ended. I'll listen again - it was that good.