Billy Graham's wife died yesterday around 5:00 p.m. I offer mmy prayers for her and the family. Lately I have been watching classic Billy Graham crusades from the 50's on TBN (sometimes TBN slips up and actually has some good programming on it... same with EWTN). It is really amazing watching him and listening to him from when he was in his prime. He is such a great speaker, and I really like his "moves" at the pulpit. I often compare him to Fulton Sheen, whose reruns I also watch, and while they are both great speakers, they have very different styles. Graham is much more serious, but less intellectual. Sheen tells lots of jokes, and gets rather heady.
One of the things that is so lacking in the church today is dynamic speakers and preachers... people who are really good communicators. And one does not have to shout and jump around to be a "good speaker" (sometimes that sort of stuff is only a distraction). When I think back to various preachers who I've thought were really good, and who had effective ministries, they were always themselves from the pulpit - they didn't put on airs - but they had a really good, sincere message. One of the best I have ever heard was actually a Roman Catholic named Fr. William Au (from Baltimore). He wasn't flashy, but was very intellectual and sincere. The old assumption that Roman priests can't/don't preach is utterly false, by the way. They have some great preachers.
I think for the church to prosper she really needs great speakers and communicators. And I hope and pray that God raises up new Billy Grahams and Fulton Sheens for the next generation.
