JUST IN: Statue Of Reverend Billy Graham Unveiled In The National Statuary Hall

ladies and Gentlemen The Honorable Mike Johnson speaker of the United States House of Representatives good morning everyone um it is a true honor to have you with us here in the people's house and as a speaker of the house it is my pleasure to welcome you here as we honor one of America's greatest citizens and enduring Heroes our our Capital as you know is filled with monuments to our history they teach us about where we were and where we are and where we are going as a nation and this the statue of the oldest man in the capital is is John Winthrop he was a English Puritan lawyer and one of the leading founders of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630 he symbolizes how our country began marked by the belief as he said in his own words that with God's help we could be a shining City upon a hill for the people of course making the reference from scripture Our newest statue is of a man who shared that same vision and who believed that same gospel a man who looked back at where we were and who prayed and served endlessly for what we could become again that shining City upon a hill I want you to know that this is a um This truly is an historic moment there are only four people in the history of our country who have received the three highest honors here those three honors are a congressional gold medal having lied in state upon their passing and having a a statue here in the capital to be honored two of them were presidents uh presidents Ford and Reagan and one is Rosa Parks and the other as of today will be Reverend Billy GR I've done a few of these ceremonial um events now we we've had a couple of statues come in since I've been speaker of the house I don't ever get nervous for public speaking but I am nervous today can I be honest with you because Billy Graham is such a towering figure in my life and as he is in all of our lives and in such a singular figure and the the leading Ambassador for the kingdom of our lifetimes and and it just means so much to us but I want you I want you to know it's always a long journey to get a a statue here in the capital but we have a lot of thanks to give out today many people who helped to bring this day about and make this possible Billy Graham finally takes his rightful place on these hallowed grounds of American democracy ladies and Gentlemen please stand for their presentation of the Colors by the United States Army Color Guard from the third United States Infantry Regiment the Old Guard the performance of our national anthem by the United States Army Band persing Zone brass quintet and the retiring of the colors [Music] oh say can you see by the da early light what so proudly we ha at the Twilight last gleaming HS BR stripes and bright stars through the perous fight or the ramp parts we watch were so gallantly [Music] streaming and the rocket red glare the bombs bursting in a gave Pro through the night that our flag was still there oh s do that Stars Spangled B yet wave or the land of the free and the home of the [Music] Brave ladies and Gentlemen please remain standing for the vocation delivered by Dr Barry C black chaplain of the United States Senate let us pray Spirit of Holiness before whom none can stand in his or her own righteousness come into this statue dedication ceremony and dwell within our hearts Lord we thank you for this opportunity to honor The Life and Legacy of your servant the Reverend William Franklin Billy Graham Jr by placing his statue in the United States capital building we praise you for his life which was like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless day and like the brightness after rain that brings the grass from the earth Lord we celebrate his laudable example of blameless living of obedience to your commands and of telling your good news about salvation around the world inspired by his great and sacrificial life may we emulate his commitments by refusing to deviate from integrity living above reproach and striving to transform dark yesterdays into bright tomorrows in all of our tomorrows oh mighty God keep our eyes from tears our feet from stumbling and our hearts from despair we pray in the name of the one Dr Billy Graham passionately loved and served Jesus Christ the King of kings and Lord of lords amen and amen please be seated ladies and gentle gent The Honorable Mike Johnson speaker of the United States House of Representatives well one of the good things about these ceremonies is we don't um we don't belabor the point we're going to write get right to the unveiling of the statue here the beginning of the ceremony I have the great privilege of doing that but I'd like to invite some very important people to join me uh for this exercise here beginning with governor Cooper the members of the North Carolina Congressional Delegation the Graham family and it's a big family uh Dr Bruce Mr Fagan and the Statuary Hall committee if you would all join me here and we'll do this together just one [Applause] you your ladies and Gentlemen The Honorable Roy Cooper governor of North [Applause] Carolina well Mr Speaker elected officials distinguished guests family and loved ones of the Reverend Billy Graham I bring greetings from the state of North Carolina it is such an honor to be with you on this special day as I'm sure many of you here already know it is always an honor every day to be from the great state of North Carolina our state has given this nation its first flight its first Public University its Rich Farmland its best college basketball even its first Declaration of Freedom with the Halifax resolves today North Carolina gives the nation a symol representing one of our dearest Treasures the Reverend Billy Graham a man of Faith a man of North Carolina the Reverend Graham was known as a minister to Millions the pastor to presidents a selfless man of God who lived out his calling by preaching and teaching across the world always returning to his beloved home in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina for respit then to return again to his worldwide Ministry I'll never forget as a child hearing him preach in Carter Finley Stadium in Raleigh he brought together people of different faiths and different races today we acknowledge that he is a better representation of our state than the statue it replaces which brought memories of a painful history of racism not that Reverend Graham was perfect he would have been the first to tell us that instead he realized that he and all of us here today have feet of clay we are imperfect we have been found wanting but he believed as many of us do that there is redemption and he gave his life to delivering that message the Reverend Billy Graham also recognized that the responsibility of public servants such as us and especially that of the president of the United States was so immense that whoever was in that office deserved a presumption of good faith the power of prayer the gift of his wisdom friendship and advice he did not seek to bludgeon or deify any political candidate or party instead he would use his magnetic loving and persuasive gifts to counsel and lift in prayer political leaders of both parties he did not seek to attack other religions and he treated all with dignity and respect in fact he once said quote racial Prejudice anti-Semitism or hatred of anyone with different beliefs has no place in the human mind or heart we've often strayed from that example but as we stand together today as public officials we can honor his legacy not just by unveiling this statute but by being humble humble enough to know that our public service is not to honor ourselves but to serve our country and strengthen our democracy and humble enough to put aside personal aggrandisement to do better for our country not for personal gain as we gaze upon North Carolina's newest statue here in the capital let us reflect on the realization that the Reverend Billy Grahams work to share counsel and guidance to seek Grace and peace and live a life of Faith service and humility is needed now more than ever the work to bring people together for a higher calling that work is unfinished and that work must continue thank [Applause] you ladies and Gentlemen The Honorable Ted Bud United States senator from North Carolina [Applause] well good morning it is absolutely my honor to be here you know this day is a decade in the making and it would not have been possible without the teamwork of fellow members of the North Carolina delegation so thank you you know I want to thank them for their commitment to honor one of North Carolina's favorite Sons the legacy of Reverend Billy Graham it's based on a simple message creation fall Redemption and our ultimate hope set forth in scripture you know he took this message of Hope in Christ to more than 185 Nations to more than 200 million people in person and more than two billion people through radio and television broadcast now I was one of those two billion who would watch him on TV as a young kid now when I was young I Remember Loving to watch Billy Graham and for two reasons one it was the good news of Jesus Christ winsomely presented and two if he was on TV my parents would let me stay up late you know to this day anytime I hear the hymn just as I am I want to get up and walk forward you more people have heard the good news of Jesus from Billy Graham than any man in our history that incredible Legacy you know it didn't start with him because as with many things it started in the prayers of Prior Generations including his parents his in-laws and it was enriched by the love of his wonderful wife Ruth and this Legacy continues on through his children through his grandchildren and for the North Carolinians here today it's our great honor to have Billy Graham and his family call our state home you he was raised on a small farm and what's now grown into a big city and he and Ruth they could have lived anywhere in the world but they chose to make North Carolina home they raised their family there and they put our state at the heart of a global Ministry so as we honor his memory in the US capital today let us never forget the Bible that he preached the souls that were saved and the lives that were transformed enough lives to affect the course of Nations so it's our hope that we as lawmakers as we come and go and as visitors pass by the statue here of Billy Graham that we're reminded of his ministry and what he preached so often emphasizing two verses in the Gospel of John etched on either side of this beautiful statue the first as we know from the book of John 3:1 16 for as for as God loved the world he gave his one and only son one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life and in John 14:6 when Jesus declares I am the way and the truth and the life and no one comes to the father but by me his point was this and I quoted in his words in his final Crusade and 2005 he said I have one message that Jesus Christ came he died on a cross and he asked us to repent of our sins and to receive him by faith as Lord and Savior and if we do we have forgiveness of all our sins friends God's grace is undeserved but through Christ it is freely given and it is by trusting in Christ's sacrifice that we we are saved if you've not made that decision for yourself I hope I pray that you will for friends it's by the power of Christ's spirit in a transformed life that we have the power to love one another and the power to make America and the world a better place may God bless the life and the legacy of Reverend William Franklin Graham Junior and may God forever bless the United States of America [Applause] ladies and Gentlemen The Honorable Tom Tillis United States senator from North [Applause] Carolina thank you all and Welcome to our great Capital Mr Speaker I think you'd agree you're hard pressed to get consensus here on what color the sky is on a cloudless day but I believe that we can all agree here and have great consensus that Billy Graham was a Trailblazer during the 1950s in an era where leaders in the South openly embraced segregation it was Billy Graham who spoke out against it he insisted in his sermons that they be integrated he shared his platform of black ministers including one named Martin Luther King Jr Reverend Graham was blessed with the gift that bridged differences and brought us all together Ted I remember vividly sitting there there were two things that were a staple in my family Walter kronite and Billy Graham Reverend Graham was blessed with the gift that uh that brings us all together Bridge the differences between us you can remember it in the Crusades we all came together he United Americans he lifted them up he understood how God's word could change hearts and inspired us to live up to our highest ideals I hope when members of Congress walk by his statue they reflect on the standards of Faith ethics and decency that he exemplified throughout his extraordinary life I believe that his presence here in the capital can help us find Opportunities to unite around what makes our nation great there's no North Carolinian more deserving of this honor I want to thank the many people who played a role in getting the statue here I see one of those people my friend former car colleague Charlie Jeter in the audience he led the charge to get the state law passed in 2015 that started this whole process Chase Fagan Charlotte artist what a wonderful job you did with this [Applause] statue and I also have to thank the Graham Family Franklin and all of you thank you for sharing such a wonderful treasure with the rest of this world our nation's bled to have Billy Graham as our nation's pastor and it's North Carolina's honor to be able to call him our Native Son thank you all for being here today and thank you for gracing this beautiful Capital with Billy Graham God bless you [Applause] all ladies and gentlemen the Reverend William Franklin Graham III son of Reverend William Franklin Billy Graham Jr and President and CEO Billy Evangelistic Association and Samaritans [Applause] purse thank you Mr Speaker vice president Pence members of the senate members of the House Governor Cooper distinguished guests friends and lots of family my father would be a little uncomfortable with um this uh this being here because he would want the focus to be on the one that he preached he'd want the focus to be on the Lord Jesus Christ the son of [Applause] God on the base John 3:6 16 John 146 are inscribed and of course John 3:16 gives the gospel that God so loved this world that he sent his son on a rescue mission to save Sinners he didn't come to condemned he came to save and if we would confess our sins and repent and believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we can be saved and this was his message he preached his entire life he never never got off track and of course Jesus said I'm the way and the truth in the life no man comes to the father but by me my father believed it he believed the Bible cover to cover he didn't understand it all but he certainly believed it all every word of it our family family is honored um that our Earthly father will be here in this Capital pointing to Future generations to our heavenly father and his son the Lord Jesus Christ thank you [Applause] ladies and gentlemen Michael W Smith performing I surrender [Applause] all well it's an honor to be here and I can't help but reflect on the many times that we were able to minister together all across America for so many years but especially you remember the last few years of his life on this Earth especially the last few months when I would set up my piano beside him in his wheelchair and he want to he wouldn't want to hear friends he want to hear some hymns is what he wanted to hear and um so I would play all of his hymns his favorite hymns and he would try to sing along as best as he could but this is one that I remember probably uh for the rest of my life that we we had The Treasure of experiencing together and I think maybe just maybe that Billy would want this to be our theme song today and then the days [Music] ahead I surrender all to Jesus all to him I freely give I will ever love and trust him in his presence daily live I surrender all I surrender all all to thee my blessed savior I surrender [Music] all oh to Jesus I Surrender humbly as At His Feet I bow worldly pleasures all forsaken take me Jesus take me now I surrender all I surrender all all to to thee my BL and savior I surrender all I surrender all I surrender all all to thee my bless his savior I surrender all [Music] [Applause] ladies and Gentlemen The Honorable Patrick McKenry United States Representative from the 10th District of North [Applause] Carolina please forgive me I didn't organize the program um had I organized a program I would not follow Franklin Graham nor Michael W Smith so forgive me um this will pass quickly um but one of the Great Moments and I would say the greatest moment of my service in Congress was in 2012 uh redistricting had just occurred in North Carolina which is traditional seasonal um and I was just getting to know new parts of my district when I got a call from the folks in Reverend Graham's office uh who said that he would welcome the opportunity to meet his new congressman and so um you see my new District in uh taken in a little town called a little college town called Montreat in the swan NOA Valley of Western North Carolina um and it was in this small town in Western North Carolina that Reverend Graham and his beloved Ruth were marriage made their home raised a family he was just as comfortable uh chatting with locals at the Coach House restaurant in neighboring Black Mountain as he was on the world stage and it was in that little train stop in Black Mountain that he would take the overnight train in the 1950s and the 1960s to come here to Washington and that overnight train he would get off the station right down the road and he would go meet with folks here in this Capital both parties he would go to the White House and no matter the president they wanted him as their counselor no matter the party they wanted him as their counselor and to be able to speak with Reverend Grant in the home that he and Ruth raised their amazing family um to pray with him uh to feel the warmth that so many had felt uh broadly and oneon-one is an experience that and a memory that I will always always treasure so today it is a true honor to be a part of the lasting tribute to America's Pastor who counseled 13 presidents who personally evangelized nearly 215 million people in 185 countries a man who squarely was in the public eye but who transcended politics this humble servant of God who raised who was raised on his father's dairy farm in Charlotte uh from those modest Roots he went on to be the finest North Carolinian without a doubt the finest North Carolinian North Carolina has ever produced and it is all Al together fitting that he should take his place among the greatest Americans here in the Statuary Hall thanks so much God [Applause] bless ladies and Gentlemen The Honorable Virginia Fox United States Representative from the fifth district of North [Applause] Carolina so Patrick said he had a tough position in the program so what about me I have to follow him good morning everyone especially the members of the Graham family are with us as well as people who have traveled all the way from our beloved mountains of North Carolina Welcome the statues in the United States capital a building that I love and admire deeply should represent the very best of America America that is why it is such a proud moment for me and North Carolinians to see Reverend Graham's statue take its place here for many years I advoc I've advocated for Reverend Graham to have a place within these hallowed halls and to know that millions of people who visit the capital every year will be able to look upon his statue read those verses and be encouraged the North Carolina delegation General Assembly the design committee worked with expediency to bring this suggestion to fruition everyone involved in this process understood Reverend Graham's impact within our country and across the world he deserves to be recognized in a very tangible way here in the capital during his lifetime he counseled foreign dignitaries numerous presidents members of the royal family and many other significant public figures however his life's work was dedicated to the millions of people around the world who found Jesus Christ as their lord and savior through his preaching as well as to being patriarch of a family that is continuing his work he once described being a Christian as quote more than just an instantaneous conversion it is a daily process whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ how well we here in Congress understand what a challenge that is and others have alluded to it but seeing the this statue here every day will encourage us to strive to be more like Reverend Graham and like Christ we're blessed that the Lord allowed him to be with us for 99 years with this statue his memory and example will live on as long as our country exists it's an honor to be here on this momentous day may God continue to bless all of of you and our great country thank [Applause] you ladies and Gentlemen The Honorable Mike Johnson speaker of the United States House of [Applause] Representatives what a uh what an exciting day this has been and what a what a fitting ceremony um you've heard emotion you've heard authenticity you've heard humility um and and he embodied that for so much of us he was the model in so many ways we we want to thank you all again for being here I have a couple of thoughts I want to share um just just briefly first of all of course scripture reminds us always to give honor where honor is due and we give special thanks to the North Carolina State Statute committee uh Governor Cooper of course the North Carolina delegation it's an awesome group you guys have sent an awesome group to Congress um and and they're a LED of course by the the delegation Dean uh Miss Virginia Fox and and she's amazing and of course the Billy Graham Evangelical Association which has a massive Untold impact an immeasurable impact around the world and thank you for going through this lengthy process in making today possible I've also I know here with us there are lots of dignitaries and many of my personal Heroes uh Senator and secretary Elizabeth Dole from North Carolina is with us and U um [Applause] another person who I know was was personally impacted by Billy Graham vice president Mike [Applause] Pence and he was mentioned earlier just briefly but but U Chaz Fagan is the sculptor of this magnificant statue and um I mentioned earlier there's only four Americans who have achieved the three highest honors here one of the other men that achieved that great honor I mentioned earlier was was President Ronald Reagan and he's another my personal Heroes he's uh what you may not know is Mr Fagan also created that statute and that's pretty awesome um it's positioned prominently there in the Rotunda um I actually love this placement I'm not sure if you all realize the significance of this but as you know this is the main Corridor through the through through the through the Congress and through the the Capal and and literally millions of people will walk by and read John 14:6 right there and then they'll walk around around the other side and see John 3:16 and they're going to see him pointing right there to the open book and so that'll be a great conversation piece for us as we give tours of uh the capital late night and bring all of our friends and the visitors and school kids University students um I mean I think it's providential that it's right here I'm just saying I think it's the perfect placement and while I stand before you as the speaker of the house I'm I'm more importantly here today as so many of us are as as a Believer as a Christian as a follower of Christ and one who has been deeply impacted by the ministry of the Reverend Billy Graham it was in 1951 that Reverend Graham came to my hometown at Freeport Louisiana for one of his early Crusades he came at the invitation of uh Dr M Dodd and Reverend Graham started preaching at our Municipal Auditorium it's pretty famous place it's where Elvis you know the phrase Elvis has left the building right there Municipal auditor it's a very famous place uh but but the problem was that um Reverend Graham was too popular and the message was uh was too impactful and the crowds were so large they had to move to the football field at our State fairgrounds in streetport and those meetings in treport became Reverend Graham's very first outdoor Crusades yes you're right they right there in treport was that's right at least that's what we claim I think it's true I think I think it's true and over the course of three weeks he preached to approximately 200,000 people which is greater than the population of the whole northwest corner of the state so they came in from all over the place and and and one of the men who was present at those meetings seven decades ago LED my own father to Christ and other people who were present in those meetings were my childhood pastors and my Sunday school teachers who all had a massive influence of course upon me and the gospel they heard of of Jesus Christ's death and Resurrection is the gospel that they preach to me and and my siblings and all everybody in my sphere of influence and that's the message that's changed my life for eternity and which Reverend Graham knew would change every person's life it's the good news of Salvation and Redemption and hope that you've heard articulated here today that our creator loved us so much every one of us that he gave his only son so that every single person who believes in him can have that same gift of eternal life and even as he preached to hundreds of millions and ministered to and walked with presidents and Kings what we love about Billy Graham is that he exemplified Christ's humility as you've heard today he was buried many people don't remember in a plywood casket that was fashioned by prisoners at Angola in Louisiana Reverend Graham humbled himself to care for the poor and and prisoners they forgotten the lost and least of these exactly what the scripture tells us to do and um because he believed he really did believe that he believed that even the poorest sinner could be a coair with Christ for eternity and that's what motivated him and and those men who made his casket had come to believe that message too and they believed it through the influence of Billy Graham and the Graham family and because Reverend Graham never pursued Earthly riches he as was said he'd probably be uncomfortable with this today he this great honor with such a great statue but that humility is exactly why God exalted him and chose him and and and raised his platform to to Such Great Heights Billy Graham was known as America's past p as was noted and and and he had a a personal relationship with and a unique influence upon every president since Harry Truman and and as his body laid here in the Rotunda in February 2018 at lien state throngs of people of course came through to pay their last respects and all the members of Congress and everybody and dignitaries from all around and tributes poured in and they included U all of the living former presidents here's a quick sample of some of the things they said Donald Trump said quote Billy's acceptance of Jesus Christ around his 17th birthday not only changed his life he changed our country and the world he was one of the Towering figures of the last 100 years an American hero whose life and Leadership truly earned him the title God's Ambassador um Barack Obama tweeted this Billy Graham was a humble servant who prayed for so many and who with wisdom and Grace gave hope and guidance to Generations uh George W bush said those those of us who are blessed to know Billy Graham benefited from his deep convictions and personal example his wisdom and humility his grace and purity of heart we knew that his life was a gift from the almighty and I Rejoice that he is now in the company of God whom he loves so much and serve so well Bill Clinton he said Billy Graham was one of the most important religious leaders in American history his powerful words and the conviction They Carried touch countless hearts and Minds George H W bush he they were they very close he said his faith in Christ and his totally honest Evangelical Spirit inspired people across the country and around the world I think Billy touched the hearts of not only Christians but people of all faiths because he was such a good man and I was privileged to have him as a personal friend one more Jimmy Carter he said the Reverend Billy Graham tirelessly spread the message of fellowship and hope and shaped the lives of tens of millions of people worldwide broadminded forgiving and humble in his treatment of others he exemplified the life of Jesus Christ by constantly reaching out for opportunities to serve what what a model for us what a story to tell as we bring school school kids through and University students and and constituents we'll stop right here I'll be stopping right here every time to tell some of these stories at the foundation of the of the statue as he mentioned of these two verses and those will be shared broadly now and then in his left hand just a couple of things I'll note in I'll close Clos he open he holds an Open Bible as as you can see and with an open right hand and he's he's inviting all those to view and reflect upon the word of God and his Bible is open specifically you'd have to climb on a ladder to see it but it's uh Galatians 6 ver14 later I'll climb up and take a picture and send it to y'all okay but it's there but I I mentioned earlier I'm a little nervous and one of the reasons I'm nervous as they handed me Billy Graham Study Bible I mean it's it's Priceless right I I'm about to shake just holding it right now it's got his notes inside I know I know I need Secret Service to come and hand it off to him so so but but but it's opened as I said to Galatians 6:14 let me tell you what what that verse is many of you know it by heart but he has it underlined and read I mean it's but God forbid that I should Glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world that's that's a fitting verse to be open to and it's as you can see the page is is well marked um it's pretty awesome this is the verse that Reverend Graham put on the banner of his life and then his final years and and to close using one of his own marked up Bibles that's that's what we chose to share with you we we want to we want to thank you all uh for coming here today for being a part of this very special ceremony it was a long time coming as we said and and and all of you who helped truly truly to make this day possible it's a day for celebration and so we invite you to stick around as long as you like and take photos and as we all celebrate together the great legacy of the Reverend Billy [Applause] Graham ladies and Gentlemen please stand for the benediction delivered by the Reverend Dr David P Bruce former executive assistant to William Franklin Billy Graham Jr what a marvelous day and as we conclude our service on behalf of the Graham family and the Grateful citizens of the state of North Carolina thanks to the Congressional leadership for this marvelous honor Mr Graham simply wanted to be remembered as a preacher of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and and so he shall always be let us pray our father and our God we thank thee for this day of remembrance and honor for this your servant Billy Graham and his ministry that Encompass the world we're also grateful for this place in which Mr Graham is being honored a special and beautiful building with its Majestic Dome that reflects a beacon of freedom and democracy dreams and possibilities this the United States of America we pause to pray this day as you have commanded for those in authority over us in governmental offices and state houses in the Judiciary System for the military and First Responders and all who work to keep us safe and preside over the leadership of this country and we pray for each leader that they would act justly love mercy and walk humbly with you our God we also pray this day with thankfulness for the life of William Franklin Graham Jr and the extraordin extraordinary Ministry provided to him the clear Annunciation of good news the way of Salvation preached from your Holy Bible and all punctuated with that remarkable North Carolina accent so beloved by all who heard him preach for his life and his times his family and the spiritual calling that he lives so Faithfully for this statue and its remembrance for generations to come of the message he preached and the savior he reflected in life heart and word thank you Lord for Billy Graham a preacher of your gospel a bearer of the good news to those who are lost and as we conclude this event as Believers in this place we pray that in the midst of a weary world with the scourge of sin and evil that seems so prevalent we rejoice in the profound hope of the good news of the gospel and its power to change human hearts just as Billy Graham preached through a life well lived and a Ministry completed in his day for this life and his message we pray in the strong wonderful and beautiful name of Jesus Christ Our Lord amen ladies and gentlemen this concludes today's ceremony thank you for attending and enjoy the rest of your day

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Length: 51min 46sec (3106 seconds)

Published: Thu May 16 2024