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Our Witness | Making the Most of Every Opportunity

From Rachel-Ruth

Anyone familiar with Billy Graham—known to my family as Daddy Bill—knows he shared his faith boldly. Whether witnessing to individuals or preaching in a crowded arena, he did not speak with rehearsed precision. He spoke with passion and conviction because he believed every word he said with every fiber of his being! His deep love for Jesus was always evident in the fire in his piercing blue eyes and the passionate conviction in his familiar voice. 

Thousands, even millions, came to faith in Jesus because Daddy Bill’s passionate heart for the gospel came through in everything he said and did. Nothing brought him more joy than seeing someone come to Christ!

My grandmother, whom we called Tai Tai, told my mom that she and Daddy Bill were once the guests of some friends at a beautiful beach resort. At dinnertime, no one could find Daddy Bill. When Tai Tai went looking for him, she found him behind their building, sharing the gospel with one of the groundskeepers. 

My paternal grandfather, whom we simply called Grampa, also shared the gospel with everyone with whom he came in contact, whether a pedestrian on a street corner in New York City or the waiter at the delicatessen he frequented.

One Thanksgiving, he and Gramma were driving down from New York City to spend a week with us. When they finally arrived about eight hours later than expected, we learned Grampa had picked up a hitchhiker, then driven the guy to his destination—six hours out of the way—because Grampa wanted him to know Jesus! 

Grampa would say he “didn’t give a rip” about what people thought of him; he cared only about what Jesus thought of him. When we get to Heaven, I can’t wait to meet all the people who he led to Christ. At Grampa’s funeral, a man told my dad he had seen the notice of Grampa’s death in the paper and had come to the service because he wanted the family to know that Grampa had led him to Christ at the local McDonald’s, where Grampa went every morning for a cup of coffee. 

It’s clear that the witness of my grandparents made an impact on both of my parents, instilling in them the importance of sharing the gospel at every opportunity. 

Who first told you about Jesus? In what ways did that person’s life influence your decision to follow Christ?