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Billy: The Untold Story of a Young Billy Graham and the Test of Faith that Almost Changed Everything Posted on December 3, 2008 12:00 AM MST by Tiffany Kinerson
What caused the change in Charles Templeton that would take him from the road to charismatic evangelist to a bitter and lonely man? And would the drastic change of Billy Graham’s best friend alter his perspective on the Word of God? Billy is an enthralling book about the choices that faithful people make every day that can decide the fullness of life in which they will walk. As Templeton stated, he “had profound doubts, and [he] let [his] doubts guide [him] to questions that [he] could not answer.” He let the aftermath of World War II tragedies “wash over” him until he couldn’t believe anymore. In spite of the true change he saw after “Spiritual encounters” surrounding him—including his mother’s, Billy Graham’s, and even people Templeton himself led to the cross. In spite of healings that came forth through the tingling of his own hands. In spite of the supernatural effects his powerful evangelist friend—whose preaching Templeton himself was “never impressed with”—had on people. Templeton could not believe that Jesus was the Son of God or even that a loving God could exist in such an evil world as ours. Fascinating and addictive, like a drink I had to swallow down every day, I could not put McKay and Abraham’s Billy down. It was a biography that read like a work of fiction with its larger than life characters put to the test by a world that questions the simplicity of faith. To all who search for Truth in life, Billy Graham knows the real thing. He is the real thing: a faithful man whom we would all do well to study and follow by example. |
 
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Billy Graham’s best friend when he began his international evangelism circuit was a man named Charles Templeton. Over fifty years later, Billy is known for having preached the gospel to more people than anyone else in history. He’s spoken to nearly 215 million people in over 185 countries, broadcast to hundreds of millions, been a part of publications and films that have reached 38 languages including Braille. He’s been a producer of 27 books, counselor to world leaders, a college president, and recognized as one of the “Ten Most Admired Men in the World” fifty-one times since Gallup picked up his name in 1948. Charles, on the other hand, divorced twice, left the ministry, failed in politics, became a confirmed agnostic, writing eight books including the controversial Farewell to God: My Reasons for Rejecting the Christian Faith, and died from complications due to Alzheimer’s in 2001. In spite of the fact that Charles often spoke of Billy’s faith with hostility, the two considered themselves friends to the end. He was the only man Billy Graham was said to have loved.