How Billy Graham was a Hero Maker

Dr. Robert Coleman (Master Plan of Evangelism)"I cannot find words to describe my admiration for Billy Graham. From the first time we met in the 1950s, he encouraged me in ministry. He was able to make a nobody feel like a somebody.He loved and honored people; he loved the world with a view of how much God loved the world. Bill wanted everyone to do the best they could for the cause of Christ and to rise to a higher level by the grace of God. He inspired people to fulfill God’s call on their lives. There was no distinction in his mind between rich or poor, small or great. He was not only the greatest evangelist of our generation, he also had a great desire to train others to proclaim the gospel and make disciples. It is not possible to fully appreciate Billy Graham without understanding all that he did to develop other leaders.

In the leadership terms of today, he was a hero maker.Bill had no ego or self-centeredness for his own recognition. He preferred the role of building up people and helping them rise to a higher level. He listened to people, even those he didn’t agree with, and was a good judge of people. Time and again, he showed me this amazing ability to compel people to work with him, joining him in the vision God gave him to reach the world for Christ.People continually asked Bill Graham, “What is the secret of your ministry?” He always gave three reasons: “The first is prayer, the second is prayer, and the third is prayer.” The secret of Billy Graham’s success as a hero maker lies in the fact that he didn’t know he was Billy Graham.No man in our generation had more positive influence in reaching the nations of the world for Christ than Billy Graham. May God help us all—that we could be hero makers like Billy Graham in the same ways he was like his (and our) Savior Jesus Christ."Leaving a Legacy of Level 5 Leadership, Bobby Harrington