It's the Maxwell Institute podcast.

I'm Blair Hodges.

The Reverend Billy Graham rose to international prominence in the 1940s, preaching an evangelical Christian gospel.

Hailing from North Carolina, the charismatic preacher-filled stadiums, counseled American presidents,

and encouraged millions of people around the world

to seek personal transformation by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

Billy Graham died one week ago, February 21st, at the age of 99.

I'm actually putting the finishing touches on this episode as Graham's body lies in honor under

the United States Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C.

Historian Grant Wacker joins us in this episode to talk about Graham.

Wacker visited Brigham University last year as part of the Maxwell Institute's Reformation Conference.

He spoke with me over the internet about the landmark biography he wrote about Graham.

The book is called America's Pastor, Billy Graham, and the shaping of a nation. As always, you can send questions or comments about Graham. The book is called America's Pastor, Billy Graham, and the Shaping of a Nation.

As always, you can send questions or comments about this and other episodes to me at MIPodcast at

BYU.edu. You can also rate and review the show in iTunes like Kirk Lester did. He said,

I'm so grateful to have found the MI podcast. I found them intellectually engaging and faith promoting.

I really appreciate the podcasts that cover controversial topics such as evolution, climate change,

plural marriage, race, and reading the Bible critically. Please do more on these topics. And also,

I have a personal request that you get the Givenses and Richard Bushman on here every other month.

Thanks. Well, I can't guarantee that,

Lester, but you know, you could just listen to those episodes over and over again every month.

And now in this episode, here's Grant Wacker talking about America's pastor, the late Billy Graham.

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