- Monday, October 31, 2011
- Lee Ann Jackson
- Ministry Updates
- Comments
The latest installment in the Kaiser Permanente creative ad campaign called "Thrive" is a radio ad called "On the Sideism."
The premise of the ad is a mantra of moderation - living a healthy life today by ordering your condiments "on the side " - salad dressings on the side, mayonnaise on the side of your turkey sandwich, etc.
While "sideism" may work for a healthy life, this month marks the 93rd birthday of a man who has lived out the opposite. Billy Graham's birthday is next Monday and on that day, the world marks a life in which God has been the centerpiece.
The year was 1934. The city was Charlotte, NC. The young man was William "Billy" Franklin Graham. The preacher was a guy named Mordecai Ham. Mr. Graham would make a personal commitment to Christ through the ministry of Mordecai Ham, go on to attend the Florida Bible Institute, pastor a church and then join Youth for Christ with whom he preached the gospel throughout the US and Europe.
It was the Los Angeles crusade in 1949 which launched Mr. Graham into international prominence. Originally scheduled for three weeks, the crusade was extended to more than eight weeks with overflow crowds nightly.
From there, Mr. Graham founded the BGEA in 1950 though which the ministry conducts:
- the weekly "Hour of Decision®" radio program broadcasting around the world for more than 50 years.
- television specials featuring Billy and Franklin Graham broadcasting in prime time on more than 150 TV stations across the US and Canada.
- a syndicated newspaper column, My Answer, which is carried by newspapers both nationally and internationally.
- "Decision" magazine, the official publication of the Association, which has a circulation of more than 600,000.
- World Wide Pictures which has produced and distributed over 125 productions, making it one of the foremost producers of evangelistic films in the world.
"Sideisms" may be a way to live a healthy life, but certainly not the way to carry out a life committed to the Gospel -- a life devoted to sharing His Word should be the centerpiece of any believer's life . . . Happy Birthday Mr. Graham!
Lee Ann Jackson
Ambassador Advertising
We Connect. Ministry and Media.
P.S. Soon to be on my night stand, Mr. Graham recently released his new book, "Nearing Home," in which he shares about his love for baseball and dreams to one day hit a big-league grand slam into the stadium seats and hearing the crowd roar as he ran the bases - nearing home. Instead, he notes, "After giving my heart to the Lord Jesus Christ-repenting of my sin and putting my entire life into His hands-I laid down my dreams, along with my bat, and fully embraced God's plan by faith, trusting that He would lead me all the way. He did, He is, and He will."
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