Help Me Celebrate a Milestone

Years ago I worked for Billy Graham and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association as the Associate Editor at Decision magazine. I learned a great deal from my years with Mr. Graham. After I left I had the opportunity to write a biography about Mr. Graham as a part of the Men of Faith series of books from Bethany House. Yet that book is long out of print (a sad fact that happens in book publishing).

A couple of years ago, I updated my old book and added new stories and brought out a new book, Billy Graham, A Biography of America’s Greatest Evangelist. I built a book website, gathered endorsements and Luis Palau wrote the foreword for my new book. I’ve received great feedback about my book which currently has over 60 reviews on Amazon and Goodreads.

For the last six decades, Mr Graham has been on the list of the most admired men in America. He has mostly disappeared from the public eye except for rare occasions. I’m encouraging you to wish Mr. Graham a Happy Birthday and I want to give you some tools and ideas for those wishes. I’ve prepared a series of social media posts and some images that you can use at:

http://BillyGrahamBio.com/HappyBirthday.html

Besides this advanced planning to celebrate Mr. Graham’s birthday. I’ve been working on the audiobook version of my book. You can hear the retail sample of the book here and even use this link to encourage your local library to order the book.

If you hear this sample, you will know that it is not my voice but Andrew L Barnes, an experienced audiobook specialist. As I wrote about recently here, audiobooks continue to explode in the book world and I’m happy to announce my book’s availability in audio.

What is the milestone that I need your help to celebrate? 

November 7^th Mr. Graham turns 99. No one has preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ face to face more than Billy Graham through over 70 years of faithful ministry. In preparation of Mr. Graham’s 99^th birthday, I’ve created a means for you to add to the celebration.

1 1. Use social media like twitter and Facebook to wish Mr. Graham a Happy Birthday.

   2.      Schedule your greetings using a tool like Hootsuite. 

   3.      Social media gets more attention when it includes an image. I’ve created four images of Mr. Graham that you can use with your greetings.

Let’s start a movement of celebration for this milestone birthday. Each of us can wish Mr. Graham a Happy Birthday with our actions. Please pass this information along to your church or small group Bible study. I suspect many people would like to help me mark this celebration.

Tell me what actions you are taking in the comments below.

Tweetable:

Want to Wish Billy Graham a Happy 99th Birthday?Get the details here. (ClickToTweet)

 

Make Monday November 7th Special

The airwaves are full of Election news pointing for Tuesday, November 8th. You may be wondering what is special about the day before the election—November 7th. Monday is special because it will mark the 98^th  birthday of one of the most admired men in America—Billy Graham.

Because Mr. Graham isn't in the public eye these days I regularly find people who believe he has passed away—but he is alive. Known to some as the spiritual adviser to every president of the United States since Dwight D. Eisenhower, Billy Graham has been an influential person for the political and spiritual life of our country. Ironically he was born the day before the election of our next president.

In celebration of Mr. Graham's birthday, I have been doing several radio interviews about Billy Graham. On Wednesday, I drove to North Denver and was LIVE in the studios of KPOF for the breakfast table with Denise and Gordy talking about Billy Graham for an hour. Our interview was recorded and you can hear the entire interview (just follow this link). I downloaded the interview and stored it on my own website to preserve it.

How can you honor and celebrate Billy Graham's birthday? I normally write these articles for Tuesday but it will be too late for Mr. Graham's birthday. I want to give you several ideas of something practical you can do for this celebration.

1. Retweet this article on your various social media sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Tumbler, Instagram and others. When you post, make sure you use the hashtag #HappyBirthdayBillyGraham.

2. Use the images which I have prepared for you. Studies have shown that a post with an image is more likely to be read and used. It's one of the reasons that I include an image when I post on social media.  I've prepared four different images and use them with your posts.

3. Use my sample posts to wish Mr. Graham a Happy Birthday. Often it is harder to create something original than to modify something that someone else has created.  I encourage you to use these samples and put your own twist on them:

I’m celebrating @BillyGraham’s 98th Birthday #HappyBirthdayBillyGraham

Congratulations @BillyGraham on Your 98th Birthday #HappyBirthdayBillyGraham

#HappyBirthdayBillyGraham Thank you for a life committed to serving others. Congratulations on your 98th birthday

Your 98 years have changed many lives. Thank you, @BillyGraham #HappyBirthdayBillyGraham

4. Encourage others to go to this website where I have the images and samples: http://billygrahambio.com/HappyBirthday.html

None of us this side of Heaven will know about the impact of Billy Graham on our world. I encourage you to take a few minutes to wish Mr. Graham a Happy Birthday but also to pass this information on to others so they too can join in the celebration. As you take action, it will make Monday, November 7th, a special day of celebration.

#HappyBirthdayBillyGraham

Tweetable:

Join the 98th  Birthday Celebration for Billy Graham. Get the details here. (ClickToTweet)

Monday, November 7th  marks the 98th birthday for Billy Graham. Join the celebration. (ClickToTweet)

Tired of the Election News? Focus on something positive. (ClickToTweet)
 

Happy Birthday, Billy Graham

Billy Graham has touched millions in over seventy years of preaching the Good News about Jesus Christ. One of the most admired men in the world, Mr. Graham will be 97 years old on November 7^th.  

You can help Billy Graham celebrate this milestone birthday in two ways. First, use the sample tweets and images for your own social media connections (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, etc.). Second, use the tools to enlist others in your church or circle of influence to join in and wish Billy Graham a Happy Birthday.

1. Send your own tweets and Facebook posts. Use the sample tweets below and modify them to make them your own. Also add an image with your post. Studies show that posts with an image will have a greater response and visibility. I’ve included four different images of Mr. Graham below. Also use a free tool like Hootsuite to schedule your tweets using the hashtag so it will “trend” on twitter and other social media sites.
2. Pass the resources below to others. Use the announcement in your church bulletin to get others. Include the announcement in your newsletter or use twitter to send others to this page of resources.

Your efforts can help many people wish Mr. Graham a Happy 97^th Birthday and to mark this special milestone.

Here’s some sample tweets:

I’m celebrating @BillyGraham’s 97^th Birthday #HappyBirthdayBillyGraham

Congratulations @BillyGraham on Your 97^th Birthday #HappyBirthdayBillyGraham

#HappyBirthdayBillyGraham Thank you for a life committed to serving others. Congratulations on your 97^th birthday

Your 97 years have changed many lives. Thank you, @BillyGraham #HappyBirthdayBillyGraham

 Use Images With your Social Media posts

 Images with your social media will have greater appeal so save these images on your desktop (right click and use the "save as" feature), then add them to your post. Here are the four images:

 

W. Terry Whalin is the author of Billy Graham, A Biography of America’s Greatest Evangelist. Over 20 years ago, Terry worked for Mr. Graham as Associate Editor of Decision magazine.

Questions or Feedback?: You can reach Terry at: terry@terrywhalin.com or follow Terry on twitter at: http://twitter.com/terrywhalin  If you are new to twitter and want to learn more information, get Terry’s free handout at: http://terrylinks.com/goviral