In advance of the unveiling of a statue honoring evangelist Billy Graham at the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in Greensboro, N.C., SBC president Bobby Welch presented a bronze model of the sculpture to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in Charlotte May 30.
William Franklin Graham IV, left, receives on behalf of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association a model statue of Graham’s grandfather, evangelist Billy Graham, from SBC president Bobby Welch.Sculpted by Terrell O’Brien – a bivocational pastor whose church and studio are in Wyoming – the bronze model depicts Graham standing before a cross, with outstretched arms, one of which holds a Bible.
Welch noted that the model was being given to the BGEA headquarters on Memorial Day.
“What could be a better time to show appreciation for one of the great warriors for Christ?” Welch asked, “And that’s Dr. Billy Graham.”
Welch read from John 3:14 and 16, observing that the verses represent exactly what Billy Graham and his evangelistic association have done and are committed to continue.
“This is really about a man who lifted up the Lord Jesus, glorified God, and preached the gospel all around the world in a way that has never been done before,” Welch said.
Southern Baptists, Welch said, wanted the smaller model of the statue to reside at Graham’s headquarters as a reminder of their “thanksgiving to the Lord” for Graham’s ministry. After the Greensboro unveiling, the statue will reside permanently in downtown Nashville, he said.
O’Brien described his involvement in the statue project as a “dream come true for a pastor.”
“It was my strong desire that this piece pay tribute to Billy Graham in his life’s work of preaching the gospel,” O’Brien said. “As I began to think what it should look like, eventually the cross came into view.” O’Brien said God “gave me the desire of my heart in my desire to honor not only Billy Graham, but the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.”