Graham memory Web site inspires book

McClatchy Newspapers (MCT) - Basyle and Aram Tchividjian wanted to hear the stories of the people touched by the ministry of their famous grandfather, Billy Graham. So they set up a Web site, thankyoubilly.com, and invited folks to contribute their memories.

"I was often moved, sometimes to tears, when I would read through the stories," said Basyle "Boz" Tchividjian in an interview from Lynchburg, Va., where he is in his first year on faculty at Liberty University School of Law.

"We had collected so many incredible stories that we thought, 'Man, maybe we should do something with these, try to put you there in a book using words and photos.' There are so many books about Billy Graham, but we wanted to do something different. You see a photo of a stadium filled with little dots. We realized there are stories behind each one of those faces. We've heard about what kings, presidents, even Larry King think about Billy Graham. This book is less about Billy Graham and more about how God is using him to change lives. Hopefully, God's in the limelight in this book."

The result, "Invitation: Billy Graham and the Lives God Touched" (Multnomah, $19.99), contains photos through the decades of the man the authors called "Daddy Bill" and his crusades. The introduction paints this picture of the famed evangelist before he began his ministry:

"As he practiced preaching to squirrels, rabbits and palm trees, Daddy Bill thought up excuse after excuse for why he could never become a preacher. But as time passed, the excuses diminished. He knew he couldn't escape the powerful calling of his heavenly father to preach the word to all people. During these struggles, he was often reminded of God's encouragement to Moses: Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say. ...

"As grandchildren, we have been blessed to know Daddy Bill in a more intimate and personal way than most people have _ after the cameras have been turned off and the crowds have gone home. Here is a man who will get off the phone from speaking with the president of the United States and immediately invite the cook to sit down and join his family for dinner at the kitchen table. ...

"Daddy Bill has always had time for us, and for that we have been so blessed."

The book includes the story of Boz Tchividjian's father, Stephen, who grew up in Switzerland and accepted Christ at age 15 after reading Graham's book "Peace With God." Years later, he met and married Graham's oldest daughter, Gigi; they have seven children. Boz is the third child in his family and also third oldest of Graham's 19 grandchildren.

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Asked when he knew that Graham wasn't an ordinary grandpa, Boz Tchividjian responded, "He's been Daddy Bill to us our entire life. He's such an everyday man, the most humble person I've met. So when you're with him, you don't sense he's this world-famous person.

"When I was young, walking out to a stadium with 30,000 to 40,000 people waiting to hear him speak, I knew. We've met presidents and other people we never would have met. But he's always related to everyday people. I think that's what people love and value about him."

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He said two stories in the book touched him the most.

The first is the story of Theresa, daughter of an abusive father and a loving mother who left her husband to get her two daughters out of harm's way. But at age 6, Teresa was hospitalized for mental illness due to the trauma she had experienced and witnessed. One evening, as the nurse was changing TV channels, Teresa saw a Billy Graham crusade and begged, over the cries of the other children, to watch it. It had brought back one of her few good memories, of watching past crusades with her mother and sister.

"That night, I watched Billy Graham from that cold and lonely place. He brought the warmth and comfort of the Lord right where I was, and at the age of 6, I gave my life to the Lord."

The show and its result had a profound impact on Teresa. She said that just a few days later, her mother took her home, her mental conflicts at an end.

The second is the story of Allison, who had decided to commit suicide. But as she got up from the couch, "I stepped on the television remote and it turned to a channel that was airing a Billy Graham crusade." The words that stood out to her most were Graham's oft-used phrase, "God loves you just as you are right now." By the end of the message, Allison had found a sense of peace and a new hope for her life.

"God's sense of humor, to use a remote control to open her heart to the Gospel," Tchividjian said, "that's the thing about this book _ it's all about the people. We just created the narrative and the backdrop."

Tchividjian's backdrop includes eight years as a prosecutor and eight years in private practice specializing in labor and employment cases, all in Florida. While there, he said, he helped found GRACE _ Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment, which trains Christian churches and agencies to prevent abuse and how to respond if it does occur.

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"I was a child sexual abuse prosecutor for a number of years, dealing with this terrible sin and crime," he said. "We just are getting to the point of getting them to acknowledge that it happens and to address it."

He said he and his brother also plan to continue their Web site to encourage others to share their experiences with Graham and his work.

"I pray we keep it up until the last story is told," he said.

What about his own experience of faith regarding his grandfather?

"I think the greatest impact is to see up close and personal his authentic walk with Christ. He doesn't think that he's special or holier than thou.

"I grew up in the 1980s, when televangelists were dropping like flies. He was the real deal. What an encouragement for a young boy growing up in his faith. He's not just some hypocrite. Daddy Bill was able to love the Lord more and more with each passing year. That gave me hope, gave me encouragement that Christianity is authentic."

Visit the Web site, thankyoubilly.com to read stories of people touched by Billy Graham's ministry or to leave your own story.

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© 2008, The Modesto Bee (Modesto, Calif.).