Billy Graham statue being planned for US Capitol

The funeral of Dr. Billy Graham will be held today at noon. About 2,300 invited guests are expected to attend the private ceremony at the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina. You can watch a live stream of the service here.

Following the service, he will be buried beside his late wife, Ruth, at the foot of the cross-shaped brick walkway in the Library’s Prayer Garden.

According to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, the service “will be held under a large tent that has been constructed in the main parking lot in front of the Library. The tent serves as a reminder of how Mr. Graham’s ministry launched under ‘The Canvas Cathedral’-a white canvas tent during a 1949 Crusade in downtown Los Angeles, where 350,000 people heard him share the Gospel over a period of eight weeks.”

Spokesman Mark DeMoss explained: “It was Mr. Graham’s explicit intent that his funeral service reflect and reinforce the Gospel message he preached for more than 60 years.”

Meanwhile, a more permanent memorial to Dr. Graham’s life and legacy is being planned.

The National Statuary Hall Collection in the US Capitol Building is comprised of statues donated by the fifty American states “to honor persons notable in their history.” One hundred statues have been contributed.

North Carolina lawmakers passed legislation in 2015 calling for a statue of Billy Graham to replace that of Charles Aycock, a former governor. However, those honored must be deceased. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has now asked Congress to grant his state’s request. If approved, the statue would serve as a permanent memorial to Dr. Graham’s life and message.

Permanent, but not eternal.

Billy Graham’s final public message

When Dr. Graham turned ninety-nine last November, his son Franklin released a video that turned out to be his father’s final public message to the world. Here is my transcription of Dr. Graham’s message:

“I’ve been praying that we might…