We see here—in the humor and ease yet also the strong posi-
tions—that the breadth of influence from many streams of Chris-
tendom stretched and informed Billy. But the wisdom did not
come without strongly differing positions, emphases, and beliefs.
Sometimes he had to wrestle through what became crucibles of
faith or strategy.
Learning from others was not just a matter of picking up skills
and insights. What if others challenged the basic assumptions on
which he had staked his life?
■ ■ ■A major crisis of belief was precipitated by his early colleague,
Chuck Templeton. They had ministered together in Youth for
Christ, and Billy had considered Chuck more gifted in many
ways than he. Templeton went on to Princeton Seminary,
where he began to doubt significant tenets of the faith. Billy
would meet with him in New York, where Templeton would
pose questions about the Bible and theology that Billy could
not answer. It became a painful crucible, indeed, for Billy
understood the stakes. If he had significant doubts about the
Scriptures and felt he was being intellectually dishonest, he
would lose the call and the power that fueled his ministry. It
rocked him to the core.
Through discussions with both Templeton and conservative
scholars and colleagues, and through long and agonizing periods
of reflection and prayer, he broke through to a certitude that he
could rely on the Scriptures and the essentials of Christian faith.
Billy had carefully weighed all the contrasting input from others,
mixing it with prayers and tears and laying it all before God. As
Melvin and so many others have said, in times of great challenges,
Billy would call on the Lord with great fervor. Allan Emery
observed that the difference he has seen in Billy—contrasted with
so many other leaders—is that when confronted with a crisis, he
would spend literally an entire night in prayer seeking God’s
direction and empowerment.The Leadership Secrets of Billy Graham