requiring more than compassion. C. S. Lewis observed, “Love is
something more stern and splendid than mere kindness.”
Billy has been portrayed as a nice do-gooder with little aware-
ness or starch in the spine. But agapelove can be tough love. For
instance, John Akers told us that although Billy could usually dis-
arm hostile situations, sometimes he was forced to be stern. “He was
in Communist East Germany to speak to a Lutheran synod,” John
told us. “The reception was so cold, the conveners so arrogant, that
when he got up he said, ‘When I came in, I had seldom met such a
hostile group, and it shouldn’t be that way. We are brothers in
Christ, and I love you. But this atmosphere does not reflect that.’”
John remembers that Billy’s forthright statements “just wiped
them out.” They got the message—sometimes “tough love”
requires redemptive correction.
We asked Cliff Barrows what he thought about John Corts’s
statement that the ultimate distinctive of Billy’s leadership was
his leading in love. “I think it’s so true,” he responded. Cliff went
on to describe how Graham “was always inquiring about my chil-
dren. He showed genuine interest in them, in my first wife, Bil-
lie, and in myself. He displayed that love in many different ways.”
After his wife died of cancer, Cliff met Ann, whose husband
had also died of cancer. “I told Bill I wanted him to meet her,”
Cliff told us. “We were engaged but not married yet. So I drove
her up to his house, and he was already out the door, coming
toward the car. He saw Ann, and he opened up his arms and said,
‘Ann, welcome to our home, welcome to our hearts, welcome to
the BGEA.’ He just immediately accepted her with total ease and
a gracious spirit. And his wife, Ruth, did the same. That meant so
much to us.”
Frank Thielman told us stories of Billy’s generosity, including
handing over their house keys. Frank’s father was the Grahams’
pastor. “When my dad was sick and in need of rest,” Frank
explained, “the Grahams sensed his need. They were going away
for three weeks, and they told my mom and dad to just come up
there and stay at their house. So our family did that for three
weeks. That’s amazing—it’s a real example to me.”
The Leadership Secrets of Billy Graham