In the autumn of 1934, a restless young Billy Graham attended a series of revival meetings in a vast 5,000-seat tabernacle in Charlotte, North Carolina. Despite his religious upbringing, Graham felt purposeless and spiritually empty. As he later recounted, 'As a teenager, what I needed to know for certain was that I was right with God. I could not help but admit to myself that I was purposeless and empty-hearted.' Encouraged by Albert McMakin, a worker on his family's farm, Graham went to hear the fervent preaching of evangelist Mordecai Ham.
On November 1, as Ham spoke of God's love, citing Romans 5:8, Graham felt drawn to respond. 'After all his tirades against sin, he gave us a gentle reminder: But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,' Graham remembered. As the hymn 'Just As I Am' played, Graham felt compelled to walk to the front, despite feeling as if lead weights were attached to his feet.
Initially, he was unsure of his decision. 'My heart sank when I looked over at the lady standing next to me with tears running down her cheeks. I was not crying. I did not feel any special emotion of any kind just then. Maybe, I thought, I was not supposed to be there,' he confessed. Yet, by checking 'Recommitment' on the card, he made a deliberate choice to commit to Jesus Christ truly and intentionally.
Though no dramatic emotional experience accompanied his decision, Graham noted, 'I simply felt at peace. Quiet, not delirious. Happy and peaceful.' From that point onward, Graham's life was transformed. He realized that God had a purpose for him and was called to spread the Gospel. This moment marked the beginning of a journey that would eventually lead him to preach to millions around the globe, sharing the message of Jesus Christ.
