The American Bible Society has given its first “Heroes of the Faith Lifetime Achievement Award” to high-profile Evangelist Billy Graham.
At the ceremony in Montreat, North Carolina, honouring the 87 year old, the Reverend Paul G Irwin, society president said: "Dr. Graham, you have anchored your life and ministry in the Scriptures."He continued: “With your Bible held high, you would pronounce, `the Bible says,' establishing the authority with which you spoke and unleashing your intensity of conviction."
Billy Graham expressed his appreciation for the award with the following sentiments: "I am honoured and overwhelmed, and I feel hope that not long from now I can present this to Jesus,"
He continued "It is his Spirit that takes that word and applies it to our hearts," reports RNS.
Graham has preached worldwide for over fifty years, and was given a Steuben crystal sculpture that showed hands holding an open Bible. A verse form Habakkuk is etched onto the glass- it reads: "For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." The same verse was quoted at the foundation of the American Bible society in 1816.
Since 1957 the Bible society and Graham’s ministry have been in close cooperation. Some of the biblical texts of the society have been distributed in Graham’s famous crusades.
In 1995 Graham also received the American Bible Society Award in honour of his work furthering the work of the society and “the Bible cause generally.”
