Will Graham Shares Gospel in China, Celebrates Centennial of Great-Grandparents’ Arrival in Country
Evangelist Will Graham, grandson of Billy and Ruth Graham, returned to China last week to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a city that still remembers and celebrates the impact of his great-grandparents.
Dr. L. Nelson Bell and his wife, Virginia, landed in China 100 years ago, and spent 25 years as medical missionaries in what is now called Huai’an. Graham’s visit was part of a commemoration of the centennial anniversary.
“It’s emotional for me,” said Graham, after preaching to more than 3,000 on Tuesday, Feb. 23, at Huai’an Christian Church. “My great-grandparents gave up so much to spend more than two decades offering the hope of Christ in this city. I feel like I’m harvesting the seeds that I did not sow. People are coming to Christ today because of my great-grandparents’ sacrifice a century ago.”
While in Huai’an, Will preached from John 3:16. Prior to his visit, he had obtained audio of his great-grandfather, Dr. Bell, reading the passage in Huai’anese, which had been recorded in the early 1970s. “As I began my message, I said, ‘I want someone to read this to you. You’ve likely never met him, but you know who he is. It’s my great-grandfather, and he’s going to read this verse right now,'” Graham said. “That was really impactful.”
Many came forward at Graham’s invitation to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ, both in Huai’an and in two similar meetings at Xuan’De (Hudson Taylor Memorial) Church in Zhenjiang, China.
Virginia Bell gave birth to five children during their time in Huai’an. Their second, Ruth McCue Bell, would eventually attend Wheaton College in Illinois, where she met and married a young evangelist named Billy Graham.
“Even today, the people of the city consider my grandmother to be Chinese,” shared Graham. “There has always been an incredible mutual love between the Bells and the people of China.”
This was Graham’s third time in China, following trips there in 2012 and 2015. He was accompanied on the journey by his younger brother, Roy Graham.
In addition to preaching, Graham also had the opportunity to meet with several leaders and dignitaries, including the U.S. Ambassador to China, Max Baucus; Council General of the U.S. Consulate Shanghai, Hanscom Smith; Secretary General of the China Christian Council, Rev. KAN, Bao Ping; and Vice Minister of the State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA), Mr. JIANG, Jianyong.
Now back in the United States, Graham turns his attention to the Colorado River Celebration with Will Graham, a multi-day outreach that will take place March 11-13, 2016, at the Rodeo Grounds at SARA Park in Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
To see more images from Graham’s trip to China, visit http://billygraham.org/gallery/dr-nelson-bell-100th-anniversary-celebration-service.
About Will Graham
Will is the third generation of Grahams to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ under the banner of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA).
(Source: Christian Newswire)
