Since her death on Thursday, June 14, 2007, or more appropriately since her summa cum laude graduation to God’s Eternal Heaven, I have thought a lot about Ruth Bell Graham and the impact she has had on our world. Kitty and I have also talked about the times we were in her company, times which were always filled with laughter, inspiration, conversation and blessing.
Every person who ever met her has their own special memories of this magnificent lady who lived such an extraordinary life. She was down-to-earth, easy to meet and one whose company was always a memory for the rest of your life.
On Tuesday July 8, 1986, Kitty and I flew to Amsterdam, The Netherlands, to be part of the media team for what became popularly known as “Amsterdam ‘86”. It was the worldwide evangelistic training experience for 10,000 evangelists who came from every corner of the earth under the auspices of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. The meetings were in session July 12-21, during which time every kind of evangelism known was examined in hundreds of conferences and plenary sessions. We returned on Tuesday, July 29, after brief speaking stops in Fritzlar, Germany; Zurich, Switzerland and London, England.
During Amsterdam ’86, Kitty served as the receptionist in the media room for more than 300 credentialed media representatives. Her job was primarily to see that they had the latest information available in order to write and broadcast their stories for the rest of the world. I was assigned to be the right hand man of Ed Plowman, chief of media operations, to do whatever he asked me to carry out. He was one terrific writer and media operative.
Every afternoon, as soon as Kitty finished her assignment, she would go to the large and well stocked clothing area and work for several more hours. Also working in that area each day were such well known ladies as Ruth Graham, wife of Billy Graham who served as Chairman for this event; Vonette Bright, wife of Bill Bright; Billie Barrows, wife of Cliff Barrows, the conference music leader.
One day I said, “Ruth, I would guess you could pick something off these clothing racks and still be the best dressed and most attractive lady here.” We both laughed and went on about our work. An hour later I was back and Ruth had on a completely different outfit. She placed her dress on the rack for some evangelist from a third world country to choose for his wife.
That was part of the Ruth Graham nature, finding enjoyment in giving what she had for somebody else. She told me one day about an African evangelist who wanted a white wedding dress for his daughter. He knew he and his wife, on his meager income, could not afford a new dress. Each evangelist had the privilege of choosing ten items of clothing for members of his immediate family.
There was a beautiful smile of delightful satisfaction on her face as Ruth told me that after she had searched through hundreds of dresses she did find that lovely white wedding dress. And tears caressed her caring face and heart as she spoke of a grateful father who wept when the dress he had dreamed of for his daughter was placed in the bag with his nine other garments.
This remarkable lady was perhaps the world’s most outstanding woman during the last 60 years. How could we have had the Billy Graham we have all known without Ruth Graham? God put them together and they stayed together as a team ordained for their special assignment to make a difference in the lives of millions of people throughout the world. She wanted to be a missionary to Tibet, but God chose her as a missionary to the whole world.
Publisher's Note: Bill Ellis, Award Winning
Syndicated Columnist, P.O. Box 345, Scott Depot, WV 25560.
Phone:304-757-6089
www.BillEllis.Net.
