Ruth Bell Graham

https://odb.org/MY/2022/10/28/for-the-sake-of-the-gospel-2

Dr Nelson Bell, a surgeon whose first job was in the Love & Mercy Hospital, Jiangsu – the only hospital then in a city of at least 2 million. He was born in 1894, so the year he started in Jiangsu was around 1916 and he stayed on for another 24 years to just around 1940 or WW2. He is the father in law of Billy Graham as his daughter is Ruth Bell Graham.

Billy Graham as we all know is one of the world’s most influential evangelist and as a couple Billy and Ruth were also well known for their simple and righteous lifestyle and upright and godly character. They are both well respected by many within and beyond the Christian world. One of the few who were never embroiled in any money or sex controversy and yet so well known to have preached to millions for salvation.

I just like to highlight this morning the heritage of Ruth who was born and who grew up in China in the early 20th century whose father was a medical missionary to China for at least 24 years, from the young age of 22 till 46 – basically his peak years as an adult totally given to God for His service.

It is rare nowadays to hear of missionary heritage or families and in my own local church I can only see of potentially only one person and another one who had left. It is rather sad to see that fewer young people are dedicating their lives to full time ministry and missions.

The message today is however on our character as a person as the best means to reach out to others with the Gospel. The message of Christ is not just preaching Christ crucified and resurrected as the path to eternal salvation but living out that life as a person in school, college and at work. Are we a responsible and dependable person? Are we righteous before God and man? Do we practice the Christian values we learn in church? Are we like Billy and Ruth Graham and Nelson Bell? Do spend time reading about these giants of the faith and my prayer for us is that as we read about them, we will be inspired to genuinely and honestly live for Christ every moment of our lives!