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Billy: The Untold Story of a Young Billy Graham and the Test of Faith That Almost Changed Everything
Follows Billy Graham's friendship with evangelist Charles Templeton and his crisis of faith when Templeton turned to academia, denouncing both Christianity and Graham.
264 pages, Hardcover
First published October 28, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 17, 2009
"Billy" by William Paul McKay & Ken Abraham is a biography about Billy Graham and I was expecting just that, a boring biography. I was completely mistaken. Though the book did a great job of retelling a series of life-altering moments in Billy's life, I was not expecting such a dramatic novelistic approach.
The book begins with Charles Templeton, one of Billy Graham's best friends, who is being interviewed by a lady named Deborah who's looking for any dirt she can find on Billy in order to boost her career as a journalist. Right off the bat, Templeton makes it known that there is absolutely no dirt to be found when it comes to Billy Graham. "He's the genuine article. He actually believe all that stuff he preaches," as Templeton says it. But as you continue on, you begin to see that while Templeton who has left his beliefs in Christianity long ago, he deeply admires Billy even though he often makes comments that he has "committed intellectual suicide."
Templeton takes us through many events in Billy's life such as the moment he began to believe in Christ to the dark woods when he was filled with doubts about his faith and on the verge of giving up. As we make this journey through Billy's life, we are also given a glimpse into the life of Charles Templeton and how he began to doubt his beliefs in Christianity which eventually lead him to leaving his ministry to pursue a degree and declaring himself agnostic.
It was Templeton's doubts in God that brought Billy to that tree stump in the middle of the woods in CA one dark night. In those moments, Billy was on his knees before God pleading for answers. "Oh God, there are many things in [the Bible:] that I don't understand. There are questions in this book that I just can't answer. There are some areas that don't seem to correlate with modern science. So give me something. Anything! Where are you?" Then Billy remembered his mother reminding him that Jesus will never leave you nor forsake you. Billy looked back at his Bible and declared, "You said in Your Word that the just shall live by faith," and he never looked back. Billy knew in that moment that he would believe in faith that in the Bible was the truly inspired Word of God. It was after this test of faith that Billy Graham's ministry grew into what we all know of today.
I would definitely recommend this book anyone who has had doubts about their faith. As Billy says early on in his life, it is okay to question. It's those questions that will lead you to the Truth if you choose to pursue it.
The book begins with Charles Templeton, one of Billy Graham's best friends, who is being interviewed by a lady named Deborah who's looking for any dirt she can find on Billy in order to boost her career as a journalist. Right off the bat, Templeton makes it known that there is absolutely no dirt to be found when it comes to Billy Graham. "He's the genuine article. He actually believe all that stuff he preaches," as Templeton says it. But as you continue on, you begin to see that while Templeton who has left his beliefs in Christianity long ago, he deeply admires Billy even though he often makes comments that he has "committed intellectual suicide."
Templeton takes us through many events in Billy's life such as the moment he began to believe in Christ to the dark woods when he was filled with doubts about his faith and on the verge of giving up. As we make this journey through Billy's life, we are also given a glimpse into the life of Charles Templeton and how he began to doubt his beliefs in Christianity which eventually lead him to leaving his ministry to pursue a degree and declaring himself agnostic.
It was Templeton's doubts in God that brought Billy to that tree stump in the middle of the woods in CA one dark night. In those moments, Billy was on his knees before God pleading for answers. "Oh God, there are many things in [the Bible:] that I don't understand. There are questions in this book that I just can't answer. There are some areas that don't seem to correlate with modern science. So give me something. Anything! Where are you?" Then Billy remembered his mother reminding him that Jesus will never leave you nor forsake you. Billy looked back at his Bible and declared, "You said in Your Word that the just shall live by faith," and he never looked back. Billy knew in that moment that he would believe in faith that in the Bible was the truly inspired Word of God. It was after this test of faith that Billy Graham's ministry grew into what we all know of today.
I would definitely recommend this book anyone who has had doubts about their faith. As Billy says early on in his life, it is okay to question. It's those questions that will lead you to the Truth if you choose to pursue it.
September 23, 2023
So good!!! I always thought Billy Graham was special, this was just the telling of a special man called by God for a special call. Great book with a contrast about his friend Charles Templeton a professed atheist.
November 14, 2024
Audio.
This isn’t a biography. This doesn’t even tell much of Billy’s life. It gives a small number of snapshots of his life and alternates with the end-of-life musings of his good friend Charles Templeton opining on Billy’s character. Let’s be clear about how the story is told so you won’t be disappointed. The story arc is stilted.
Perhaps my favorite part of this book, knowing of the legendary nature of Billy’s life but knowing few details, was just how many people said he would never amount to much, and just how little ambition Billy had in his young life. But God. And it was striking that Charles Templeton, who had made a name for himself, couldn’t compete with a man with so little education and questionable intellect who humbly did great things for God.
This book got me going down a rabbit hole about Billy’s life (especially in light of the recent election) and makes me want to read more. That, I suppose, marks a great book. The story is told in such an unusual way that I considered a lower rating, but on reflection, didn’t it serve its purpose? It left me wanting more, researching more.
Now I'm curious to see the film.
This isn’t a biography. This doesn’t even tell much of Billy’s life. It gives a small number of snapshots of his life and alternates with the end-of-life musings of his good friend Charles Templeton opining on Billy’s character. Let’s be clear about how the story is told so you won’t be disappointed. The story arc is stilted.
Perhaps my favorite part of this book, knowing of the legendary nature of Billy’s life but knowing few details, was just how many people said he would never amount to much, and just how little ambition Billy had in his young life. But God. And it was striking that Charles Templeton, who had made a name for himself, couldn’t compete with a man with so little education and questionable intellect who humbly did great things for God.
This book got me going down a rabbit hole about Billy’s life (especially in light of the recent election) and makes me want to read more. That, I suppose, marks a great book. The story is told in such an unusual way that I considered a lower rating, but on reflection, didn’t it serve its purpose? It left me wanting more, researching more.
Now I'm curious to see the film.
May 9, 2023
Having lived in Billy Graham country, I thought to learn more about him. Unfortunately, this dramatized retelling was not what I was looking for. I would have rather read a biography. I didn't find Billy compelling or overly informative. I'm curious how much truth there was in the Templeton sections.
2.5 stars.
2.5 stars.
March 20, 2024
This one changed the way I think about God and enhanced how I pray.
August 14, 2025
Wonderful read about a man highly respected and revered.
May 26, 2021
This book tells us anyone can be a servant of God. We need to listen to his voice and step out in faith.
April 6, 2009
I don't read a lot of biographies. And I'll be honest: this one took me a while to get through. The book tells the story of how Billy Graham became Billy Graham, and it's told through the eyes of his friend and former evangelist turned agnostic, Charles Templeton. McKay and Abraham frame the telling of Graham's - and Templeton's - story as an interview with a reporter looking for dirt on the beloved Graham. (In case you're actually wondering, I'll skip to the ending for you: no, she did not get any dirt.)
I felt that the writing was a bit plodding in some parts and a bit preachy in others. Some areas really called for suspense of my disbelief, as I wondered how Templeton, who was telling the story, could possibly know so many details of Graham's life. That's the tricky part of a biography, I suppose: writing a true story that reads like fiction, maintaining truth while keeping it interesting.
But in the back half of the book, the authors finally get to the point they advertised on the back cover: A remarkable friendship. An agonizing betrayal. The true story of a crisis of faith.
When Charles Templeton, Graham's best friend and partner in a budding evangelism career, gave in to the doubts and questions he held about Christianity, eventually denouncing everything he'd believed and everything Graham continued to preach, it understandably rocked Graham's world.
The climax of the book and the turning point in Graham's life was a night at a retreat center in California. McKay and Abraham describe in detail the supernatural battle between God and Satan for Graham's soul, his future and his ministry.
Of course we know how this story ends. But reading about the war that was waged - and considering the consequences from that one night, that one decision - pretty much blew me away.
If you're a fan of biographies or of Billy Graham, I say read this book. Or if you are interested in learning more about how God could use one simple farm boy to literally change this world, I say read this book. Because it's more than a story. It's a miracle and a lesson and an inspiration.
Like I said before, it took me a long time to get around to reading this book. But I am glad I did.
I felt that the writing was a bit plodding in some parts and a bit preachy in others. Some areas really called for suspense of my disbelief, as I wondered how Templeton, who was telling the story, could possibly know so many details of Graham's life. That's the tricky part of a biography, I suppose: writing a true story that reads like fiction, maintaining truth while keeping it interesting.
But in the back half of the book, the authors finally get to the point they advertised on the back cover: A remarkable friendship. An agonizing betrayal. The true story of a crisis of faith.
When Charles Templeton, Graham's best friend and partner in a budding evangelism career, gave in to the doubts and questions he held about Christianity, eventually denouncing everything he'd believed and everything Graham continued to preach, it understandably rocked Graham's world.
The climax of the book and the turning point in Graham's life was a night at a retreat center in California. McKay and Abraham describe in detail the supernatural battle between God and Satan for Graham's soul, his future and his ministry.
Of course we know how this story ends. But reading about the war that was waged - and considering the consequences from that one night, that one decision - pretty much blew me away.
If you're a fan of biographies or of Billy Graham, I say read this book. Or if you are interested in learning more about how God could use one simple farm boy to literally change this world, I say read this book. Because it's more than a story. It's a miracle and a lesson and an inspiration.
Like I said before, it took me a long time to get around to reading this book. But I am glad I did.
December 10, 2012
Book title: Billy
Authors: William Paul McKay & Ken Abraham
Nashville, Thomas Nelson, 2008
264 pages
Billy is the life story of Billy Graham as told to a reporter by outspoken atheist, Charles Templeton. A has-been reporter, Deborah Matthews, is sent to Templeton on his death bed with one assignment: get dirt on Graham. Matthews is pressured and threatened by her editor with an ultimatum: deliver scandal or hit the bricks.
The story is told from Templeton’s point of view. Charles Templeton and Billy Graham were close associates in the early years of Graham’s ministry. Charismatic evangelists, both, were filling venues with folks hungry for the gospel of Jesus. Despite success and an incredible ability to influence people, Templeton grows skeptical and finds himself at a crossroads; a crisis of faith. He is plagued with doubts and questions. If God exists, how could he allow the evil of Auschwitz and Nagasaki? Can modern science and the Bible exist in harmony? Is Jesus of Nazareth really the Son of God? These unanswered questions left a vacuum of doubt in Templeton so great that he would no longer preach a Bible he couldn’t believe.
Templeton’s departure from ministry and the faith shakes Billy to the core. Graham, himself, is at a crossroads. Can he preach if he can’t provide answers to Templeton’s challenges?
Few in American culture are ignorant of Billy Graham and his success. McKay and Abraham weave the story of Graham’s journey masterfully. They develop their characters endearingly – Billy, Ruth Bell, Templeton, and Matthews – in a way that readers grow affectionate toward each one.
Billy is one of the best biographies I’ve read in a long time. I’m looking forward to being disappointed by the movie because the book is always better.
http://mondokblog.blogspot.com/2008/1...
Authors: William Paul McKay & Ken Abraham
Nashville, Thomas Nelson, 2008
264 pages
Billy is the life story of Billy Graham as told to a reporter by outspoken atheist, Charles Templeton. A has-been reporter, Deborah Matthews, is sent to Templeton on his death bed with one assignment: get dirt on Graham. Matthews is pressured and threatened by her editor with an ultimatum: deliver scandal or hit the bricks.
The story is told from Templeton’s point of view. Charles Templeton and Billy Graham were close associates in the early years of Graham’s ministry. Charismatic evangelists, both, were filling venues with folks hungry for the gospel of Jesus. Despite success and an incredible ability to influence people, Templeton grows skeptical and finds himself at a crossroads; a crisis of faith. He is plagued with doubts and questions. If God exists, how could he allow the evil of Auschwitz and Nagasaki? Can modern science and the Bible exist in harmony? Is Jesus of Nazareth really the Son of God? These unanswered questions left a vacuum of doubt in Templeton so great that he would no longer preach a Bible he couldn’t believe.
Templeton’s departure from ministry and the faith shakes Billy to the core. Graham, himself, is at a crossroads. Can he preach if he can’t provide answers to Templeton’s challenges?
Few in American culture are ignorant of Billy Graham and his success. McKay and Abraham weave the story of Graham’s journey masterfully. They develop their characters endearingly – Billy, Ruth Bell, Templeton, and Matthews – in a way that readers grow affectionate toward each one.
Billy is one of the best biographies I’ve read in a long time. I’m looking forward to being disappointed by the movie because the book is always better.
http://mondokblog.blogspot.com/2008/1...
November 11, 2008
Powerful, dramatic, gripping...these are the words that come to mind when trying to describe this book.
This is not your ordinary, garden-variety biography. At first, that intrigued me, then it bothered and upset me. By page 40 I was ready to quit.
But I couldn't. The story had already drawn me in.
Billy, a book by William Paul McKay and Ken Abraham, tells the story of Billy Graham's early years. The book reads like a novelized version of a movie script. And that's basically what it is. So if you begin this book, as I did, expecting a traditional non-fiction work, you will be thrown off-track.
However, if you understand going into the book that it is a dramatized account, I think you will be able to better enjoy and appreciate the story.
See more in-depth review at www.wordvessel.blogspot.com
This is not your ordinary, garden-variety biography. At first, that intrigued me, then it bothered and upset me. By page 40 I was ready to quit.
But I couldn't. The story had already drawn me in.
Billy, a book by William Paul McKay and Ken Abraham, tells the story of Billy Graham's early years. The book reads like a novelized version of a movie script. And that's basically what it is. So if you begin this book, as I did, expecting a traditional non-fiction work, you will be thrown off-track.
However, if you understand going into the book that it is a dramatized account, I think you will be able to better enjoy and appreciate the story.
See more in-depth review at www.wordvessel.blogspot.com
September 5, 2012
This book showcases the story of how Billy Graham became such an amazing man after God's own heart! From the early years and the meeting with Ruth and through out Billy Graham has lived a life few have followed. His life and his faith showcase a powerful example of God and the devotion Billy has given to God and the love He found in Ruth. This book and movie are without a doubt a must read and must see film. One of my most favorite of all time. Billy the Early Years Movie and this ebook also available on Audio CD. Unforgetable.
July 11, 2010
This book was an excellent overview of Billy Graham's life. I learned a lot that I didn't know , about his ministry and how it started, his mentors. I highly recommend this book. In the book, Charles Templeton is being interviewed by a reporter about his life with Billy Graham and how he became friends with Billy, and started the ministry. There were some entertaining parts in the book also, like how Billy and Ruth Graham met.
February 16, 2012
Great read! Very inspiring to help you stay faithful to your calling. Quotes "Christians fail to understand: that a successful journey with God involves daily CHOICES." Graham speaking on the scriptures, "It was the divinely inspired word of God, and when it was taught and preached in the power of God's Holy Spirit, people's lives could be changed." Graham issued a statement about his wife after her death on page 258! Wow! I say the same for my wife.
September 11, 2012
The first half of this book was a 3,but then it went downhill. I was interested in reading about the beginnings of Billy Graham. Whether you agree with him or not, the guy is an American institution. Then the book tried too hard to become an novel.
September 16, 2009
Absolutely fabulous book that I recommend for everyone to read. Very inspirational.
December 29, 2011
An easy read about the evangelist's early life.
August 28, 2013
Awesome
August 18, 2015
I loved this book. I've always greatly admired Rev Billy Graham and this book gave me great insight to the struggles he had to become the great evangelist that he is today.
July 7, 2016
This biography covers some little known areas of Billy's early days as an evangelist/preacher -- worth the read and the insights of how America's Preacher battled through to see the Glory of God!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews