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State of South Dakota
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NINETY-THIRD SESSION LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY, 2018 |
| 297Z0937 | SENATE COMMEMORATION NO. 46 |
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Introduced by: Senators Partridge, Bolin, Cammack, Cronin, Curd, Ewing, Frerichs,
Greenfield (Brock), Haverly, Heinert, Jensen (Phil), Killer, Klumb, Kolbeck,
Langer, Maher, Monroe, Nelson, Netherton, Novstrup, Otten (Ernie), Peters,
Rusch, Russell, Soholt, Solano, Stalzer, Sutton, Tapio, Tidemann, White,
Wiik, and Youngberg and Representatives McPherson, Ahlers, Anderson,
Bartels, Barthel, Bartling, Beal, Bordeaux, Brunner, Campbell, Carson,
Chase, Clark, Conzet, Dennert, Diedrich, DiSanto, Frye-Mueller, Glanzer,
Gosch, Greenfield (Lana), Haugaard, Hawley, Heinemann, Holmes, Howard,
Hunhoff, Jamison, Jensen (Kevin), Johns, Johnson, Kaiser, Karr, Kettwig,
Lake, Latterell, Lesmeister, Livermont, Lust, Marty, May, McCleerey,
Mickelson, Mills, Otten (Herman), Peterson (Kent), Peterson (Sue), Pischke,
Qualm, Rasmussen, Reed, Rhoden, Ring, Rounds, Rozum, Schaefer,
Schoenfish, Smith, Steinhauer, Tulson, Turbiville, Wiese, Willadsen, York,
and Zikmund
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A LEGISLATIVE COMMEMORATION, Commending Reverend William (Billy) F. Graham,
Jr. for his life of evangelistic ministry and efforts to reach the world with the gospel of
Christ.
WHEREAS, Reverend Billy Graham took the Biblical instruction literally in Mark 16:15
to, "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature"; and
WHEREAS, he identified his purpose in life was to help people find a personal relationship
with God, which he believed comes through knowing Christ; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Graham preached the Gospel to more people in live audiences than
anyone else in history - nearly two hundred fifteen million people in over one hundred eighty-five countries and territories, plus additional millions through video film webcast; and
WHEREAS, he was a spiritual advisor for twelve United States presidents from Harry
Truman to Barack Obama; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Graham is credited with leading hundreds of thousands of people
into a relationship with Jesus Christ; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Graham funded the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and under
that ministry started the weekly Hour of Decision radio program which ran for over sixty years,
multiple television programs, the My Answer newspaper column, and Decision magazine which
is one of the most widely circulated religious periodicals with a circulation of more than four
hundred twenty-five thousand; and
WHEREAS, he authored thirty-three different books, many of which became top sellers
including his autobiography Just As I Am (1997), which achieved the triple crown by
simultaneously reaching the top three best seller lists; and
WHEREAS, he was given many awards and recognitions including the Ronald Reagan
Presidential Foundation Freedom Award (2000), the Congressional Gold Medal (1996), the
Templeton Foundation Prize for Progress in Religion (1982), the Big Brother Award (1966),
the Speaker of the Year Award (1964), honorary knighthood from Honorary Knight Commander
of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) (2001), and recognition from the Anti-Defamation
League of the B'nai B'rith in 1969 and the National Conference of Christians and Jews in 1971
for his efforts to foster a better understanding among all faiths; and
WHEREAS, Gallup named Reverend Graham as one of the Ten Most Admired Men in the
World sixty-one different times and he is widely considered to have been the most influential
evangelist of modern times:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT COMMEMORATED, by the Ninety-Third Legislature of the
State of South Dakota, that Reverend William (Billy) F. Graham Jr. be honored and commended
for his service to his King in bringing the Gospel of Christ into all the world.
