[Apologetics] Fwd: Baptist Press UPDATE -- Ruth Graham dies at 87

[Art Kelly]

--- Baptist Press Mailing List <bpress at sbc.net> wrote:

> To: arthurkelly at yahoo.com
> From: Baptist Press Mailing List <bpress at sbc.net>
> Subject: Baptist Press UPDATE -- Ruth Graham dies at
> 87
> Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2007 18:02:25 -0500 (CDT)
> 
> 
> Ruth Bell Graham dies at 87
> By Staff
> 
> MONTREAT, N.C. (BP)--Ruth Bell Graham, wife of
> evangelist Billy Graham, died at 5:05 EST June 14,
> surrounded by her husband and five children at her
> Montreat, N.C., home. She was 87.
> 
> "Ruth was my life partner, and we were called by God
> as a team," Billy Graham said in a statement after
> her death. "No one else could have borne the load
> that she carried. She was a vital and integral part
> of our ministry, and my work through the years would
> have been impossible without her encouragement and
> support.
> 
> "I am so grateful to the Lord that He gave me Ruth,
> and especially for these last few years we've had in
> the mountains together," Graham added. "We've
> rekindled the romance of our youth, and my love for
> her continued to grow deeper every day. I will miss
> her terribly, and look forward even more to the day
> I can join her in heaven."
> 
> For several weeks, Graham had been confined to bed
> as she suffered from degenerative osteoarthritis of
> the back and neck, and two weeks ago she was
> diagnosed with pneumonia and seemed to be
> recovering, A. Larry Ross, a spokesman for the
> Graham family, told Baptist Press. But on the
> morning of June 13 she fell into a coma.
> 
> At the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in
> San Antonio that day, SBC President Frank Page led
> messengers in a time of prayer for Graham, whom he
> called a "dear saint of God."
> 
> Ross said Graham was alert on Sunday, June 10, to
> celebrate her birthday and was encouraged by visits
> from family members.
> 
> Billy Graham released a statement June 13 announcing
> the plans he and Ruth had settled on for their
> burial.
> 
> "Earlier this spring, after much prayer and
> discussion, Ruth and I made the decision to be
> buried beside each other at the Billy Graham Library
> in my hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina," Graham
> said. "We have held this decision privately and only
> decided to announce it now that she is close to
> going home to heaven."
> 
> Graham called Ruth his soul mate and best friend,
> saying he cannot imagine living a single day without
> her by his side.
> 
> "I am more in love with her today than when we first
> met over 65 years ago as students at Wheaton
> College," he said.
> 
> The worldwide evangelist said he and Ruth
> appreciated the prayers and letters of encouragement
> they had received.
> 
> "Our entire family has been home in recent days and
> it has meant so much to have them at our side during
> this time," Graham said in the June 13 statement.
> "We love each one of them dearly and thank God for
> them."
> 
> Graham, 88, suffers from fluid on the brain,
> prostate cancer, Parkinson's disease and age-related
> macular degeneration. The Billy Graham Library was
> dedicated in his honor May 31 with three former U.S.
> presidents in attendance, and it opened to the
> public June 5.
> 
> The Grahams married in 1943 and they have 19
> grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren in
> addition to their five children. Arrangements for a
> private funeral are pending.
> --30--
> Compiled by Erin Roach.
> 
> 
> 
> 


ART KELLY, ATM-S
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