Tributes poured in Wednesday following Christian evangelist Billy Graham’s death at age 99.
Many thanked the influential preacher, who served as adviser to several presidents, for his devotion to spreading Christianity and remembered him as a servant of God.
“The GREAT Billy Graham is dead. There was nobody like him! He will be missed by Christians and all religions. A very special man,” President Trump tweeted.
Graham long suffered from cancer, pneumonia and other ailments. He died at his home in North Carolina at 7:46 a.m. Wednesday, his spokesman confirmed.
Vice President Pence sent his condolences to the Graham family.
“Billy Graham’s ministry for the gospel of Jesus Christ and his matchless voice changed the lives of millions,” Pence wrote on Twitter. “We mourn his passing but I know with absolute certainty that today he heard those words, ‘well done good and faithful servant.’ Thank you Billy Graham. God bless you.”
Former President George H.W. Bush, who was close friends with Graham, said Graham inspired people “across the country and around the world.”
“I think Billy touched the hearts of not only Christians, but people of all faiths, because he was such a good man,” Bush said in a statement.
Former President Jimmy Carter also said Graham touched the lives of millions.
“Broad-minded, forgiving, and humble in his treatment of others, he exemplified the life of Jesus Christ by constantly reaching out for opportunities to serve,” Carter said.
Televangelist Joel Osteen called Graham – who was widely considered “America’s Pastor” — his hero.
“Preaching good news and letting people know about Christ and the love and respect that we can show one another. I think it’s to continue on in that passion,” Osteen told CNN. “He took great steps of faith. He paved the way for young ministers like myself.”
Roy Cooper, the governor of Graham’s home state of North Carolina, said Graham was a “strong, humble, positive and passionate North Carolina man of faith who made a difference in the lives of so many. Rest with God, Reverend Graham – RC.”
Others across the globe were also mourning Graham’s passing.







The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, of the Church of England, said he was “profoundly grateful for [Graham’s] life.”
“He was one who met presidents and preachers, monarchs and musicians, the poor and the rich, the young and the old, face to face,” Welby said in a statement. “Yet now he is face to face with Jesus Christ, his savior and ours. It is the meeting he has been looking forward to for the whole of his life.”
Today show host Kathie Lee Gifford spoke about Graham’s reach as one of the most influential preachers ever, saying she and her family found Christianity through the Billy Graham Organization.
‘The thing that I adored most about him is that he remained the most humble and giant of a man you would ever, ever, ever want to meet,” Gifford told Megyn Kelly on Today. “He had this incredible, loving presence of a person for the masses, but then when you were one-on-one with him, you were the only person in the room. Rarely do people have both of those gift.”




