Wade, Marty and Kevin’s Excellent Adventure!

I made plans to go to Spartanburg, SC to meet Wade Burleson and Marty Duren during the IMB Trustee meetings this week. I was getting dressed this morning when Marty called and said for me to hurry up because we were going to see Dr. Billy Graham. I thought they were joking with me because I made a joke on Jeremy Robert’s blog about “Name Dropping” where I mentioned that I was friends with Billy Graham. (I was joking of course)

Well Wade and Marty were dead serious. I arrived in Spartanburg and we talked a while at the Marriott. Marty and I ran into an IMB employee. We introduced ourselves and he knew who both of us were. He told us to continue to tell the truth and thanked us for what we have been doing.

Then we got in Wade’s rental car and drove to Black Mountain, NC. Let me say a few things about Wade. Wade has been attacked for being many things. They are very unfair. It is ok to disagree with him. But he is a Godly man who loves God, his family, his church, our missionaries, people and the Southern Baptist Convention. He is also a lot of fun to be with.

Marty is also a Godly man. He is very humble and he loves God, his family, his church, our missionaries, people and the SBC. Both of these guys would do anything for you. I had some personal issues that they prayed with me about. Thanks guys!

When we got to Black Mountain/Montreat, NC, we stopped at FBC Black Mountain. Wade goes in and introduces us to the staff and asks where Dr. Billy Graham’s house is. Wade was suppose to receive a phone call from Dr. Graham but Wade wanted us to meet him in person. Of course Marty and I were up for that.

We drove up a long winding road up the mountain in Montreat, NC. Dr. Graham’s street and house are not marked. We asked several people if they knew where he lived but no one did. We finally got to a gated area at the top of a long winding road. It had a 10ft fence and was electified! We walked around looking for a security guard but none was to be found. Wade had typed up a letter telling Dr. Graham why we wanted to meet with him. He hoped to give it to someone to give to Dr. Graham. We backed down the mountain praying that Wade wouldn’t drive off and kill us!

We were sure that the cops were going to come arrest us! I can see the headlines:

“Three Blogging Pastors Arrested for Stalking Billy Graham!”

Then Wade knocked on the door of a house further down the mountain and no one answered. Wade saw a car coming down from where we thought was Billy Graham’s house so he flew down the mountain hoping to flag them down!! What a hoot! We finally flagged down a nice lady who took us to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association office where we met Dr. Graham’s chief of staff. He is an Southern Baptist who knew who Wade was through the IMB controversy. He took us into Billy Graham’s personal office!!

Above are pictures I took from my Sprint Phone. Dr. Graham’s office is very modest. It has autographed pictures of Presidents and even Muhammed Ali. There are pictures of his family everywhere.

As we sat there in Dr. Graham’s office, I was taken back by the magnitude of where I was. I know he is just a man, but think of all of the millions of people who have come to know Christ because of Dr. Billy Graham!

Unfortunately, Dr. Graham was unable to see us today. His chief of staff is working on making an appointment for us in the future.

What a day!