Are you searching for a new way to teach your students about history?
Look no further than the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina, where history comes alive through interactive displays and exhibits that tell the story of one life that reached millions with the Gospel. Consistently ranked as TripAdvisor’s #1 thing to do in Charlotte, the Billy Graham Library welcomes visitors from all corners of the globe to discover the history of world-renowned evangelist Billy Graham.
At the Billy Graham Library, Billy Graham’s evangelistic work lives on. Nestled on a serene, 20-acre property, just minutes from the Charlotte Douglas International Airport, the Billy Graham Library brings his story to life through the self-guided Journey of Faith tour. Every visitor can hear the same message he preached from Charlotte to Los Angeles and Sydney to Johannesburg: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
God’s Ambassador
From his humble beginning on a dairy farm to his role as “God’s Ambassador” to the world, Billy Graham’s ministry spanned over eight decades and reached every corner of the globe. Graham preached the Gospel to nearly 215 million people in more than 185 countries and territories through various meetings and engagements. His influential voice and simple message provided comfort and hope through times of worldwide crisis, including during the Cold War, apartheid, and following the terrorist attacks of 9/11.
Graham’s counsel to U.S. presidents and world leaders mirrored his message to everyday men, women, and children. He preached in remote African villages and in the heart of New York City, and ministered to people from heads of state to the bushmen of Australia and the nomadic tribes of the Middle East. No matter where he went, or who he addressed, he shared the love of Jesus Christ with everybody he encountered.
Ministry Through Technology
Graham embraced emerging technology throughout the decades to reach audiences far beyond the pulpit. Since Graham founded the ministry in 1950, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s mission has been to proclaim the Gospel through every effective means available. What began with in-person, evangelistic outreaches eventually evolved as new technology developed. Through The Journey of Faith tour at the Billy Graham Library, you can see how events, books, radio, television, films, and the internet have helped continue what began 75 years ago.
Student Resources and STEAM
Today, student groups can see how those technologies apply through our free educational resources and STEAM field trip experience. Teachers are encouraged to use the free downloadable lesson plans available on the Library’s website to give an added lens to a field trip here. Through lesson plans on topics such as “Billy Graham and Racial Equality,” “Pastor to Presidents,” “The Music of the Ministry,” “The Cold War,” and more, students from elementary through high school can discover how ministry can extend beyond the classroom. Each lesson plan includes activities to do before, during, and after a visit to the Library, and each plan is aligned with state and federal standards.
The full-day STEAM field trip program invites students to explore Billy Graham’s life and ministry through engaging activities in science, technology, engineering, art, and math. The program is suitable for all grade levels, and all materials are provided. The only cost for the day is lunch from the on-site Graham Brothers Dairy Bar.
One teacher shared that the STEAM program was “the best field trip[they’ve] ever done!” a sentiment echoed by many educators from across the region.
Educational Trips
Whether your group is participating in a STEAM field trip or standard educational tour, students are encouraged to take The Journey of Faith tour, where they’re challenged to complete a scavenger hunt known as “Bessie’s Brainteasers.” The scavenger hunt is offered in both a pictorial version for younger guests and a written version for students in higher grade levels.
Additionally, students can step back in time through the lens of one of Billy Graham’s ministry team members with free vintage press pass lanyards. These cards share the biography and photo of their assigned BGEA ministry team member, with questions on the back to answer as they go through the tour. Students can keep their press passes as a souvenir. The press passes can also provide a wonderful follow-up activity once the students return to the classroom as they share what they learned about the individual on their card.
Just a short walk away, the Billy Graham Archive and Research Center houses all the evangelist’s papers and artifacts in one location. This allows students, leaders, and scholars the opportunity to study his records and correspondence on the same campus where they can also visit his boyhood home, gravesite, and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association headquarters. While the Billy Graham Archive and Research Center is open to researchers, appointments are required and can be made at BillyGrahamArchiveCenter.com.
Plan Your Visit
Throughout his life, learning was a passion for Billy Graham. In fact, in his later years, when asked if he had any regrets, Billy said, “I wish I had studied a great deal more.” The Billy Graham Library is a valuable resource for your students as they grow in their education and experience learning in a new and exciting way.
To learn more about the Billy Graham Library Student Tours and Educational Resources, or to request your free materials, email LibraryStudents@bgea.org or visit BillyGrahamLibrary.org.
Contact Library Tours
- (704) 401-3200
- LibraryStudents@bgea.org
- BillyGrahamLibrary.org
