“My one purpose in life is to help people find a personal relationship with God, which, I believe, comes through knowing Christ.” – Rev. Billy Graham

Family Research Council (FRC) President Tony Perkins commented on the passing of Christian evangelist Rev. Billy Graham, who died Wednesday at the age of 99.

“Billy Graham grew up in what most would consider humble, ordinary beginnings, but because he yielded himself to God, he was used to accomplish the extraordinary – forever impacting the lives of countless people,” Perkins said in a statement sent to Breitbart News.

Perkins added, “In the face of naysayers, he chose to obey God rather than man, and he turned the world upside down. Billy Graham was empowered by a reverent fear of God – so much so that he overcame the seemingly insurmountable and took the Gospel to people and places thought virtually impossible. He even ventured to countries most hostile to Christianity, including North Korea and the Soviet Union. Dr. Graham’s deep faith in God overruled the fears of his time. He never failed to give glory to God and the power of prayer for his ministry’s success:

"Someday you will read or hear that Billy Graham is dead—don’t you believe a word of it. I shall be more alive than I am now. I will just have changed my address. I will have gone into the presence of God." – Rev. Billy Graham — Heritage Foundation (@Heritage) February 21, 2018

Perkins recalled the ease with which Graham discussed current events as he also related them to “God’s timeless truths.”

“A newspaper once described his preaching style as ‘holding the Bible in one hand and a newspaper in the other,’” he said. “He knew how to relate the Gospel to the daily life experiences of his audience. This understanding of social trends led him to call attention to family breakdown and the consequences for future generations.”

Perkins described Graham’s life as one of “integrity that each follower of Jesus Christ can emulate.”

“His example of servant-leadership will continue to inspire Christians around the world to be salt and light,” he concluded. “What a joyous moment it had to be when Dr. Billy Graham heard the words that he has longed to hear from his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: ‘Well done good and faithful servant.'”