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Plaque marks key moment in 1934 on Central Avenue
Evangelist Leighton Ford, Billy Graham's brother-in-law, speaks Monday at the dedication ceremony of a plaque marking the spot in Plaza Midwood where Billy Graham accepted Jesus Christ at a tent revival at age 16. (Photo by Ken Garfield for The Charlotte Ledger)
by Ken Garfield
Monday morning in the shadow of one of Charlotte’s snazziest new developments, a moment in history was remembered.
On Nov. 1, 1934, Billy Graham accepted Jesus Christ at a revival put on by traveling evangelist Mordecai Ham. As the choir sang “Almost Persuaded,” Billy Frank, as he was known back then, walked up front to declare himself a sinner in need of forgiveness. He was nearly 16, until that moment more infatuated with baseball than salvation.
You know the rest of the story: Graham rose from Charlotte farm boy to preach to nearly 215 million people in more than 185 countries and territories. He died on Feb. 21, 2018, at age 99, his place secure as one of modern Christendom’s most pivotal figures, and our city’s most famous native.
But you probably didn’t know this: The site of that revival was at Pecan and Central avenues in Plaza Midwood, which is now home to a new development called The Commonwealth. There, amid the 383 apartments, office and retail space and hip restaurants like Uchi (Mordecai Ham surely never tried sushi) stands a handsome marker. It recalls the moment 91 years ago that changed everything – for Graham and the lives he touched.
Monday’s 30-minute ceremony brought together Graham family members, old friends and staffers from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, now led by Graham’s son, Franklin. They were joined by representatives from Crosland Southeast, developers of The Commonwealth, and several folks drawn to the event by their abiding connection to Graham.
Crosland Southeast’s Bobby Speir, who helped oversee development of The Commonwealth, choked back tears as he shared what this day means to him. He also shared how he learned that Graham came to faith on the site: His wife Missy’s hairdresser told his wife who told him.
Evangelists Leighton Ford (left, Billy Graham's brother-in-law) and Will Graham (Billy's grandson) admire the marker noting the spot in Plaza Midwood where Billy Graham came to faith in 1934. (Photo by Ken Garfield for The Charlotte Ledger)
Arts Pastor/Lead Pastor Mark Christian of First Baptist Church, sang “Almost Persuaded,” his voice and guitar recalling the choir that helped propel Graham to the front of the tabernacle.
This being a Graham gathering, Will Graham, executive vice president of the BGEA and Franklin’s son, led a mini-altar call. Without coming forward (there wasn’t room), he invited everyone (including the media present) to make the same decision that his granddad made in 1934.
Will also thanked Michelle the hairstylist for getting the ball rolling on all this.
A new marker at The Commonwealth development in Plaza Midwood commemorates the spot where evangelist Billy Graham “prayed to repent of his sins and made the decision to trust and follow Jesus Christ” in 1934. (Photo: Ken Garfield for The Charlotte Ledger)
Charlotte isn’t exactly known for preserving its past. And yet on a picture-perfect spring day in fast-growing Plaza Midwood, the city remembered a teenager who came forward.
Years later, Graham looked back.
“Oh God, I don’t understand all of this. I don’t know what’s happening to me. But as best I can figure it, I have given myself to you.”
Twenty-four years after Billy Graham answered the altar call at Mordecai Ham's revival in Charlotte, the two men reunited at Graham's 1958 crusade in San Francisco. (Photo contributed by Billy Graham Library.)
Charlotte freelance writer/editor and former Observer religion editor Ken Garfield covered Billy Graham for a decade. Reach Ken at [email protected].