For over a week as I passed one of my bookcases, the spine of one book would almost glow at me. I remember that I had read it years ago and was quite captivated when I read it, sharing excitement at that time with others. The old paperback, published in 1959 is entitled BILLY SUNDAY by William T. Ellis. Here goes an overview of this former accomplished baseball player’s unlikely life that led to influencing over a million people to a better life.

Billy Sunday reached and shook hands with over a million people without the use of the media of any kind. His life’s beginning was being born in a log cabin in 1863 during the Civil War to a family of 7 children. His parents weren’t able to feed and clothe them all, so he was sent to an orphanage where although his provisions were limited, he grew up to learn right from wrong, was healthy and strong. After becoming of age to leave, his overseer asked for a baseball coach of a local high school to take him in. A little tall and scrawny, he certainly didn’t look like much, but the first time the coach ‘tried him out’ to race their fastest runner, he flew like the wind--turning down running shoes offered him-to run barefoot!

A scout heard about him, and it was no time that he was playing for the Chicago White Stockings (later Cubs). You can Google his name to see how awesome he played. He was an exceptional player for 5 years. Then, one night he walked by a poor mission and heard them singing hymns. The words touched his heart so much, he answered the call to come to the altar and gave his life to Christ.

Even though he was a star baseball player, his life changed drastically to become an incredible ‘diehard Presbyterian’ evangelist for 40 years, reaching more than a million people than ever in history.

So, far, I believe I read Billy Graham has reached more people than Sunday since the media came into play. The media continues even to share his crusades, reaping more souls. And now, I discovered that some of Sunday’s later preaching is available by video, most likely he’s still bringing the Message to people today!

What’s the secret of these speakers? How can they draw millions to come and hear the Word? I will first say, what they preached is becoming ‘old hat’ for people today. It’s shocking how God’s inspired Word is losing its power to indifference. Telling funny stories, and then ending a ‘sermon’ by saying ‘Let’s open our Bibles to read a Scripture to say we’ve been to church’ saddened me when I heard this a few times in the last few years. I would never have believed this falling away from teaching God’s Holy Word would ever happen—not in my lifetime, anyway.

Billy Sunday and Billy Graham just said it like it is in the Bible. It’s the only book that has lasted over 2,000 years to teach people how to live peacefully, how to treat one another, and to put priorities where they should be. And people make fun of that? They’re not interested in becoming better people to make this a better life for everyone. They are losing all respect for human lives. These preachers directly explain sin is sin, it has always been and always will be, no matter what ‘feel’s right,’ no matter what the imagination can conjure up, no matter what the most famous person of the day says. To give one’s life to Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the most rewarding decision anyone can make, I believe. Yes, that’s what the world is coming to—turning away from peace, and love toward others.

But I know the world was predicted to do so as it’s taught in the Bible: ‘As the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of man,’ Matthew 24:37-39 (HCSB). Eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage…in other words, life will be going on as if they will live forever, without consequences for their actions. It will be unexpected for those who haven’t studied.

Yes, we shall continue living, but sharing the ultimate future, and what our ultimate end will be after life is over is most important to prepare for. Many don’t believe there is a heaven or hell…but why would anyone take a chance? Like one of my last columns asked, ‘What if God is Real?’ Who or what are you dedicated to? I ask myself that, too. It might encourage you to read or Google Billy Sunday’s life. He was, indeed, dedicated to the Master of the Universe.