The recent report of Billy Graham being taken to the hospital with the possibility of pneumonia prompted me to think of one of Billy’s closest friends, who is ten years older.

Four weeks ago I spoke at the Billy Graham Training Center at the Cove in Ashville, NC (near Billy’s home). I was speaking one night on Heaven, and before the session started, in came a wheelchair containing George Beverly Shea, who, Lord willing will turn 103 on February 1!

They called him up on the platform, and since I was about to speak, I was in the front row and took a few videos of George. Then he took his place in the front row, and I had the joy of seeing his joyful face as I spoke about Heaven.

In 1970, as a brand new Christian, I heard Billy Graham for the first time, and George was singing How Great Thou Art. Then it hit me—at that time, when I was a new teenage Christian, 41 years ago, George was already in his 60’s!

While at the Cove, I posted on my Facebook page two short video clips of George. Here is one I haven’t posted until now, with George singing part of How Great Thou Art, then telling a little story about a Christian motorcycle “gang”:

Here are the two 30 second clips I posted 4 weeks ago Facebook. They show an old saint with a great sense of humor. (I’m looking forward to spending time with George on the New Earth.)