CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Growing up just down the road in Winston-Salem, David Bruce admits he’s always been in awe of Rev. Billy Graham.

“As a child, I heard him preach in some of his crusades settings and in different conventions,” Bruce said. “So I grew up hearing him preach and also on television, like most people did and on the radio.”

So when he and his wife were called to work for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association 40 years ago, Bruce says they jumped at the opportunity.

What You Need To Know

  • David Bruce worked for 40 years side by side with Rev. Billy Graham

  • Bruce saw first-hand how Graham changed lives through his crusades

  • 5 years since Graham's passing, Bruce, as well as others at the Billy Graham Library continue to spread his message of faith

  • Recently, the team opened a new Archives and Research Library to continue to preserve the history of Graham

“I was delighted to because of his faithfulness to the gospel,” Bruce said. “And of course, he was iconic in American history as well.”

For years, Bruce worked as Graham’s right-hand man as his executive assistant. Helping to coordinate Graham’s schedules and crusades all around the world.

But even with the historic crowds at his events, and the accolades from presidents and royalty, Bruce says for Graham, the most important part was spreading God’s message through the gospel.

And when it came down to it, Bruce says Graham was always just a North Carolina farm boy at heart.

“To think that God would lift him up and take him around the world to preach the gospel, it’s remarkable,” Bruce said.

So much so that Bruce says Graham originally didn’t even want a library until he was finally convinced.

“I think he would have been completely blown away by all of this,” Bruce said. “Because he always felt himself a simple man with a great message. Not a great man. A simple man with a great message about a great savior.”

While Graham could see some of the impact of his library during his lifetime, Bruce believes the structure became just that more important after his death on Feb. 21, 2018.

“There’s sorrow when death comes because of separation,” Bruce said. “But there’s then, for a Christian, you come right back around to understand there’s joy. Because this is not all there is. There’s a heaven and there’s a reality of eternal life. And that Mr. Graham preached all those years.”

Since Graham’s passing, Bruce has moved to a new role, as the vice president of the Billy Graham Library. Where he, along with his team, has worked tirelessly. Not only to continue to share his message through the library, but to preserve Graham’s documents, films and photographs taken over his lifetime.

“You can’t go through any of these rooms that you don’t hear his voice preaching or you see scripture or you see some indication of the message he preached,” Bruce said.

The Billy Graham Library is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Members of the public are also welcome to visit the new Archive and Research Center on the property by making an appointment.