Ruth McCue Bell, the wife of the late renowned evangelist Billy Graham, was born in Qingjiang, Kiangsu, China on June 10, 1920,.
She came into the world at the Love and Mercy Hospital which was built by the Presbyterian Church in the US. Her parents were L. Nelson Bell, a Presbyterian medical missionary who served as the hospital’s third president and Virginia Leftwich.
According to the official website of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, in her childhood, she saw the turbulence in China and the people's suffering during the Chinese Civil War. At an early age, "the suffering she observed only strengthened in her the conviction of mankind’s need for the Savior. Into her early adult years, she dreamed of serving as a single missionary in a far corner of the world — the mountainous nation of Tibet.”
In 1937, Ruth enrolled at Wheaton College, outside Chicago, Illinois, and studied the Bible.
Three years later she was introduced to "Preacher", the nickname other students gave the strapping Billy Graham from Charlotte, North Carolina.
"The couple began courting, and so also began a struggle in Ruth between what she thought was her calling to the mission field and her blossoming love for the driven young evangelist. In late April 1941, after much struggling in prayer, Ruth realized her life’s mission was to be bound up in Billy’s passion for evangelism. Shortly after their graduation from Wheaton, the two were married in Montreat on August 13, 1943.
"For a brief period, Ruth served as a pastor’s wife in Western Springs, Illinois, before Billy moved on to serve as an evangelist with Youth for Christ; as president of Northwestern Schools in Minneapolis, Minnesota; and eventually as evangelist and president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
"Ruth treasured her role as the strong woman behind 'America's Pastor' and was Billy's closest confidant, most trusted advisor, and dearest friend. She loved to move behind the scenes, away from the spotlight and helped him craft and research sermons and even books.
After her death, Billy Graham said, "She was a gentle, smiling, and kind person whose primary goal was to live for Christ and reflect His love. In her last days, she talked repeatedly of heaven, and although I will miss her more than I can possibly say, I rejoice that someday soon we will be reunited in the presence of the Lord she loved and served so faithfully."
Growing up in China and receiving middle school education in South Korea, Mrs. Graham had ties with Asian people, encouraging her husband to visit China several times.
In 1996, she suffered from spinal meningitis. Her condition rapidly worsened. In the following years, she was bedridden and wheelchair bound, not able to join her husband’s ministry. Even so, she supported her husband by her prayers.
- Translated by Karen Luo
6月10日：葛培理布道团纪念淮安的女儿——钟路得姊妹在中国出生100周年 100年前的今天，也就是1920年的6月10日，布道家葛培理的妻子路得（Ruth McCue Bell）出生于中国的江苏清江。 钟路得出在淮安美南长老会的仁慈医院，是长老会医疗宣教士钟爱华(L.NelsonBell)和VirginiaLeftwich的女儿，也是这所医院的第三任院长。 路得在童年目睹中国内战的动荡不安，人类的艰难和苦痛，年幼时期便坚信人类需要救赎主，因此在踏入成年之前，路得始终立志要成为一名单身宣教士。 成年后的路得进入伊利诺州惠顿学院，主修圣经。 入学不久后她便认识了有“传道者”绰号之称的葛培理，那时的葛培理已是一名浸信会传道，二人邂逅，一见钟情。 当时的路得有着巨大的压力，她始终认为自己的呼召是宣教，直到她经过心里交战的祷告，才明白到自己的使命是投身在葛培理的布道热情里。 于是得路给葛培理写信答应了婚事。 结婚后的路得退居幕后相夫教子了一段短暂的时间，后来在葛培理担任明州明尼阿波里斯市西北学院的校长后，成为他布道大会的会长，当了布道家。 路得既是葛培理亲密的伴侣盒知己，也是他信任的参谋，常常会帮丈夫预备讲章，甚至搜集写作材料。 因此葛培理在路得去世后曾这样说：“路得是我的终身伴侣，神呼召我俩成为队工，她所背负的无人能担。 在我们的事工中，她至为重要，不可或缺，没有她的鼓励和支持，我多年的服侍是不可能的。 多谢主赐我路得，特别近几年我们常结伴行山，重燃年青时的爱火，我对她的爱，日见加深。 我将会十分想念她，期待那天在天堂与她重逢。” 路得是在中国长大的，在韩国接受了中学教育，因而心系亚洲人民，曾多次鼓励丈夫访华，也陪同左右。 1996年患上细菌性脊膜炎的路得，病情急速恶化，此后漫长的岁月里她不是卧床就是坐轮椅，无法再陪同丈夫参与福音事工。 但即便如此，路得依然以祷告来支持丈夫。 路得去世后，美国总统布什发表吊唁文称路得跟葛培理的婚姻是爱情的结合，她以幽默、聪明、优雅及恩慈感召世人。 加州马鞍峰社区教会华理克师母Kay Warren也表示十分欣赏路得，从她身上学到很多。 路得的一生都在服侍别人，她是一位领袖，也是其它人效法的典范。
Ruth McCue Bell, the wife of the late renowned evangelist Billy Graham, was born in Qingjiang, Kiangsu, China on June 10, 1920,.
She came into the world at the Love and Mercy Hospital which was built by the Presbyterian Church in the US. Her parents were L. Nelson Bell, a Presbyterian medical missionary who served as the hospital’s third president and Virginia Leftwich.
According to the official website of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, in her childhood, she saw the turbulence in China and the people's suffering during the Chinese Civil War. At an early age, "the suffering she observed only strengthened in her the conviction of mankind’s need for the Savior. Into her early adult years, she dreamed of serving as a single missionary in a far corner of the world — the mountainous nation of Tibet.”
In 1937, Ruth enrolled at Wheaton College, outside Chicago, Illinois, and studied the Bible.
Three years later she was introduced to "Preacher", the nickname other students gave the strapping Billy Graham from Charlotte, North Carolina.
"The couple began courting, and so also began a struggle in Ruth between what she thought was her calling to the mission field and her blossoming love for the driven young evangelist. In late April 1941, after much struggling in prayer, Ruth realized her life’s mission was to be bound up in Billy’s passion for evangelism. Shortly after their graduation from Wheaton, the two were married in Montreat on August 13, 1943.
"For a brief period, Ruth served as a pastor’s wife in Western Springs, Illinois, before Billy moved on to serve as an evangelist with Youth for Christ; as president of Northwestern Schools in Minneapolis, Minnesota; and eventually as evangelist and president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
"Ruth treasured her role as the strong woman behind 'America's Pastor' and was Billy's closest confidant, most trusted advisor, and dearest friend. She loved to move behind the scenes, away from the spotlight and helped him craft and research sermons and even books.
After her death, Billy Graham said, "She was a gentle, smiling, and kind person whose primary goal was to live for Christ and reflect His love. In her last days, she talked repeatedly of heaven, and although I will miss her more than I can possibly say, I rejoice that someday soon we will be reunited in the presence of the Lord she loved and served so faithfully."
Growing up in China and receiving middle school education in South Korea, Mrs. Graham had ties with Asian people, encouraging her husband to visit China several times.
In 1996, she suffered from spinal meningitis. Her condition rapidly worsened. In the following years, she was bedridden and wheelchair bound, not able to join her husband’s ministry. Even so, she supported her husband by her prayers.
- Translated by Karen Luo
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Marks Ruth Graham’s 100th Birthday
