Billy Sunday: The Man And His Message

Rev. Billy Graham was introduced to evangelism as a boy attending one of Billy Sunday’s revival services. Sunday, one of the first rock star preachers of the modern era profoundly influenced both Graham’s message and delivery. Generations of preachers adopted his fiery style and straight-talking theology. His physicality and showmanship was rivaled only by the strength of his message. Sunday was one of the most influential advocates of prohibition, delivering explosive sermons against Mr. Booze. He also promoted women’s suffrage, child labor laws and avoided criticism of Roman Catholics. As a forerunner of modern evangelicals, controversies did not quell Sunday’s immense popularity. His exhortation to hundreds of thousands to walk the sawdust trail to conversion was unrivaled in the days before mass media. This authorized biography examines Sunday’s life and preaching through a number of prisms, providing rare and fascinating insight into one of the great evangelists in American history.