A former home of Billy and Ruth Graham is now a retreat for pastors, thanks to the efforts of actor Kirk Cameron, a North Carolina businessman and one of the Grahams’ daughters.
It “offers several experiences designed to rejuvenate pastors and help believers discover God’s will through diving deep into God’s word,” according to the website Billy’s Home Place. “If you serve as a vocational missionary or pastor with 20 or more years, take a few moments and fill out the pastoral rest and sabbatical form. There is no charge for pastors or missionaries who stay at Billy’s Home Place.”
About two years ago, the original family home of Billy and Ruth Graham in Montreat was put up for sale, listed at $599,000, as their daughter sought to raise funds for her own daughter’s medical treatment. The property sold for $750,000 in 2021. Ruth Graham, whose daughter was suffering from a multisystem disorder, stated at the time that her parents purchased the home in the late 1940s. Photos inside the home can be viewed here.
“It was selected because it was right across the street from my grandparents,” she said. “I was born during the time my family lived in the house. The Los Angeles crusades and tour of England happened during those years. Itis where it all began.”
The Grahams moved from the house in 1957 but remained in Montreat. The home had been used as a vacation rental in recent years. Guests of the home were given access to experience the Grahams’ young family life through the cottage’s original furnishings, books, photos and mementos. The two-story home is still in pristine condition and surrounded by several picturesque walking trails and streams
“Rich in Christian history and gospel legacy, this humble estate is more than a standing relic of a life well lived,” the website said. “Rather, this house serves as a continuation of Dr. Graham’s legacy. A retreat for weary pastors and missionaries; a solace to seek the face of God. It is to that end that Billy’s Home Place was established.”
–Dwight Widaman | Metro Voice