Muhammad Ali, the world heavyweight boxing champion, died at the beginning of June.
I wrote to him back in April 2005. For years I had watched Muhammad Ali’s fights on TV, and now – aware of the Parkinson’s disease that was taking its severe toll on his health – I felt constrained to write him a letter. I wrote as tactfully as I could – as a minister of the gospel.
The link between us was that we had both had the experience of visiting the home, in North Carolina, of another ‘First’ in his own field; that of a preacher who has spoken, face to face, to more people than any orator – secular or religious – in all history… the preacher Billy Graham. My hope was that the world-renowned boxer might take the opportunity of a return visit to a man who had earned his admiration and friendship and see him once again – for the last time. What might come out of such a visit?
High regard
Much had come out the first time – when Muhammad Ali had evidently developed a high regard for the world evangelist and asked to meet him. What secrets might lie behind one man’s ability to touch the many millions of people who had walked forward in the world’s biggest football stadiums, publicly to declare their faith in Christ? Over the years, the American evangelist had been invited to no less than 148 countries to declare the Christian message. Millions more were reached by films and satellite TV.
The three-time world heavyweight boxing champion duly expressed his hope for a meeting, and arrangements were made for him to fly to Asheville Airport, where he would be picked up and taken to the Graham’s home in Montreat NC.
On landing, his first surprise was that, instead of being driven to Montreat in a chauffered limousine, Billy Graham turned up in person and drove his guest himself – in a ten-year-old Oldsmobile.
‘I thought he’d live on a thousand acre farm’, Ali told the press afterwards. ‘We drove up to his house made of logs. No mansion with crystal chandeliers and gold carpets, but the kind of house a man of God would live in. The Book says Christ will come as a thief in the night. I’m sure God wouldn’t come bragging “I’m God” – and neither did Mr Graham. He’s a humble man.’
Ruth – Billy Graham’s wife – prepared and served a meal. At the end of their five-hour session, Ali told the press that he had not wanted to talk about boxing, but ‘about spiritual things.’ He confided: ‘I had a lot of questions I’ve been wanting to ask about Christianity. I asked them today. He gave me answers. I cannot go into them beyond that. If I was a Christian, I’d want to be a Christian like him.’
Reminder and reply
It was only years later that I felt impelled to write to the then ailing Muhammad Ali, reminding him of his earlier visit to the Grahams. I wrote: ‘I would really love you to take the opportunity to visit him again, before the Lord calls him homewards… I so much long that you could share in the beliefs that Billy has, and be assured eventually of a safe haven in the immediate presence of Jesus Christ himself.
I could not bear to think of you – who have given so much pleasure to millions in your own time – missing a last chance of talking with Billy, while he yet has time left. You know he would welcome a visit from you. You are both ‘Firsts’ in your own respective fields!’
I was moved to receive a reply from ‘The Greatest of All Time, Inc’ (G.O.A.T.) at Berrien Springs MI. I was thanked for ‘your kind and generous letter to Muhammad Ali. He sincerely appreciated hearing from you. Mr Ali and the Rev Billy Graham share a venerable friendship based on mutual respect and understanding. Mr Ali has been prayer-ful about his friend’s health, and he thinks of Rev Graham often. Mr Ali thanks you for your concern and care, obviously offered with sincere, honourable intentions…’
Sowing seeds
And that was it. Who knows what seeds can be sown through a one-off visit to a home where God is honoured – whether half way up a mountain in Montreat or in an urban setting in Nairobi, Glasgow or Tokyo?
