Bush and Clinton to Help Dedicate New Billy Graham Library

US President George W Bush and former President Bill Clinton will be among the guests joining the legendary evangelist Rev Billy Graham at the dedication ceremony of his brand new multi-million dollar evangelistic library on 31 May.

Visitors to the $27m Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina, will pass through a 40-foot glass cross to enter the 40,000 square feet of evangelistic books and resources - a testimony to the amazing 60-year legacy of the world renowned evangelist who has preached to more than 210 million people across six continents.

But rather than simply serving as a memorial, the dairy barn-shaped library - modelled on Graham's early childhood home in Charlotte - is designed to inspire visitors and serve as an extension of the ongoing outreach of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

The Billy Graham Library is located in the grounds of the BGEA's international headquarters and will house six exhibits, four galleries, two theatres, and a repository of Graham's personal papers, including his correspondence and sermon manuscripts.

The 1,500 guests attending the dedication ceremony include Graham's family, friends, long-time supporters, and dignitaries. President Bush will deliver the keynote address while former President Bill Clinton, who formed a close relationship with the evangelist during his presidency, will also take part in the ceremony.

The estimated 200,000 visitors to the Billy Graham Library a year will be able to take a self-guided 90-minute tour that includes multimedia displays, rare film footage, and more than 350 photographs.

Showcased in the library tour will be some of Graham's historic evangelistic events, his innovative use of radio, television, and films to reach out to millions of people around the world, meetings with presidents and world leaders, his work for racial equality and religious freedom, and a glimpse into his personal life.

Visitors will also be able to take in an exhibition on the work of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association around the world today.

The state of the art Billy Graham Library also includes a restaurant, bookstore, and a tour of the original Graham family home place where Billy Graham lived as a teenager.

The BGEA hopes the library will further serve and expand the organisation's ministry to deliver the simple and unchanging message of God's love and forgiveness to people around the world.

The Billy Graham Library is expected to open to the public June 5. Admission will be free.