Franklin Graham has reflected on the life and legacy of Glen Campbell and shared that his father, Billy Graham, once met the late country star.
On Facebook, the younger Graham shared a photo of his father alongside Campbell, who passed away on August 8 after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's disease. He was 81.
"I never met Glen Campbell, but my father, Billy Graham, did," the Samaritan's Purse CEO captioned the photo. "I think this picture of them from 1971 is great. The country music legend was laid to rest on Wednesday, but his testimony to the power of God to change a life lives on."
Campbell, who sold an estimated 45 million records and had numerous hits on both the pop and country charts, asked God to "rescue him from the mess he had made of his life with alcohol and cocaine", Graham revealed.
"He said he 'felt like a drowning man grasping for a life preserver,'" he recalled. "For Glen-and for everyone else-the only life preserver that works is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. If you put your faith and trust in Him, He will rescue your soul for eternity. Glen said that he surrendered everything to Christ-his pain, his drinking, his whole life and Jesus reached into his life 'and took up the burden.'"
The late country singer's wife, Kim, "couldn't have said it any better," said Graham. She said: "People kept telling me he was never going to change, but to say that is to deny Jesus' power to transform lives."
The evangelist concluded his thoughts by urging his 5.8 million Facebook followers to pray for Campbell's family and remember that with God all things are possible.
The "Rhinestone Cowboy" and "Wichita Lineman," singer passed away at an Alzheimer's facility in Nashville, surrounded by his family.
"It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather and legendary singer and guitarist, Glen Travis Campbell, at the age of 81, following his long and courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease," reads a family statement.
According to the New York Times, Campbell, who was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005, underwent three divorces and struggled with drugs and alcohol throughout the 1970's. He even served 10 nights in jail after being arrested for drunk driving.
"Though his recording and touring career was booming, he began drinking heavily and later started using cocaine," reads the Times report. "He would annoy his friends by quoting from the Bible while high. 'The public had no idea how I was living,' he recalled."
However, after becoming a Christian, Campbell's life was radically transformed. In 1981, he was baptized along with his fourth wife, whom he credited - along with his newfound faith - "with keeping him alive and straightening him out."
"I love singing gospel music and hymns. Being a Christian, I love to tell people about Christ and what he's done for me and can do for them," Campbell said in 1990.
The Times notes that throughout the 1990s, Campbell remained influential, releasing a series of gospel albums in the 1990s and in later years made frequent appearances on evangelical TV shows.
