I've read through this chain several times. What I mostly see here is that most all of the contributors to this thread don't understand what the call to the office of Evangelist is about, and what it involves to be an evangelist. First thing I see here, I'm sad to say, is that there are a lot of Christians who will judge and condemn an evangelist for not telling "enough" of the Truth, or for being open to all people.
The first evangelist, traditionally, was Simon Peter's brother, Andrew. What did Andrew do to get called "the first evangelist?" John gives a bit more background detail than the other Gospel writers, and points out that Andrew was originally following John the Baptist. After staying a day with Jesus, he headed for home and told his brother Simon, "We have found the Messiah." Then he took Simon to meet Jesus. (read John 1.29-34)
That's all an evangelist does. It's all an evangelist can do. Now, there's a lot more involved than just walking up to people and saying, "We have found the Messiah." I won't go into it. But the evangelist's message is that simple. Unless you are called to be an evangelist yourself, you probably won't completely understand that little point.
All I have seen quoted in this thread is good, true scripture. And honestly, I see very little poor interpretation in the comments made. Yes-- abolutely true-- Billy Graham did not cover all those points brought up in this thread. He couldn't. If he did, he would be a pastor, not an evangelist.
Why do I say that?
What is an evangelist doing? He's introducing lost people to Jesus Christ. He's not teaching them in depth. He's not building them up to be a missions force. He's just introducing them to Jesus. All that's involved there is convincing them that something needs to change, which means repentance at the base level, and acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, who, through the Cross, gave his life for theirs.
It does not involve telling them to take up their own cross. Or to accept suffering for others. Or any of other things that have been brought up here. It's just about rebirth, and nothing about maturity in faith. It's just the first step, which Jesus told Nicodemus about, "...unless one is born again...." (John 3.1-15). He told Nicodemus, "You must be born again."
So what do you expect of a newborn? If I remember correctly, we did not feed steak to our new babies the day we brought them home from the birth hospital. Same for a new believer. Telling them all the stuff brought up in this thread will not save them. More likely it will turn them away, because they cannot be ready for it. Pushing the "meat" of the Gospel on potential newborns would result in pushing them away in condemnation, rather than drawing them in through the love of Christ.
A true evangelist surrounds every event with the Church. Why? Because he cannot do what needs to be done next for these newborns. They are not his to care for. He must give them some simple instruction, then turn these people over to others who know the depth of strong faith; who can teach those things lovingly over time while caring for them. Every Billy Graham crusade event was surrounded by dozens of church leaders and volunteers, who were trained to meet with those who came forward at the altar call. And what was their job? To start the exact process laid out as needed by the starter of this thread. A process that for most people will take years, if not their entire lifetimes.
Evangelism isn't about making perfect believers. That's the Church's job. Evangelism is about introducing people to Christ, so they can join the Body of Christ and be made whole. If a person who is a murderous homosexual thief comes to the cross, and truly accepts the love and lordship of Jesus Christ, then is killed on the street outside the event by a rival gang member-- that horrible, evil, perverted person is saved and will enter the kingdom of heaven. There is nothing in God's word about knowing every jot and tittle in the Bible as being a requirement for salvation. That's what the Pharisees stood for, but not Jesus.
If you think because Billy Graham did not preach and teach all that he needed to, then you are not an evangelist. You likely have not attended a Billy Graham School of Evangelism. You haven't studied that calling in order to understand it. You haven't participated in an evangelism event as a church leader who wants to bring the newborn into the Church. That doesn't make you a bad person. But you can't be the judge, and certainly cannot condemn an evangelist, for doing what he is called to do.
It's rare to find a pastor who is an evangelist. All pastors should be doing evangelism through the churches they are serving, but the main task is to care lovingly for the sheep day by day. All evangelists should be involved in church life, but the main task is to be outside among the lost.
Pastor? In the core of the fellowship to hold people lovingly.
Evangelist? Out on the edge to attract new people in.
A dean at the seminary I attended, who specialized in missions and evangelism, asked me straight one day-- "Are you more comfortable at a church fellowship dinner, or at a downtown bar?" The answer was simple to me. "The bar, of course." Guess what my calling is. And let me tell you. It's as tough as being a pastor. Not better. Not worse. Just a different emphasis on the same thing.
. THE Lord leads and billy has been following greatly for a very, very long time. You should pray and be supportive of billy's ministry and LET the Lord work on Him if necessary.