The news of Reverend Billy Graham's passing has many ministry leaders in Manitoba sharing their thoughts on the evangelist's ministry and legacy.

Mark Hughes, Lead Pastor of Church of the Rock

"I don't know if we'll ever see the likes of a Billy Graham in our generation," said Hughes early this afternoon.

Hughes says his influence is more widespread than just the people that he preached to. It extends to those who are going around evangelizing right now.

"He didn't do anything different than a lot of people, but I think he was the right man for the right time," Hughes said.

Hughes loves that Graham stuck to his core message throughout his ministry, and that was that every person needs a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

"At the end of the day, we don't change our world. We change one person at a time, and that changes our world," Hughes said. "That's the influence Billy Graham had."

John Courtney, Executive Director of YFC Winnipeg

Graham was Youth For Christ's (YFC) first full-time evangelist, joining the organization in the 1940s. 

"We've lost a hero of the faith," John Courtney said from his YFC office in Winnipeg, this morning. "I think that his legacy and testimony is ongoing, and what I hear and read now, is people are blessing him for the incredible impact he has left in our world."

Courtney says that a large part of YFC's international presence is owed to Graham. "Youth for Christ has such a rich history with his early beginnings, with Billy Graham. Billy Graham was a first-time employee of Youth for Christ. It was out of those rallies that birthed this organization that is in over 100 countries around the world. He was a forward thinking individual that was clearly passionate about the gospel and the change that it could bring to people, especially young people,"

Andrew Bawa, Lead Pastor of NextGen Worship Centre

Pastor Andrew Bawa and the beginnings of his ministry has a unique connection with Graham. Bawa says that Graham was his role model as he came into ministry.

"We saw thousands and thousands of people coming to Jesus."

Bawa, who grew up in Nigeria, says that he along with his father "would go village to village in those days, the late 80s and early 90s, showing the 16mm films by Rev. Billy Graham."

"For me, it's such a joy to know that we have such a giant in the Kingdom of God who has been a blessing to millions and millions of people. I am one of them."