Billy Graham’s Guitarist, Franklin Graham’s Friend

Summary

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Podcast Summary: GPS: God. People. Stories.

Episode Title: Billy Graham’s Guitarist, Franklin Graham’s Friend
Date: January 14, 2026
Host: Jim Kirkland (Billy Graham Evangelistic Association)
Guest: Dennis Agajanian

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Episode Overview

This episode explores the remarkable life and ministry of Dennis Agajanian—award-winning guitarist, lifelong friend of Franklin Graham, and evangelist who’s used his musical gifts to share the Christian faith around the world. The episode shares Dennis’s journey from a rugged small-town upbringing, through powerful moments of bold, street-level faith (sometimes in harrowing settings), to his friendships with the Graham family, and his continuing commitment to leading people to Jesus Christ.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

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Dennis's Early Encounters with Faith and Music

• Upbringing in Newhall, California:
  Dennis grew up north of Los Angeles in a small town, where his family owned a rubbish company. Their faith and resilience were shaped by their environment and the challenges they faced.

  “My dad, he had a rubbish company and we got in a lot of fights in junior high…made us tough, you know.”
  — Dennis Agajanian [04:17]

• First Exposure to Billy Graham:
  As a toddler, Dennis attended Billy Graham’s historic 1949 Los Angeles outreach with his mother and grandmother. He recalls flashes of the experience—the breeze, the music, and the steps to the stage.

  “I just remember the music and I remember people coming forward.”
  — Dennis Agajanian [04:52]

• A Family Immersed in Faith and the Outdoors:
  Dennis and his siblings were “outside kids,” keeping birds of prey and riding bikes with owls and hawks on the handlebars.

  • Church was central—a quirky church in a converted bar became their spiritual home.
  • Dennis’s musical gifts emerged in church, playing trumpet at age nine, guitar at fifteen, and bringing bluegrass style to classic hymns.

  “You could play any hymn you want, any way you want, just don’t change the words.”
  — Dennis Agajanian [06:22]

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Early Commitment to Christ and Bold Evangelism

• Making a Decision for Christ:
  At eleven, Dennis responded to a preacher’s invitation and committed his life to Jesus.

  "Did anybody want to accept Christ, Raise your hand. I raised my hand. It's the only one that did. Made me stand up. Sure you know what you're doing. ... Of course I know what I'm doing, because, you know, the balance was heaven and hell."
  — Dennis Agajanian [06:54]

• Love of the Bible:
  Despite struggling with reading in school, Dennis discovered he could comprehend Scripture, testifying to the transformative role of the Holy Spirit.

  "I could read the Bible and comprehend it. It’s kind of like the Holy Spirit was… the teaching device."
  — Dennis Agajanian [08:04]

• Honing Gifts in College and on the Street:
  Dennis sharpened his street preaching skills at Cal Poly Pomona, answering tough questions with Scripture.

  "I was able to answer every picking question because I was studying the scripture."
  — Dennis Agajanian [08:43]

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Confronting Chaos with Christ: The Berkeley Story

• Evangelizing in the Summer of Love:
  In Berkeley, 1967, amidst the drug-fueled chaos, Dennis used his guitar to gain an audience in a café, segueing from music to a bold gospel message.

• Encounter with Hell’s Angels and Billy Graham:
  In a dramatic parking lot moment, Dennis witnessed to a Hell’s Angel, unaware that Billy Graham stood behind him.

  "I turn around and Billy Graham is standing right next to me. ... I said, sir, would you like to continue? And he said, you’re doing just fine."
  — Dennis Agajanian [00:23], [10:52]
  "My eyes kept right on the biker."
  — Dennis Agajanian [11:00]

• A Tragic Wake-Up Call:
  Dennis recalls holding a woman’s body after a drug-induced suicide; instead of despair, he turned it into a call for repentance and hope to the bystanders.

  “Are you blind to see what drugs does? ... Does anybody here care that there’s a God that can save you, save you from this?”
  — Dennis Agajanian [12:00]

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Partnership with the Graham Family

• Becoming a Billy Graham Crusade Performer:
  Dennis’s gifts caught the attention of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. At his first Crusade in Lubbock, TX, Billy remembered their meeting outside the coffee shop.

  "I see you haven’t changed."
  — Billy Graham to Dennis Agajanian [13:52]

• Meeting Franklin Graham:
  Initial camaraderie with Franklin formed over friendly debates about Jeeps and escalated into a lifelong friendship.

  “He said, I heard you're a fast guitar player. I said, well, that's a rumor Johnny Cash started…”
  — Dennis Agajanian [14:28]

  • Memorable Quote:

    "We're already arguing, you know. And then I thought, well, I don't know if this friendship's gonna last."
    — Dennis Agajanian [15:09]

• Ruth Bell Graham’s Encouragement and Boldness:
  Dennis shares a memorable story preaching to patrons in an Asheville adult bookstore, at Ruth’s urging, which led to a run-in with police and a classic Ruth Graham moment securing a preaching permit from the mayor.

  “She walks right by everybody. Goes right to the mayor. He needs a permit.”
  — Dennis Agajanian [16:52]

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Evangelism at Home and Abroad: Stories of Boldness and Compassion

• Life on the Front Lines:
  Dennis and Franklin faced danger while evangelizing abroad, such as dodging mortars in Cambodia.

  "What am I doing? Trying to throw him out of my ditch because he stunk."
  — Dennis Agajanian, about Franklin Graham [17:35]

• Ministering to the Broken:
  Dennis movingly describes Franklin’s compassion as they ministered to a severely burned child.

  “Franklin is holding this child. He’s whispering in her ear, ‘this little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.’ And tears are running out of the holes for the eyes...”
  — Dennis Agajanian [18:38]

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Personal Life: Love, Marriage, and Ministry

• Franklin Plays Matchmaker:
  In a lighthearted reflection, Dennis recounts being too shy to propose to Victoria. Franklin intervenes—but Victoria first turns him down before finally agreeing.

  “Do you want me to ask her for you? I said, yes.”
  — Dennis Agajanian [19:59]

• Victoria’s Ministry:
  Victoria Agajanian shares Dennis’s passion for caring for people, often praying for strangers or neighbors and leading them to Christ.

  “She’s waiting there with her basket. Comes over and talking to the lady leads her to Christ.”
  — Dennis Agajanian [21:34]

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The Role of Music in Evangelism

• Guitar Skills as a Bridge:
  Dennis credits his musical prowess as a doorway to sharing the gospel.

  “The only reason why I play the guitar the way I do, if I can get their attention, lead them to Christ.”
  — Dennis Agajanian [03:49], [22:11]

• Ministry Impact:
  Dennis regularly leads dozens to Christ at each church visit, with an annual average of about 1,700 conversions.

  “Last Sunday, I led 53 people to the Lord. Before that, it was 58, 75. … Only God knows how many people got saved, but we average about 1700 a year.”
  — Dennis Agajanian [22:11]

• Musical Diversity:
  He reaches listeners across musical styles as a means to open hearts to the gospel.

  “You’re playing the old hymns... You’re doing country, bluegrass, different styles. You want every note right… and you want to blow them away."
  — Dennis Agajanian [23:12]

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Dennis' Invitation to Faith

• Clear Gospel Presentation:
  Dennis offers a heartfelt summary of the gospel, followed by a prayer for listeners to receive Christ.

  “There is a God. He does love you. He did send his son, Jesus Christ to this earth on a rescue mission to die for your sins… If you said that prayer, he's right now just come into your soul and he lives inside your soul and he'll never ever leave you or forsake you.”
  — Dennis Agajanian [24:06]

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Reflections on Billy Graham's Legacy

• Remembering Billy Graham:
  Dennis remembers learning of Billy Graham’s passing in 2018, and his affectionate final moments with the evangelist, playing his favorite songs at his bedside.

  “He would grab my hand and put it on his heart… and say, I love you.”
  — Dennis Agajanian [28:50]

  • Billy Graham’s words on the world’s search for meaning and the eternal hope found in Christ are revisited for emphasis.

  “Man is on a self-destruction binge. But God is still in the business of turning men and women's lives around and bringing them to himself.”
  — Billy Graham [02:04], [27:17]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Billy Graham’s Encouragement:

  “You’re doing just fine.”
  — Billy Graham to Dennis, witnessing to a biker [00:23]

• On Street Ministry in Dangerous Times:

  “Are you blind to see what drugs does? She thought she can fly. She lost her life. Does anybody here care that there’s a God that can save you?”
  — Dennis Agajanian [12:00]

• On Franklin’s Compassion:

  “You talk about love, you talk about somebody that would hold somebody to his face, kiss her, a little burn baby's face. That's the kind of man he is.”
  — Dennis Agajanian [18:38]

• On the Power of Music:

  “If I could play the guitar and get their attention, I could lead them to Christ.”
  — Dennis Agajanian [22:11]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Introduction and Berkeley Encounter: [00:01]–[01:06]
• Music as Ministry: [03:07]–[03:49]
• Childhood & Family: [04:08]–[05:57]
• Dennis’s Salvation Story: [06:47]–[07:52]
• Street Preaching & Testifying: [08:23]–[09:35]
• Berkeley, Hell’s Angels, and Billy Graham: [09:35]–[11:34]
• Tragedy & Turning Point in Evangelism: [12:00]
• Billy Graham Crusade & Meeting Franklin: [13:22]–[14:28]
• Franklin and Ruth Bell Graham Stories: [15:20]–[17:10]
• Mission Trips Abroad with Franklin: [17:35]–[18:21]
• Franklin's Role in Dennis’s Marriage: [19:39]–[21:05]
• Victoria’s Ministry Style: [21:34]
• Music and Evangelistic Results: [22:07]–[23:53]
• Invitation to Christ & Prayer: [24:06]
• Reflections on Billy and Ruth Graham: [28:50]–[29:41]
• Episode Closing Song: [30:15]–[30:52]

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Tone and Style

The episode is informal, heartfelt, and occasionally humorous, filled with vivid stories of risk, resilience, and redemption. Dennis’s humility, sincerity, and readiness to go to the tough places for Christ shine through every anecdote.

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For Further Action/Listening

• To begin a relationship with Jesus Christ or seek prayer, visit FindPeaceWithGod.net or call the Billy Graham 24/7 prayer line (855-255-7729).
• More stories of transformation can be found in future and past GPS podcast episodes.

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Transcript

[Jim Kirkland]

Could you imagine this? You're in a dark parking lot. You encounter a member of the Hell's Angels. Yes, those Hell's Angels, the infamous motorcycle club. You see an opportunity to talk with the biker about Jesus Christ. You seize the opportunity and then you realize the biker is looking at someone behind you.

[Dennis Agajanian]

And I just talk to him, what I'm doing there. He's looking over my shoulder and I turn around and Billy Graham is standing right next to me. And it's this mist, you know, of cold, foggy mist. And I said, sir, would you like to continue? And he said, you're doing just fine. And he stood there and I turned away and I finished my business. I said, sir, there is a God who cares. And the question I have, give me one good reason why people don't believe in God. Any one of these educated people, sir. That's what I'm asking them. And then the guy's eyes kind of went, Follow Mr. Graham. And my eyes kept right on the biker.

[Jim Kirkland]

It was Berkeley, California, 1967. Dennis Agojanian had no fear about confronting the chaos of the drug fueled summer of love with the true love of Jesus Christ. What he didn't expect ever was that Billy Graham would show up at his divine appointment where with a Hell's angel biker. This is just one of the rich experiences Dennis has had as he preached and played guitar around the world. And today he and his guitar continue to confront chaos with Christ. Dennis's story is our story in this episode of GPS God People Stories, a podcast outreach of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. I'm Jim Kirkland. Dennis Agojanian is an award winning guitar player who plays at Franklin Graham outreaches and at churches across the United States. He also performed at Billy Graham Crusades. He knows well what his old friend Billy Graham also knew.

[Billy Graham]

Man is on a self destruction binge. But God is still in the business of turning men and women's lives around and bringing them to himself.

[Jim Kirkland]

And it's up to us to share that good news with people. You'll hear Billy Graham talk more about that a little later in the episode. But if you're in a place where you need God to turn your life around, please connect with us right now. You can visit us [e-mail] there you'll find just about everything you need to know about beginning a relationship with Jesus Christ. The address again is findpeacewithgod.net or if you'd like to speak with someone, call our Billy Graham 24. 7 prayer line, the number is 855255, pray. That's 855255 P R A Y. And if you didn't get to jot those down, you can find both the website and the phone number in our show notes.

[Dennis Agajanian]

God, people, stories.

[Jim Kirkland]

Dennis Agojanian has been called the world's fastest flat pick guitar player.

[Dennis Agajanian]

I said, well, that's a rumor Johnny Cash started, you know, because Cash was a friend of mine and he started a rumor that I was a fascist in America. And I don't want to be known as that. I just want to be known as.

[Jim Kirkland]

A good guitar player and that he is. But Dennis is also known as a fast guitar player. He's won awards and performed for hundreds of thousands of people over the decades. Why has he spent most of his life mastering his guitar playing skills?

[Dennis Agajanian]

It would be impress them with the guitar so I could lead them to Christ. The only reason why I play the guitar the way I do, if I can get their attention, lead them to Christ.

[Jim Kirkland]

And Dennis has been making music and leading people to Christ for more than 60 years. He grew up in a small town north of Los Angeles, little place called.

[Dennis Agajanian]

Newhall, you might think, well, north of la, it's Los Angeles county. But it was out in the hills. I mean, a lot of actors and different people live there because it's very much in the country. And that's where they filmed Gunsmoke and a lot of the cowboy movies and. And my dad, he had a rubbish company and we got in a lot of fights in junior high. People making fun of our rubbish company and so made us tough, you know.

[Jim Kirkland]

When he was around 2, Dennis's mother and grandmother took him to Billy Graham's historic 1949 outreach in Los Angeles. It was the event that put Billy Graham in the national spotlight. Dennis doesn't remember much beyond the stage and the steps leading up to it.

[Dennis Agajanian]

And a breeze, kind of a breeze, you know, it was. It was just a breeze coming through. I think the tent was up like this and the side curtains were up. I just remember the music and I remember people coming forward.

[Jim Kirkland]

Dennis had no way of knowing then that he'd one day be playing guitar at Billy Graham Crusades. But he did hear his mom talk about Billy Graham and seeing her read his books. While he was growing up with his parents, his twin brother Danny and his older brother Roger.

[Dennis Agajanian]

We were just a real working family, you know, we had go karts and Danny collected birds of prey like red tailed hawks. We had two hawks and two owls and four buzzards and one raven. And, you know, we taught them how to hunt. And so we were outside kids. We ride our bicycles. And we'd put an owl on. On the left handlebar and a hawk, red tail hawk on the other handlebar. And we would. We would wrap ace bandage on it where they would hold on. And it was a country town we lived in. We. We loved it.

[Jim Kirkland]

Church was an important part of life for the Agonians.

[Dennis Agajanian]

We went to a small little church. This one guy was. No one ever invited him to speak. He was 70 years old. So he bought a bar outside of town about 10 miles, and painted it white and black letters. He put church on it. And my mom liked his preaching, so we all went there. We're the only youth department and the only music department. There's like 30 senior citizens there. And I think that's where the Lord gave me the talent to play the trumpet at 9 years old. And. And then when I was 15, I was playing guitar. I played guitar and did the old hymns. The pastor said, you know, you could play any hymn you want, any way you want, just don't change the words. And so we took advantage of that. We'd play it. Play songs like Victory in Jesus in a bluegrass way.

[Jim Kirkland]

Dennis was 11 years old when he made the decision to become a follower of Jesus Christ. Here's how it happened.

[Dennis Agajanian]

A friend of mine invited me to church for a Wednesday night. It was cold, draining. Went to this little church and went inside. There was one little room with one light bulb, and they had had a little felt board, you know, with the little characters of Joseph and, you know, and there was three friends and sitting in front of me in the front row. And I was in the second row, just the four of us. And this guy comes through the door, worn a suit that was three times too big for him, and he just started preaching. It wasn't. We're going to sing a song or hold hands in prayer or nothing, you know. And when he was done, it really made sense to me. Did anybody want to accept Christ, Raise your hand. I raised my hand. It's the only one that did. Made me stand up. Sure you know what you're doing. It's the first time I ever talked back to an adult. I said, of course I know what I'm doing, because, you know, the balance was heaven and hell.

[Jim Kirkland]

From that moment on, Dennis was fully committed to Christ and to the word of God. He loved reading the Bible, which is noteworthy because he wasn't much of a reader in school.

[Dennis Agajanian]

I felt like I was worth something. I believe the Bible, you know, I could read the Bible and comprehend it. It's kind of like the Holy Spirit was a, was that pedagogical object, the teaching device that, that you understood. And so I understood the Word when I would read it.

[Jim Kirkland]

His love for God's word continued. His love for music continued. And in the summer between high school and college, Dennis began developing a love for street preaching. Dennis got the opportunity to hone his new love when he enrolled at California State Polytechnic University in Pomona.

[Dennis Agajanian]

I didn't think that I had a great gift of street preaching until questions were thrown at me by professors that would see me at noon. Like you could go at noon when you're on a college campus and there's a free speech platform and you can go up there alone and just say, you know, I'm, I'm only going to give you, I'm giving you five minutes of your time. But I would just give them scripture. There is a God who cares. He does love you, you know, And I would, I would do that. And when they would come up and ask me questions, I was able to answer every picking question because I was studying the scripture.

[Jim Kirkland]

Street preaching gave Dennis opportunities to combine his knowledge of the Bible with his love for music and his heart for people's eternal well being. He remembers one such occasion at a coffee shop in Berkeley.

[Dennis Agajanian]

It was full of these hippie guys and I was standing in the back drinking a cup of coffee, and the guy playing guitar on the stage said, hey, are you a good guitar player? And I, I don't usually talk about myself. I said, yeah, because I thought I was, you know, he wasn't that great. He said, you want to play during my break, I said, be honored too, because I thought this is a time to witness, you know, I got up there and I scratched away, fog him out and break down on the guitar. And scratching means picking. And so they liked it and they went nuts. And I looked at the guy, if I should do another one. He said, do another one. Did another one. And I ended up doing four. And then I told him what I was there for. And it got real quiet, you know, and then I went in the back and some people thumbs up. Some guys, you know, didn't like it. One guy said, you could leave now. And then this, this big biker guy said, you said that. I get, I'll punch you.

[Jim Kirkland]

Dennis walked outside and there in the parking lot was a group of Hell's Angels bikers. Dennis likes motorcycles. So he started talking to one of the leaders about bikes and got him to open up. Then he started talking to him about jesus. While he was talking, Dennis was unaware that someone was standing behind him.

[Dennis Agajanian]

And I just talked to him, what I'm doing there, he's looking over my shoulder, and I turn around and billy graham is standing right next to me. And it's this mist, you know, of cold, foggy mist. And I said, sir, would you like to continue? And he said, you're doing just fine. And he stood there, and I turned away, and I finished my business. I said, sir, there is a God who cares. And the question I have, Give me one good reason why people don't believe in God. Any one of these educated people, sir. That's what I'm asking them. And then the guy's eyes kind of went and followed Mr. Graham, and my eyes kept right on the biker.

[Jim Kirkland]

Those were some of the most turbulent times in u. S. History, and dennis was in the thick of them in one of the hotbeds of the counterculture movement, the san francisco bay area. It was a movement marked by anti war protests, Sexual promiscuity, and heavy drug use. Dennis was sharing the message of Jesus Christ in the midst of the unrest and recalls one tragic day in particular.

[Dennis Agajanian]

This guy was playing a flute on the fifth floor of this building. And I look and I see this woman sprawled right in the middle of the street. She was dead. And I walked up to her, this guy was playing the flute. And I looked up at him, and he stopped. He goes, I'm playing her funeral. She was a little butterfly, and she thought she could fly like a butterfly or a bird. And he kept playing that thing. And I, out of anger, I looked up, I said, stop the music. And I just leaned down next to her, put my arm around her head, her neck, and her shoulder. And I just felt like I should kind of protect her, you know, People stood away, Ambulance came, police came, firemen came. And I gave her to him. I said, looks like she. She jumped. He said, oh, yeah? What's your name? I said, dennis. Dennis. This happens all the time. And so I stood up and I walked up to the crowd. I said, are you blind to see what drugs does? She thought she can fly. She lost her life. Does anybody here care that there's a God that can save you, Save you from this? And so that's when I kind of started my open air preaching.

[Jim Kirkland]

Dennis continued to share jesus as a street preacher for the next several years. Eventually, his gifts of music and evangelism Caught the attention of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. They contacted him and asked him if he'd be interested in performing at Billy Graham's upcoming crusade planned for Lubbock, Texas. Dennis accepted the invitation, and he was surprised that Mr. Graham remembered their first meeting outside that coffee shop in Berkeley.

[Dennis Agajanian]

Well, I remember telling him that. Just saying from the platform that I met Mr. Graham, I was witnessing to some Hell's Angels. And when I played the song and I got back to the seat, he turned to me. I was sitting right behind him, one sure to the right. He looked at me, he said, I see you haven't changed. Yeah, you remember me.

[Jim Kirkland]

It was during that 1975 Billy Graham crusade in Lubbock that Dennis first met a man who would become a lifelong friend. It was Billy Graham's son, Franklin Graham.

[Dennis Agajanian]

They wanted me to pick something up in the office because somebody was going to drive me to a. A mall. I asked to be able to play at a mall and play different places during the day, to invite people. That's what I like to do. So Franklin came up to me and said, I heard you're a fast guitar player. I said, well, that's a rumor Johnny Cash started, you know, because Cash was a friend of mine, and he started a rumor that was the fastest in America. And I don't. I don't want to be known as. I just want to be known as a good guitar player, you know, who cares if you're fast? So we started talking, and, yeah, I got a Jeep. I said, what kind do you have? Well, I got a CJ5 and. Oh, that's a. That's a V6. What do you have that for? You should have a V8. And we're already arguing, you know. And then I thought, well, I don't know if this friendship's gonna last.

[Jim Kirkland]

It has. That was 50 years ago, and the friendship is still going strong. And Dennis plays at many of Franklin's outreaches every year. Dennis was also very good friends with Franklin's mom, Ruth Bell Graham, and she appreciated his boldness for the Lord. One time in particular, his boldness and Mrs. Graham's encouragement led to an encounter with the police outside an adult bookstore in Asheville, North Carolina.

[Dennis Agajanian]

And I just said, look, just stay here. I'm going to go inside of that bookstore and yell at everybody, okay? Because there are people in there that should be in there. They're married. And I'm going to yell at the owner. You should. He should just get another job.

[Jim Kirkland]

He stood in the doorway and told everyone in the store that they Needed Jesus to set them free. When he came back to the car, Mrs. Graham encouraged Dennis to play his guitar in front of the store to drive home his message. He agreed, reluctantly.

[Dennis Agajanian]

All right, I'll. I'll sit on the. The hood of the car, kind of on the side Fender, and I'll play the guitar. All of a sudden, a guy comes up. I'm against the wall like this. Freeze.

[Jim Kirkland]

The police officer wanted to know what Dennis had been doing. He explained, and Mrs. Graham vouched for him. The officer then told him they needed a permit to preach and play music. So Mrs. Graham said they'd be back the next day with a permit and with a group of students from nearby Montreat Anderson College.

[Dennis Agajanian]

She drives up to the Pickin county building, goes up the steps, and she walks right by everybody. Goes right to the mayor. He needs a permit. Permit for what? To preach. The guy looks at me with one eye up and like that. To preach.

[Billy Graham]

When?

[Dennis Agajanian]

Tomorrow. He writes on a piece of paper, spell your name, sir, spelled it. Permit to preach. We were there the next day with about 20 kids.

[Jim Kirkland]

A boldness for telling people about Jesus is something Dennis shares with his good friend Franklin Graham. And that boldness has placed them in some dangerous spots together while ministering to people around the world.

[Dennis Agajanian]

We were in Beirut, and bombs were going off, but you got buildings and cars that'll protect you. But in Cambodia, there's. There's no cars or. Or buildings, and it's flat. And you hear a mortar rocket come and you go and you jump in a ditch. And I. They're ditches or they're sewers, and I jumped in a dry ditch. But across the road, Franklin jumps in a wet ditch, and the mortar rocket hits. The second mortar rocket hits, and right before the third one hits, I look up and Franklin looks up and he runs over to my ditch, and what am I doing? Trying to throw him out of my ditch because he stunk. He smell as, get out of my ditch. And the third one hit. And then the van comes up. The door opens. Franklin gets in the van, and I get in the van.

[Jim Kirkland]

What drives Franklin to run into dangerous places, says Dennis, is his love for people and his desire for them to know the hope that Jesus offers them. Dennis remembers a time he and Franklin ministered to a little girl in the burn unit of a hospital.

[Dennis Agajanian]

Here's this child that was just about dead, purposely. I think somebody had done it to her and that the face was like a cabbage. Two holes for eyes. She was blind. Two holes for ears. And for her nose and mouth. And Franklin is holding this child. He's whispering in her ear, this little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. And tears are running out of the holes for the eyes. Tears are coming out. I'm playing the guitar of this. Franklin's just wording them. This little light of mine. You talk about love, you talk about somebody that would hold somebody to his face, kiss her, a little burn baby's face. That's the kind of man he is. There's that compassion. Billy had that compassion. Ruth has that compassion. That's the kind of Christian that he is.

[Jim Kirkland]

Franklin played an important role in Dennis marrying his wife Victoria, because although he's bold in sharing his faith, Dennis was lacking some boldness when it came to asking Victoria to marry him. They met at church and had been dating for a while. When Franklin asked his friend a question.

[Dennis Agajanian]

After eight months, he goes, now, Victoria, do you, do you love her? I said, yeah, I do. Said what? Do you want to marry her? I said, I'd like to if you ask her. I said, no. And he knows that I didn't date very much in my life. He goes, do you want me to ask her for you? I said, yes. And he goes, okay, because he knows my situation. I don't. He's my best friend.

[Jim Kirkland]

So Franklin asked Victoria on behalf of Dennis and she said no. But Franklin encouraged Dennis to keep dating Victoria and to ask her again at Christmas time. And that's what he did. As Christmas approached, Dennis went to her home with an engagement ring and he knocked on her front door.

[Dennis Agajanian]

So open the door and we talk Spanish back to each other. She speaks Spanish fluently. She opens the door and I, I propose to her and she says, oh, Vida, what does O sound like?

[Jim Kirkland]

No. Dennis thinks he's been turned down a second time. He calls Franklin and Franklin asked Dennis to put Victoria on the phone.

[Dennis Agajanian]

Why'd you say no? I said, oh, oh sounds like no. And then give me back to Dennis. She said, oh, ask her again. And then she said, yes, I'll marry you.

[Jim Kirkland]

Franklin hosted and officiated their wedding at one of his favorite spots on earth. Port Allsworth, Alaska, in the remote south central part of the state. Victoria helps run Dennis's ministry and she shares his and Franklin's love for people. Dennis sees it all the time in his wife.

[Dennis Agajanian]

Some lady cashier's crying, she's praying for him, and she comes to the car and talking to somebody, but she is praying with someone. Neighbor down the street knocks on the door. 85 year old lady answers the door. Haven't seen you on the street. I wonder if you're okay. Do you need anything? It's kind of like that. You okay? And cashiers. How do you know I'm not okay? Can I talk to you in 10 minutes? Yeah. She's waiting there with her basket. Comes over and talking to the lady leads her to Christ.

[Jim Kirkland]

Dennis leads people to Christ through his music.

[Dennis Agajanian]

For example, last Sunday, I led 53 people to the Lord. Before that, it was 58, 75. It was a Hell's angel and 20 other people. If I could play the guitar and get their attention, I could lead them to Christ. Only God knows how many people got saved, but we average about 1700 a year.

[Jim Kirkland]

I guess all of Dennis appearances at churches are in addition to his being part of many of Franklin Graham's outreaches. Every year, Dennis plays a variety of styles of music on his guitar, and he believes that God uses that to reach people.

[Dennis Agajanian]

A guy may say, okay, let's hear what he has to say. Music's not my type, but I like what he said, or I like what he said and the music, Hey, I didn't know that he. You know, I didn't know that a guy like this guy could do classical. It's interesting to know that you're playing the old hymns, you're playing classical. You're doing country rock, you're doing country, you're doing bluegrass, you're doing different styles. It's the poetry to song. It's being able to do a song that really touches people. You want every note right. You want to play it right, and you want it good, and you want to blow them away. You don't want to blow yourself away. You want to just play good.

[Jim Kirkland]

Dennis says he's a better guitar player than a preacher, but he's been doing both for a long time. So we asked him, what would he say to someone about accepting Jesus as their savior.

[Dennis Agajanian]

Look, there is a God. He does love you. He did send his son, Jesus Christ to this earth on a rescue mission to die for your sins. Because he's God. His blood was pure. And when he shed his blood, he was able to take away every sin you've ever done. And when he died on that cross, he paid the debt of sin for you. And when he died on that cross, when you put your faith and trust in him, you'll never see death. And so when you die, you will immediately be with him in paradise. And so you can accept or reject Jesus Christ. And he's made a way for you to know him for that same spirit of God, the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, His Holy Spirit will come into your soul that you're born with that never grows old if you just say this prayer. Repeat it after me. Lord God, I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sins. I accept Jesus Christ into my life right now. Thank you for coming into my life and living in my soul. Thank you that I'm a Christian. Thank you for dying on a cross for me. Thank you for rising from the grave, Lord, from the tomb. Thank you, Lord, for loving me, Lord. I love you, Lord. Help me to be strong in you. Help me to serve you. Help me to share your love with others. I love you, Lord. In Jesus name, amen. If you said that prayer, he's right. Now just come into your soul and he lives inside your soul and he'll never ever leave you or forsake you. And I want you to share this love with other friends. From the rough side of town. You can hear the tent.

[Jim Kirkland]

Single Dennis Agojanian has devoted his life and his musical gifting to telling people about Jesus Christ who loves you and who will never leave or forsake you. If you haven't already accepted Jesus as your personal savior, you can do that now. We can help you with that. Connect with us online or over the phone. Online we'[e-mail] you can explore questions and answers there or live chat with someone who can answer your questions. The address again is findpeacewithgod.net if you'd rather speak with someone, you can call the Billy Graham 24. 7 prayer line. The number is 855255 Pray. That's 855-255-7729. There are some events that just lock in your memory. You'll always remember where you were when they happened or when you heard about them. Dennis will share one of those memories he has in just a moment.

[Dennis Agajanian]

You're listening to GPS God People Stories.

[Jim Kirkland]

A podcast production of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

[Billy Graham]

Man is on a self destruction binge. But God is still in the business of turning men and women's lives around and bringing them to himself. Billy Graham people are disillusioned. Secular answers have failed them. We've tried everything in our search for peace and security and fulfillment and we haven't found it. Materialism, politics, drugs and alcohol have failed. Thus, millions are open to the message of the hope of new life in Christ. The words of Jesus challenge me as never before. Behold, I say unto you lift up your eyes and look on the fields for they're white already unto harvest they're ready and waiting. The human heart is filled with sin. We've broken God's commandments. We're estranged from God. We're separated from God. We need reconciliation. And the only reconciliation is the cross and the resurrection and repentance and faith.

[Jim Kirkland]

We can tell you more about how to be reconciled to God at our website, FindPeaceWithGod.net that's FindPeaceWithGod.net Our guest on this GPS is Dennis Agajanian. He's won multiple awards, including the Inspirational Country Music Association's Entertainer of the Year and Living Legend Awards. Dennis and Franklin Graham are close friends, and he was close friends with Franklin's parents. He remembers when he learned of Billy Graham's passing in 2018.

[Dennis Agajanian]

Yeah, I got up in the morning.

[Jim Kirkland]

They.

[Dennis Agajanian]

They announced it on television. And I remember Mr. Graham telling me, I'm looking forward to the death, but it's just the process I'm not looking forward to. And I remember he used to say that to me. He would grab my hand and put it on his heart and put it on his chin and say, I love you. Yeah. Play guitar for him a few weeks before he passed. Sat at his table and played for him some songs that he loved. And I played Jesus to a Man's Desire. And he said that that was played at his wedding, so that meant a lot to him. And Ruth was a real friend. I knew her before I knew Franklin. You know, she was a dear friend.

[Jim Kirkland]

We're grateful for the time that Dennis Agojanian gave us to share his story on this episode of gps. If you enjoyed this episode, would you do us a favor? Would you please leave us a review or rating? And also be sure you're subscribed to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode. We drop new episodes every other Wednesday. I'm Jim Kirkland, and this is GPS God People Stories. It's an outreach of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Always good news I walk down that.

[Dennis Agajanian]

Aisle I believe it today My friends think I'm crazy I don't care what they say I walk down that aisle I believe it today I'm going back I believe today There's a red and white tent going up outside town.

[Jim Kirkland]

It.