CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Evangelist Billy Graham turned 90 on Friday. Hundreds celebrated his birthday in person at the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte.

Graham preaches God’s word. Ron Carothers heard it growing up.

"We saw the Billy Graham crusades on television all the time," he said.

He says he lost his sense of direction in college and Graham helped him find it.

"He was very instrumental at a crucial time in life," Carothers said.

Years later, married and diagnosed with cancer, Carothers and his wife, Margie, searched the Bible for a verse to help him heal. They found it.

"God will help us, strengthen us and uphold us," Margie said.

That same day, they got in their car, headed home from seclusion and prayer and turned on the radio. It was Billy Graham preaching the same verse.

"We hadn't been in contact with anyone and Dr. Graham was preaching that very verse and it just was a confirmation from the Lord. God spoke through Dr. Graham that day," Margie said.

"It was just a real special thing," Ron said.

Memories like those were shared through letters and videotaped messages -- people sent hundreds of thousands of them to Graham.

Graham and Helen Croshaw have something in common -- both turned 90 Friday. Her birthday is celebrating him.

"I know what he's done for so many people including myself," Croshaw said.

What does Graham mean to Tim and Cheryl Brown?

"What his ministry has done four our marriage," Tim said.

"Sometimes it's hard to put into words," Cheryl said.

What does Graham mean to Monica Hollins, who became a Christian at five years old?

"It was through a Billy Graham crusade on television," Hollins said.

This is Hollins message to the birthday boy.

"That the times he probably wanted to give up in his life, that no one ever knew about, that it was a good thing that he didn't because God used him to change a lot of lives," she said.

Graham did not attend his birthday party in Charlotte. Instead, he is celebrating at home in Montreat with family.

If you'd like to send a birthday wish to Billy Graham, visit https://www.billygraham.org/bgbirthday.asp.