PALATKA, Fla — The Rev. Billy Graham's 80 years of spreading the gospel began in a small church in Florida.
Graham was 19 years old at Peniel Baptist Church in Palatka, Florida when he gave his first sermon.
He preached there for 15 years.
[IMAGES: Church where Billy Graham held first sermons]
The sanctuary has been replaced with a new building but there are still photographs of Graham around the building.
“Somebody said, ‘Oh, he won’t make much of a preacher,” the Rev. Benny Reynolds said. “I think he was wrong? I think he was wrong.”
[SPECIAL SECTION: Rev. Billy Graham, known as 'America's Pastor,' dies at 99]
Members at Peniel Baptist Church talked about Graham’s legacy at Wednesday night’s service.
Graham died Wednesday at his North Carolina home in Montreat. He was 99.