Jessie Penn-Lewis Preaches Holiness

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Jessie Penn-Lewis was born in 1861, in Wales to a Calvinist Methodist minister. Her family had moved into an old museum – and in the attic of the old tower Jessie “taught herself to read the Bible freely” by the age of four. “There were books, books, and more books everywhere” in the home.

She received little schooling due to ill health, and was married at the age of 19 to a young British civil servant, William Penn-Lewis (despite her brother warning the fiancé that he would be looking after an invalid for life). She was converted on New Year’s Day, 1882, and ministered in the Young Women’s Christian Association, which – in 1886 – took a vital Christian stand.

She is spoken of as having received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, testifying that the Cross must come first, in dying to self, to enable the believer to move on to Pentecost.

Her preaching ministry then took her around England and on to Scandinavia, Russia, Switzerland, Canada, the USA, and India. She spoke at conferences such as Mildmay and Keswick. She records the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the Australian Keswick Convention of 1891, speaking of people who were “drunk with the joy of the Lord”.

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She was also involved in the Welsh Revival of 1904-5, developing a close relationship with Evan Roberts, the principal evangelist of that revival. When Roberts suffered a mental breakdown in 1905 she and her husband welcomed him into their home where he lived for many years. He also co-authored several works with her.

She credits South African writer Andrew Murray as having had a profound impact on her, through his writings.

In her preaching and writing there developed a strong holiness theme … which placed emphasis upon the complete crucifixion of the ‘flesh’. Nevertheless, she was also invited to speak at the Keswick Convention in 1927 … where the doctrine of holiness is based more on the new nature ‘counteracting’ the old nature, rather than the ‘crucifixion’ view that she held in common with those of the Wesleyan tradition.

She established the Llandrindod Wells Convention in Wales and later the Matlock Conferences. She contributed regularly to “The Overcomer”, a quarterly with worldwide circulation, which she founded in 1908.

Her book, War on the Saints, became a best seller in Christian circles. She also wrote Spiritual Warfare and over a dozen other books, and at one time at least, she believed that the Great Tribulation began in 1906.

Jessie Penn-Lewis died in London on 15 August, 1927.

Not everyone thinks highly of Jessie Penn-Lewis. Some say that she developed an obsessive distrust of spiritual manifestations, such as were evident in the Welsh Revival and in the Sunderland Pentecostalism.

Find hundreds of succinct Church History posts at: http://chrisfieldblog.com/topics/ministry/church-history

This post is based on notes by my late friend Donald Prout. I have updated these historical posts with information gleaned from other sources. I am indebted to Don for awakening in me an interest in Church History. Don’s notes can be found at: www.donaldprout.com

Andrew Murray Writes Devotional Classics

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Andrew Murray “fell asleep in Jesus” on January 18, 1917, at the age of 89 years.

Andrew Murray is a name well known in evangelical circles. His books are still to be found in Christian bookshops, and are regarded as spiritual classics.

Born in Graaff Reinet, Cape Town, South Africa in 1828, as the son of a Scottish Presbyterian Minister serving the Dutch Reformed congregations of Cape Town, Andrew was sent to Scotland for education at age 10, graduating from Aberdeen University. He then proceeded to Utrecht University in Holland for theological preparation. From an early age he accepted the faith of his family and was firm in the disciplines of prayer, faith and commitment to Jesus Christ.

His mother was linked to both French Huguenots and German Lutherans, and so Andrew grew up accustomed to ecumenical openness.

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Andrew was ordained at the age of 20 and returned to South Africa as a minister of the Dutch Reformed Church. In 1860 he became the pastor of the Dutch Reformed Church at Worcester. Later he would be part of the Keswick Movement and the minister of the Dutch Reformed Church of Wellington from 1871 to 1906.

His ministry took him around the globe, where he spoke at large meetings on the deeper life. The Keswick platform was often graced by his presence. He also spoke at the American Northfield Convention.

He used his considerable talents to promote education and missionary endeavour. The University College of the Orange Free State and the Stellenbosch Seminary were both founded with his assistance. He served as a Moderator of the Dutch Reformed Church and led both the YMCA and the South Africa General Mission.

Of his last moments his daughter, Emmie, records: “He stroked my hair and then relapsed into unconsciousness. After a while he revived and said, ‘God is worthy of trust.’ I knelt there till 5 o’clock and then retired, leaving him to the care of the nurse. During the day … he passed away peacefully into the presence of the Lord.”

For all of his ecclesiastical and academic responsibilities, he is most loved for his 240 writings, several of which are regarded as devotional classics. He personally enjoyed and publicly promoted a rich personal devotional life. Books such as Absolute Surrender and Waiting on God speak to us from their titles.

Find hundreds of succinct Church History posts at: http://chrisfieldblog.com/topics/ministry/church-history

This post is based on notes by my late friend Donald Prout. I have updated these historical posts with information gleaned from other sources. I am indebted to Don for awakening in me an interest in Church History. Don’s notes can be found at: www.donaldprout.com

Andrew Murray

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This is the day that … Andrew Murray was born in South Africa, in 1828.

His father was a Scot who pastored a Dutch Reformed Church – some 500 miles north east of Cape Town – for 44 years.

The two sons were sent to Scotland for their education, and after graduation they both set their sights on the ministry.  This meant theological training in Holland … and a culture shock!  For now they found themselves surrounded by clergy who “drank alcohol and used tobacco.”  Their father wrote to his sons and warned them to abstain from such practices.

During his theological studies (at the age of 17, in 1845) he received news that another son had been born to his parents.  His reply:  “And equal I am sure will be your delight when I tell you that I can communicate to you far gladder tidings over which angels have rejoiced, that your son has been born again!”

Ordained with his brother, John, on 9 May, 1848 (Andrew’s 20th birthday), they returned to minister in South Africa.

Nearly 50 years of serving the Lord lay ahead, during which time Andrew Murray pastored four churches, wrote 250 books and booklets (many of which became best sellers and are still in print), and preached at great conferences in Europe and America.  He spoke at the English Keswick Convention and Moody’s Northfield Conference.

Whilst it is true that his books seem to breathe “a holy serenity,” he was not a quiet speaker.  Even in his old age we are told that he was dynamic and demonstrative in the pulpit.  “When church custodians heard that Mr Murray would be preaching (in their church) they would remove everything extraneous lest he knock them down and break them!”

Death came on 18 January, 1917 – his dying words being to the nurse who attended him:  “Have faith in God, my child.  Do not doubt Him” (Biography, page 243).