Charles Grandison Finney – Father of modern revivalism and the leading figure of the Second Great Awakening
Introduction
Charles G. Finney’s (1792-1875) unique methods of evangelism earned him the title of the “father of modern revivalism.” His methods paved the way for other mass-evangelists, like Dwight L. Moody, John W. Chapman, Billy Sunday, and Billy Graham, who adapted and built upon Finney’s methods.
Background Information
With this revival account being one in a sequence of revivals during the life of Charles G. Finney, we recommend first reading our accounts of the initial revivals he was involved with in the northern and central part of New York State:
► 1824 Evans Mills German Settlement Revival
► 1824 Antwerp, New York Revival
► 1824 Revival at Perch River and Other Locations
► 1825 Revival in Gouverneur, New York
► 1825 Revival in De Kalb, New York
► 1825 Revival in Western, New York
► 1825 Revival in Rome, New York
► 1826 Revival in Utica, New York
► 1826 Revival in Auburn, New York
► 1826-1827 Revival in Troy, New York
► 1827 New Lebanon & Stephentown Revivals
► 1827-1829 Revival at Wilmington and Philadelphia
► 1829 Reading, Pennsylvania Revival
From Reading to Lancaster
Charles Finney concluded his work with the 1829 Reading, Pennsylvania Revival around the first part of May 1829. His next area for ministry was 30 miles to the southwest, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Finney’s work in Lancaster took place from 7 May till 15 June, 1829. Though it was a short period of time, the work produced immediate results.
The Invitation from Lancaster
Finney received an invitation from the Presbyterian church in Lancaster to come because their previous pastor William Ashmead (1797-1829), had left the previous winter due to sickness and they couldn’t find anyone else to replace him.
The Condition of the Church
Upon arrival in Lancaster, Finney found that the church was
in a very low state.
And that the church was in
A cold, desolate region in the land of moral darkness.
Others wrote about the First Presbyterian Church with these words:
They are a people indifferent to religion—, & I have understood from a member of Pby. [the presbytery] have had thoughts of shutting up the church for a year at least!
Rev. James Patterson, the Presbyterian minister of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, wrote of that town:
It is a hard field to cultivate and I fear Mr. Ashmead [the former pastor] has not been plain enough & honest enough & faithful enough for that people.
Even though the congregation was sizable, with up to 500 worshipping on Sunday mornings, this congregation had never experienced a revival, and according to Finney, they “had no just conception of what it [revival] was, or of the appropriate means of securing it.”
Elder in the Church Gets Saved
While in Lancaster, Finney stayed at the home of William Kirkpatrick, a prominent businessman and philanthropist. Kirkpatrick told Finney later that, though at the time he was not converted, the former pastor invited him to be an elder because he was wealthy and had tremendous influence in the community.
After having heard a few of Finney’s sermons, Kirkpatrick was so convicted of his sinful condition that he could not sleep. He called Finney in the middle of the night and told him of the torment in his mind, and he knew he needed to make a commitment to Jesus Christ.
Finney then encouraged Kirkpatrick to immediately accept Christ as his Lord and Savior, and he did.
A Packed Church House
The Old School Presbyterians did not press people to make an immediate decision to accept Christ when the Gospel message was preached. Finney, being part of the New School, did.
On one Sunday evening, when the church was completely filled, Finney made a very strong appeal for everyone to make a decision for Christ—then and there. To signify their decision for Jesus, they were asked to stand, so that others could begin praying for them.
Sitting next to the door of the church were two men, one of which was under severe conviction of sin, with his strong emotions clearly being witnessed by all around him, yet he did not stand up nor make a commitment of himself to Christ. Finney pressed his message very firmly, letting the people know that this could be the last opportunity for them to ever make this decision on this side of heaven.
After the conclusion of the service, and dismissal, the two men walked out together. The one man said to the one who was severely affected:
I saw you felt very deeply under the appeals Mr. Finney made.
And he replied:
I did. I never felt so before in my life; and especially when he reminded us that that might be the last time we should ever have an opportunity to accept the offer of mercy.
As the two men continued walking, separating to go to their individual homes, the one who had been overcome by his sinfulness, yet who had rejected Christ’s offer of mercy,
Fell over the curbstone and broke his neck, thus making it plain that it was in fact his last offer.
Mandatory Prayer
To keep the flow of the revival moving ahead, Finney initiated a prayer meeting, and he insisted that the five elders attend—even though they had never done so in the past.
With the continual preaching for conversions, in conjunction with the prayers of God’s people, the movement of the Holy Spirit increased every day, and the resulting conversions were multiplied.
Primary Sources
► Chapter XIX Revival at Reading, Pennsylvania: The Memoirs of Charles G. Finney by Charles G. Finney
► The Memoirs of Charles G. Finney: The Complete Restored Text by Charles G. Finney
Secondary Sources
► Ashmead, Clara F. by snaccoopertive.org
► Charles G. Finney by Wikipedia
► Charles Grandison Finney & the Second Phase of the Second Great Awakening by Christian History Institute
► Eerdman’s Handbook to Christianity in America by Mark A. Noll
► Fire From Heaven by Robert Evans
► Great Revivals and the Great Republic by Warren Candler
► Man of Like Passions: The Life Story of Charles Grandison Finney by Richard E. Day
► Memoirs of Revivals of Religion by Charles G. Finney
► Sermons by the Late Rev. William Ashmead by Clara F. Ashmead
Return to List of Revival Stories
Chet & Phyllis Swearingen:
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