Today I was reading about A.J. Gordon (pictured above), an American Baptist Pastor that wrote books on healing and The Holy Spirit in the late 1800's. He entered into a healing ministry in 1877 after attending one of D.L. Moody's revival meetings. Moody's meetings were filled with people responding physically to the presence of God. There he witnessed a man delivered from a opium addiction and the healing of a missionary's jaw that had been riddled with cancer. He was so taken by what he saw that his life and ministry was forever changed. From that day forward Gordon's affluent church in Boston became a welcome place for those who needed healing and deliverance. He was a forerunner to the many of the healing evangelists that would become prominent at the turn into the 20th century. Gordon died on February 2, 1895 with "victory" being his final word.
As an aside, I find it sad that the institution bearing Moody's name has moved so far away from some of the types of ministry that their founder practiced. On page 23 of Moody Bible Institute's undergraduate catalog it reads,
"Historically Moody Bible Institute has maintained positions which have identified
it as noncharismatic, dispensational, and generally Calvinistic."
I think it is so cool that his last word in this life was victory! That is awesome! Talk about 'ending well'.
ReplyDeleteAs for Moody Bible Institute... Nothing like posting a sign over your school that says, 'Holy Spirit not welcome.' It is truly sad.