Charles Finney

...in 1821 and immediately began to preach the gospel, often with astonishing results.

“Finney was tall and handsome, and he had penetrating, hypnotic eyes that riveted his audiences. His eyes were large and blue, at times mild as an April sky, and at others, cold and penetrating as polished steel. He possessed a majestic voice, which could be immensely persuasive with crowds. In addition, he had studied to be an attorney, and he turned the legal logic he had developed, and his courtroom skills, to the use of the pulpit.” (Spiritual Awakenings in North America, Christian History, Issue 23)

Finney introduced new methods in evangelism including lay witnessing from house to house, special prayer meetings for evangelism, protracted meetings lasting several weeks, and advance men to prepare a town for revival.

One of those advance men was Reverend Daniel Nash. Nash would visit a town weeks in advance to pray. When he thought the town was ready, he would cable Finney that it was time to come. A hotel manager once contacted Finney about Nash, “I am very concerned,” he said, “because your friends have not been to meals for five days. As I walked past their rooms, I heard some strange groaning, so I peered through a window and saw them rolling on the floor holding their stomachs.” Finney said, “Do not worry, Sir! They are travailing before the throne of God for lost souls.”

Finney was a vocal and active supporter of the reform movements of his day, especially women’s rights and the antislavery movement.

“Finney was convinced that the gospel was meant to do more than just get people saved. It was also to clean up society. Since the late 1820s, Finney had been moving to include social reform in his program for awakening.” (Spiritual Awakenings in North America, Christian History, Issue 23)

In 1835, Finney became a professor of theology at Oberlin College. Under Finney and his converts, it became the center of the antislavery movement. (Protestantism in America: A Narrative History by Jerald C. Brauer http://religion-online.org) Finney said,

“The Church must take right ground in regard to politics. Politics are a part of a religion in such a country as this, and Christians must do their duty to the country as a part of their duty to God.” (Beliles & McDowell, America’s Providential History, p. 267)

Over half a million people were converted through Finney’s ministry. He paved the way for later revivalists like D. L. Moody, Billy Sunday, and Billy Graham. That is why he is called, “The Father of Modern Revivalism.”