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Smith Wigglesworth
Born to
impoverished surroundings, Smith Wigglesworth would rise to heights few could ever imagine
of one reared in such humble beginnings. In the year 1859, the future miracle-man
was born in the English village of Menston. By the age of seven, the boy was
already learning the meaning of a working-class living, laboring long
hours with his father in the fields of nineteenth century England. The lifestyle
afforded little time for a proper education in the schoolroom. It’s unclear how
devout his parents were, but his mother is said by some to be his first convert. The
lad had a religious experience when he was about nine years old as an Anglican bishop laid
hands on him. By his own account, though, the fiery evangelist didn’t receive
the baptism of the Holy Ghost until 1907 at 48 years of age.
Although the preacher was not one to fast much,
he attributed his miraculous ministry to his pursuit of purity and faith. He was
incredibly shy and ironically had difficulty with public speaking. As a matter of fact,
early in his ministry he could hardly finish sermons he began and relied on his lifetime
partner, Mary Jane Featherstone, to conclude with more than a lengthy benediction. His
advocacy of holy living was nevertheless unshakeable. He was a common man in his
status and unassuming demeanor, whose life was the epitome of anything but what might be
considered normal. The quest of a plumbing career was the closest thing to being
like the guy next door. It was the initial ambition of the young man and one that
endured long enough to establish a business dedicated to that service. Married
in 1882 to Mary, fondly nicknamed Polly, not even that most common of unions was insulated
from a brush with the bizarre.
Smith met Polly through the Salvation Army,
eventually attending and holding crusades together. They gained meaningful exposure
to divine healing in the formative years, visiting healing services in the nearby town of
Leeds. He owed much to her as she helped the young minister learn to read.
They later started the Bowland St. mission in Bradford, England and worked a
plumbing business. The finances did well, so much so that the diversion from his true
calling took a back seat to plumbing momentarily. He even became resentful to Polly
for continuing in her conviction to preach and openly resisted her efforts for a while.
He was notoriously hot-tempered in his younger adulthood, a trait that he
eventually overcame. The remorseful man of God came to his senses following Polly’s
intercession for him. But devastation struck in 1913, when Polly died. The
faith-filled minister, being naturally motivated to revive his fallen wife, prayed for
her. She was resurrected as several others during his ministry. Being convinced by
Polly that it was God’s will for her to be with the Lord, the evangelist sadly
surrendered his beloved to her Maker. If the loss of his companion in life weren’t
enough, just two years later their son, George died also (the couple had five
children in all). It was clear that no matter what reputation the reverend would
earn as a miraculous faith healer, he was forced to face harsh realities, which included
personal kidney ailments that plagued him for years and daughter, Alice, who suffered
lifelong deafness.
Early on, Smith and Polly preached mostly in the
small territory of England. But after the deaths of Mary Ann and George, Smith overcame
his grief and regained focus for his divine calling. During his crusades of the 1920’s
and ‘30’s, his ministry expanded globally in an era when extensive travel was
difficult. The evangelist’s influence spread to Europe, the United States, New
Zealand, Australia, and Africa. Wigglesworth became famous for such incidents as
healings, mass conversions, special miracles, and even raising people from the dead (maybe
a dozen or two resurrections in all). It wasn’t uncommon to spark revivals
wherever he preached. With the Azusa St. outbreak in the early part of the century
in the minds and memories of more than a few spirit-seeking enthusiasts, and World War I
bringing upheaval to the world, people began looking for answers. Wigglesworth
embodied what many saw as a move of the Spirit of God – a modern day “apostle of
faith” as he was dubbed.
In 1937, Rev. Wigglesworth traveled to South
Africa where he prophesied of a charismatic revival to come—something scholars
suggest has now already begun. The pace slowed a bit in his latter years, when he
suffered a mild stroke in 1944. He was able to do some ministerial work after that
setback, but conceded to the great beyond March 12, 1947 while attending a funeral.
He was 87.
Apart from his antics and unpredictable behavior,
the signature trademark that set Wigglesworth apart from others may be the fact that he
was obsessed with God as with nothing else. The zealous preacher maintained a philosophy,
which said that he would be so filled with the Spirit of God that there would be little
room left for anything else.
Resources: christianhistory.org, users.globalnet.co,
crash.ihug.co
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