Smith Wigglesworth
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| Smith Wigglesworth | |
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 Smith Wigglesworth
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| Born | June 8, 1859 Menston, Yorkshire, England |
Smith Wigglesworth (1859 - 1947), was a British religious figure and an important figure in the early history of Pentecostalism.
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[edit] Early life
Smith Wigglesworth was born on June 8, 1859, in Menston, Yorkshire, England, to an impoverished family. In his childhood, Smith worked in the fields pulling turnips alongside his mother.
Nominally a Methodist, he became a born-again Christian at the age of eight, and according to some reports, could help others do the same even at such a young age. His grandmother was a devout Methodist, following the teachings of John Wesley, but his parents, John and Martha, weren't practising Christians themselves although they took young Smith to Methodist and Anglican churches on regular occasions.
Wigglesworth married Polly Featherstone in 1882. At the time of their marriage, Polly was a preacher with the Salvation Army, and had come to the attention of General William Booth. Polly taught Wigglesworth to read, and their family comprised one daughter, Alice, and four sons, Seth, Harold, Ernest and George. Polly died in 1913.[1]
Wigglesworth worked as plumber, but he abandoned this trade as his work as an evangelist grew. In 1907 Wiggleworth visited Alexander Boddy during the Sunderland Revival, and following a laying-on of hands from Alexander's wife Mary Boddy he experienced Pentecostal phenomena such as glossolalia.[2] However, although he worked with the Assemblies of God, he never joined any denomination.
[edit] Ministry
Wigglesworth believed that healing came through faith, and he was flexible about the methods he employed; when he was forbidden from laying hands on audience members by the authorities in Sweden, he instead developed a method of "corporate healing", by which people laid hands on themselves. He also practised anointing with oil, and the distribution of prayer handkerchiefs (one of which was sent to King George V). Wigglesworth attributed ill-health to demons, and he also performed exorcisms. [3]
Wigglesworth ministered at many churches throughout Yorkshire, and often at Bethesda Church on the outskirts of Sheffield, where he left many prophecies. In 1939, he prophesied over the church that no man belonging to Bethesda would fall in battle in WWII. None did. He also had an international ministry: as well as Sweden, he ministered in the USA, Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, India, Ceylon, and several countries in Europe. Some of his sermons were transcribed for Pentecostal magazines, and these were collected into two books: Ever Increasing Faith[4] and Faith that Prevails.
Wigglesworth is considered one of the most influential evangelists in the early history of Pentecostalism and is also credited with helping give the movement a large religious audience.
Wigglesworth continued to minister up until the time of his death on March 12, 1947.
[edit] Healing claims
Wigglesworth believed that God had cured him of hemorrhoids, and much of his ministry was focused on faith healing. He avoided medical treatment as far as possible, despite suffering from kidney stones in his later years. Wigglesworth even claimed that God had allowed him to raise several persons from the dead, including his own wife, although in that case this was just a brief resurrection.
His claims to heal the sick and "raise the dead" have never been proven[1]. According to some, he claimed to have resurrected 14 people including his wife.[2][3]
Wigglesworth's daughter, Alice, had a serious hearing loss[4]. Wigglesworth "prayed frequently" for his daughter to be healed, but no healing occurred.[5]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Bickle, Michael, Smith Wigglesworth Biography.
- ^ Frodsham, Stanley Howard, Smith Wigglesworth pp. 44-45.
- ^ Frodsham, Stanley Howard, Smith Wigglesworth
- ^ Wigglesworth, Ever Increasing Faith.
[edit] References
- Bickle, Michael. Smith Wigglesworth Biography (HTML). Retrieved on 2006-05-18.
- Frodsham, Stanley Howard (1948). Smith Wigglesworth: Apostle of Faith. Springfield, MO: Gospel Publishing House.
- Wigglesworth, Smith (1924). Ever Increasing Faith. Springfield, MO: Gospel Publishing House. Retrieved on 2006-12-13.
[edit] Further reading
- Wigglesworth, Smith. Faith That Prevails. 1938. Biblioteca di eVangelo.
- Wigglesworth, Smith. Ever Increasing Faith. (PDF) 1924. Zao Ministries International.
- Benny Hinn Ministries. "About Smith Wigglesworth." Retried 2006-12-13.
- McGee, Gary B. "The Revival Legacy of Smith Wigglesworth." Assemblies of God USA Enrichment Journal.
- Smith Wigglesworth, Spiritual Leader Bio. Cedar Rapids, IA: Wind and Fire Ministries.
- Melbourne Colin. Smith Wigglesworth (1859-1947). Born Again Christian Info.
