The Passing of Eugene Peterson and F.F. Bosworth

A Look at Their Transition and 'Ultimate Triumph'

By Roscoe Barnes III

Author, F.F. Bosworth: The Man Behind Christ the Healer

Copyright (c) 2018

#FFBosworth

#BosworthMatters

Eugene Peterson

Note: A printable PDF version of this article is available here.

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For students of Pentecostal church history, particularly those who have read Christ the Healer, the passing of Eugene Peterson may trigger thoughts about the death of Fred Francis ("F.F.") Bosworth. The reason is that both men reportedly left this life -- and crossed over into Heaven -- in a similar fashion. 

Bosworth and Peterson, both of whom died in their 80s, were said to be speaking with people in the afterlife in their final moments. Both men also appeared more than ready to be absent from the body and present with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8). Bosworth's death has been called "the ultimate triumph."

Peterson, a noted theologian and Presbyterian minister, died on October 22, 2018. His cause of death has been listed as congestive heart failure. According to Robert D. McFadden of The New York Times, he died at his home in Lakeside, Mont., at the age of 85. He reportedly “had dementia, (and) had been in hospice care,” McFadden wrote.

Peterson was famous as the author/translator of The Message, which is described as “The Bible in Contemporary Language.” It is published by NavPress.

Peterson's passing

In her article, "Eugene Peterson Has Completed His Long Obedience," that appeared in the October 22, 2018 issue of Christianity Today, Kate Shellnutt presented a colorful and quite moving tribute to Peterson. She quoted his family as saying he “joyfully looked toward heaven as he neared death, saying, ‘Let’s go.’”

One fascinating part of Shellnutt’s article is the description of Peterson’s final moment, which was presented in a statement from Peterson’s family:

“During the previous days, it was apparent that he was navigating the thin and sacred space between earth and heaven,” they stated. “We overheard him speaking to people we can only presume were welcoming him into paradise. There may have even been a time or two when he accessed his Pentecostal roots and spoke in tongues as well.

Philip Yancey, best-selling Christian author, wrote a powerful tribute to Peterson that featured a number of personal anecdotes. In his article, "Farewell, Eugene" (Pathos.com/The Evangelical Pulpit, October 24, 2018), Yancey included this note about Peterson, which was also shared by the family:

“He is now in his own bedroom with a spectacular view of Flathead Lake. He is comfortable and well-cared for. It appears that he is talking with people that no one else can see. These, I believe, are not hallucinations; rather, he is being prepared for something too glorious for words.”

Bosworth's passing

Bosworth’s passing was described in a manner similar to the one reported by Peterson's family. The famous healing evangelist died of a heart attack on January 23, 1958, according to news reports. He was 81.

According to his son, Robert V. (Bob) Bosworth, his dad wished to “glorify God in his death as he had in his life.” The family came to his bedside just before he passed.

“About three weeks after he took to his bed, we were around the bed talking, laughing, singing. Suddenly Dad looked up; he never saw us again. He saw what was invisible to us. He began to greet people and hug people – he was enraptured. Every once in a while he would break off and look around saying, “Oh, it is so beautiful.”

He did this for several hours. Finally, with a smile on his face, he put his head back and slept.

Robert’s wife, Stella, was sitting with him when he took his last breath. Robert said he passed without any pain or struggle.

Several years after F. F. Bosworth's death, William Branham chimed in on his passing. In a sermon titled "Perseverance," Branham talked about his meeting with the elder evangelist a short time before his transition. Branham, who is simple and unpretentious in his speaking, had known Bosworth since the 1940s, during the early days of The Voice if Healing.

Branham said that when he visited Bosworth, they embraced each other like father and son. When he asked Bosworth if he was sick. Bosworth replied, "No."

"Well, what's the matter?" Branham asked. His question led to an interesting exchange between the two of them. Bosworth reportedly said he was "just going home." Branham, in his usual folksy style, described their conversation as follows:

"Well, Brother Bosworth," I said, "I'd like to ask you something. When was your

 best time?"

He said, "Right now."

And I said, "Yet you know you're dying?"

He said, "I can't die.... I died about seventy years ago. I'm a new creature in Christ." And he said, "Brother Branham, all that I have lived for, for the past sixty years, has been the Lord Jesus. And any minute I'm looking for Him to walk in the door and go with Him for eternity."

Closing thought

Stories like the ones presented in this article are not as rare as some may be inclined to believe. In fact, similar reports have been given about many Christians, including D. L. Moody, who also spoke of seeing his family members in Heaven. When someone questioned his claim and suggested he was dreaming, he corrected them and said "he had actually been within the gates of Heaven," according to biographer J. Wilbur Chapman.

One biblical story that comes to mind appears in Acts 7, where Stephen is being stoned. Before he died, he looked up and saw Christ, who appeared to be welcoming him to Heaven.

When the council members heard Stephen’s speech, they were angry and furious. But Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit. He looked toward heaven, where he saw our glorious God and Jesus standing at his right side. Then Stephen said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right side of God!” (Acts 7:54-56, Contemporary English Version)

Reports of dying Christians being welcomed by people on the other side, undoubtedly, will be dismissed by some as nothing more than fantasy, hallucinations, and exaggerations. The dismissal, in some cases, may be warranted. However, the accounts of Peterson and Bosworth deserve attention, as both men were highly respected and not given to foolishness.

Whatever one chooses to believe, there is one thing about Peterson and Bosworth that seems undeniable: Both of them fought a good fight and kept the faith, and they both seemed ready to meet their Lord.

For information on The Message, visit the NavPress website located here.

Photo: The image of Eugene Peterson was taken from the NavPress YouTube video, "Eugene Peterson: The Main Storyline of the Bible" (published October 11, 2016). See video here.

References:

Bosworth, Robert V. “The Ultimate Triumph.” In Christ the Healer by F.F. Bosworth. Grand Rapids, MI: Chosen Books, 2000.

Branham, William. "Perseverance." Sermon, Marc Ballroom in New York, November 16, 1963. Accessed October 25, 2018. http://branham.ru/message/messagebd3a.html?sermonum=975.

Chapman, J.Wilbur. "Chapter 27 - The Funeral." In The Life and Work of Dwight Lyman Moody. Accessed on October 28, 2018. https://www.biblebelievers.com/moody/27.html.

McFadden, Robert D. “Eugene H. Peterson, 85, Scholar Turned Homespun Pastor, Dies.” The New York Times, October 23, 2018. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/23/obituaries/the-rev-eugene-h-peterson-dead.html.

Shellnutt, Kate. "Eugene Peterson Has Completed His Long Obedience." Christianity Today, October 22, 2018. https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2018/october/eugene-peterson-died-message-bible-long-obedience-resurrect.html.

Yancey, Philip. "Farewell, Eugene." Patheos.com/The Evangelical Pulpit (blog) October 24, 2018. Accessed October 25, 2018. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/evangelicalpulpit/2018/10/farewell-eugene-peterson-philip-yancey/?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Best+of+Patheos&utm_content=57

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Would you like to know more

about F.F. Bosworth?

Follow the Bosworth Matters blog!

Start here:

ffbosworth.strikingly.com

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For more information:
Visit the F.F. Bosworth page here. Questions about the research and commentary on F.F. Bosworth may be directed to Roscoe Barnes III, Ph.D., via email at doctorbarnes3@gmail.com or roscoebarnes3@yahoo.com. For updates on F.F. Bosworth history, simply follow this blog or @Roscoebarnes3 on Twitter. #ChristTheHealer

Stella Bosworth and the Divine Gift of Language

How the Spirit Enabled Her Mom to Speak Fluent Zulu

By Roscoe Barnes III
Author, F.F. Bosworth: The Man Behind Christ the Healer
Copyright (c) 2018

#FFBosworth
#BosworthMatters

Stella Bosworth, widow of Bob Bosworth, son of F.F. Bosworth

In his book, How to Have a Healing Ministry Without Making Your Church Sick!, (Regal Books, 1988) C. Peter Wagner shared a remarkable testimony by Stella Bosworth, widow of Bob Bosworth, the son of F.F. Bosworth. 

According to Wagner, Stella's mother, Ethel Raath of South Africa, is a good example of how the Holy Spirit can enable a person to speak fluently in a language that he or she has never learned. The divine empowerment experienced by Raath reportedly allowed her to speak extremely well in her new language, which was Zulu. She immediately began reading and writing in the language, and she later became an interpreter, according to Stella. "God gave her a perfect Zulu accent so that they call her 'the white Zulu,'" Stella said. Wagner described the miraculous experience as follows:

I am in correspondence with Stella Bosworth, who has been a missionary to Africa for over 30 years. Her mother, Ethel Raath, a South African, knew a few words of pigeon Zulu, but that was all. In 1935 she and her husband were assigned to do government work in Transkei, a Zulu area, and when they arrived some Zulu Christians asked them to begin services for them. Mrs. Raath felt that God was calling her to minister and pray in Zulu, so she decided to ask Him for the language. She gathered the Zulu Christians, knelt down, placed the Zulu Bible on her head, and they prayed for her to speak Zulu. From the time she got up from her knees she could speak, read and write Zulu fluently. She became her husband's chief interpreter.

Stella and her husband, Bob, served more than 55 years as missionaries in Africa and other parts of the world, including the United States. They ministered to thousands of people -- and helped raised untold numbers of church leaders --  through their ministry, World Outreach Inc. They also operated a Bible school. Bob died on June 5, 2009, according to New Life Christian Church. He was 77. Bob, it appears, was an apostle of prayer. In a brief online article, New Life Christian Church reported: “In 1980, God put a mandate on Bob’s heart to carry the message of early morning prayer to the nations of the world.” Bob also published a 32-page book about prayer titled, Attitudes and Relationships: A Key to Successful Prayer and Christian Living (World Outreach). Note: A copy is available at Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center.

Stella, a gifted and extraordinary woman, continued to minister in his absence. In a 2013 message on YouTube, Stella said she never cried over her husband's death because she was happy about him being with Christ. "I haven’t grieved for one second since Bob passed away," she said. "I haven’t shed one tear. The joy of the Lord is my strength. I’m excited that he’s … with the Lord in Glory and for the work to be growing and prospering even more than when he was here."

Stella said life is good and it's good for her. "I'm very excited," she added.

Stella on YouTube

A video of Stella giving updates on her ministry can be seen here. She was 80 at the time of the recording. In addition to speaking about Bob and their work over the years, she talks about her mother. She explains how the Lord gifted her mother with the amazing ability to speak Zulu. 

Stella on Amazon

Stella has also used Amazon.com to discuss her work in Africa. Her comments appear on her profile page which offers her reviews of books and other products. The page can be seen here. 

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References:

Bosworth, Bob. Attitudes and Relationships: A Key to Successful Prayer and Christian Living. Dallas, TX: World Outreach. (See iFPHC.org.)

Bosworth, Stella. Amazon Profile. Accessed October 23, 2018. https://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/amzn1.account.AHBMKXY27EKVEQLBBN3DPUDMQWXQ/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_pdp?ie=UTF8

------. “World Outreach Update by Stella Bosworth.” Youtube channel. Accessed October 22, 2018. https://youtu.be/f-WzkSw74gI.

George24. “Being open to God's surprises.” Bread for the Journey: A Search for Truth and Meaning in Life (blog). Accessed 10/22/2018. http://george24.blogspot.com/2009/05/being-open-to-gods-surprises.html.

New Life Christian Church. “World Outreach Inc. [Stella Bosworth]: Africa & Asia." Accessed October 23, 2018. http://thisisnewlife.com/serve/our-world.

Wagner, C. Peter. How to Have a Healing Ministry Without Making Your Church Sick! Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 1988.

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Would you like to know more

about F.F. Bosworth?

Follow the Bosworth Matters blog!

Start here:

ffbosworth.strikingly.com

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For more information:
Visit the F.F. Bosworth page here. Questions about the research and commentary on F.F. Bosworth may be directed to Roscoe Barnes III, Ph.D., via email at doctorbarnes3@gmail.com or roscoebarnes3@yahoo.com. For updates on F.F. Bosworth history, simply follow this blog or @Roscoebarnes3 on Twitter. #ChristTheHealer

WCCF News: What's Happening at Wilkinson County Correctional Facility (10/2018)

By Roscoe Barnes III, Ph.D.

Chaplain, Wilkinson County Correctional Facility
Copyright (c) 2018

#MTCChangesLives

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This is a collection of news briefs I wrote for The Woodville Republican (Woodville, Miss.). The collection is set to appear as a quarter-page ad on Thursday, October 25, 2018. Wilkinson County Correctional Facility (WCCF), Woodville, where I serve as chaplain, is publishing its news in this format each quarter in the local newspaper.

What’s Happening At

Wilkinson County Correctional Facility

Photo captions: 

Instructor Santhie Womack leads the horticulture class at Wilkinson County Correctional Facility. Instructor Larry Jackson leads WCCF’s Facilities Care program.

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10 Men Move Closer to OSHA Exam

Ten incarcerated men in the Facilities Care program at Wilkinson County Correctional Facility (WCCF) have passed the basic safety test – the first essential test -- in Module 1 of the Core Curriculum Book that is used in the program. They are now eligible to take the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) exam for certification. The class is taught by Instructor Larry Jackson, who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Alcorn State University. He has certifications in carpentry and structural welding. “This is a college level test,” said Deputy Warden of Programs Tonya Toomey.

  

WCCF Celebrates 5-year Anniversary

Wilkinson County Correctional Facility (WCCF) held a special luncheon to celebrate Management & Training Corporation’s (MTC) 5-year anniversary as operator of the Woodville facility. Monique Alexander, administrative assistant, organized the event which took place on Tuesday, July 31, 2018. More than 80 people attended, including 30 guests and the 50 staff members who were honored for their five years of service.

10 Men Earn GEDs

Deputy Warden of Programs Tonya Toomey reported 10 incarcerated men earned their GEDs over the last couple of months. She credited her staff for making the achievement possible because of their hard work and creativity. The students also showed dedication, she said.

Maintenance Crew Repairs AC Units

Maintenance Manager Mitchell McGraw and his team accomplished a herculean feat in August by repairing the AC units in the facility’s gym. McGraw said the repairs saved the facility $19,000.

  

Carter Named Job Coordinator

WCCF honored Case Manager Monica Carter as employee of the month for April. She became case manager job coordinator in July.

  

Team Offers “Care” To Staff

The WCCF Care Team, led by Unit Manager Erika Perkins, has been issuing fruit baskets to staff members who are out due to illness or injury. The kind gesture is one of many things the team does in the interest of being B.I.O.N.I.C. – “Believe It Or Not I Care.” From June 17 to 22, Perkins participated in the CARE Leader Training Adventure at the MTC Corporate Office in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Carter, Coleman Named King And Queen of MTC

Instructor Allen Carter was named Mr. MTC, and Drug and Substance Abuse Counselor Angela Coleman was named Ms. MTC during the 2018 homecoming celebration of Wilkinson County High School. Carter and Coleman rode in the school parade as king and queen for MTC.

#PrivatePrisons

----------------------------------
ROSCOE BARNES III, Ph.D., is a writer, chaplain, historian, and former newspaper reporter. He is the author of more than a dozen books and Gospel tracts. For more information about his work and history, see his Personal Profile here or visit his website: http://www.roscoebarnes.net. Connect with him on Twitter (@roscoebarnes3) or by email: roscoebarnes3@yahoo.com.

F.F. Bosworth Mentioned in P.C. Nelson's book, Does Christ Heal Today? (1941)

By Roscoe Barnes III
Author, F.F. Bosworth: The Man Behind Christ the Healer
Copyright (c) 2018

#FFBosworth
#BosworthMatters
#BosworthMention

Image courtesy of Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center (iFPHC.org)

Every once in a while you come across an out-of-print book that is so important and so well-written, it should be read by a new generation. Does Christ Heal Today? by P.C. Nelson is such a book.

Nelson was a master linguist, healing evangelist, and prominent educator in the Assemblies of God. He published his 96-page book on divine healing in 1941 through his own publishing house, Southwestern Press of Enid, Okla. (A copy of the book is available at Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center.) At some point in the 1940s, possibly the latter end of the decade, Jack Coe began publishing the book. According to Coe, "This book contains the most scriptural, yet simplified method to receive healing from God of any book I have ever read."

In the same vein as A.B. Simpson and A.J. Gordon, Nelson makes a compelling argument for divine healing in the modern era. His book features detailed healing testimonies and instructions for those in need of healing. The book includes Nelson's personal testimony of healing and his entry into the healing ministry. It also includes mention of F.F. Bosworth, which is not surprising, given the impact that he had on Nelson's ministry. 

The content in the Appendix is pure gold -- and well worth the price of the entire book. It provides tried-and-true methods for participating in the ministry of healing.

For the most part, the book is a compilation of articles, letters, lectures, and other material related to church doctrine and theology. (See Contents below) Several chapters first appeared as stories in newspapers in the early 1920s in Kansas and Oklahoma. The chapter that mentions Bosworth is titled, "God's Call to a New Ministry," and it first appeared in 1922 in the Wood County Republican of Bowling Green, OH. The piece is an interview of Nelson who was holding a campaign in the amory in Bowling Green. In response to a question about his reason for leaving his pastorate and becoming an evangelist, Nelson explained:

I made a new study of the Bible concerning divine healing, and saw clearly that the healing of our bodies as well as the salvation of our souls was included in the sacrifice of Calvary. This message I had never preached. I felt that God wanted me to preach it everywhere.

I heard of the wonderful, miraculous cures in the Bosworth meetings in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and went down there to investigate for myself. I saw many deaf who had received hearing, blind who had regained sight, lame who had been made to walk, and I heard scores of people testifying to the wonderful healing power of Christ. I saw the multitudes flocking to the meetings, and scores daily turning to Christ as their Savior. I said, 'This looks like the revivals we read about in the New Testament.'

Nelson's mention of Bosworth is brief but still significant. It gives readers a glimpse of the role that Bosworth played in Nelson's own healing ministry.

Image courtesy of Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center (iFPHC.org)

At the beginning of this article, it was suggested that Nelson's book is worthy of being reprinted for a new audience. The idea brings to mind a publishing project that involved Kenneth E. Hagin. When Hagin came across T.J. McCrossan's book, Bodily Healing and The Atonement, it had been out of print for many years. But seeing its value and its relevance to another generation, he and Roy H. Hicks reedited the book and republished it in 1982 via Kenneth Hagin Ministries. Perhaps it is time now for a publisher to follow Hagin's example and publish Nelson's book for today's church.

Related article:
What P.C. Nelson Saw in the F.F. Bosworth Revival Meetings: How the Experience Moved Him to Begin His Own Healing Ministry. See here.

References:
Coe, Jack. Introduction to Does Christ Heal Today? Messages of Faith, Hope and Cheer For the Afflicted

Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center (iFPHC.org)

McCrossan, T.J. Bodily Healing and The Atonement. Reedited by Roy H. Hicks and Kenneth E. Hagin. Tulsa, OK: Kenneth Hagin Ministries, 1982.

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Would you like to know more

about F.F. Bosworth?

Follow the Bosworth Matters blog! 

Start here:

ffbosworth.strikingly.com

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For more information:
Visit the F.F. Bosworth page here. Questions about the research and commentary on F.F. Bosworth may be directed to Roscoe Barnes III, Ph.D., via email at doctorbarnes3@gmail.com or roscoebarnes3@yahoo.com. For updates on F.F. Bosworth history, simply follow this blog or @Roscoebarnes3 on Twitter. #ChristTheHealer

Larry Jackson leads incarcerated men a step closer to OSHA exam

By Roscoe Barnes III
Chaplain, Wilkinson County Correctional Facility

#MTCChangesLives

Instructor Larry Jackson

WOODVILLE, Miss. -- Fayette Resident Larry Jackson says he’s proud of his students at Wilkinson County Correctional Facility (WCCF). Under his leadership, 10 of his students in the Facilities Care program – all incarcerated – passed the basic safety test in Module One of the Core Curriculum Book used in the program, according to Deputy Warden of Programs Tonya Toomey.

“This is the first essential test in the program,” said Jackson. His students are now eligible to take the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) exam for certification.

Jackson holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Alcorn State University. He has certifications in carpentry and structural welding.

Toomey said the initial test is important. “This is a college level test,” she said, adding she applauds Jackson and his students for their hard work. “We’re all proud of this achievement.”

WCCF is operated by Management & Training Corporation (MTC) of Utah for the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC). 

#PrivatePrisons

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ROSCOE BARNES III, Ph.D., is a writer, chaplain, historian, and former newspaper reporter. He is the author of more than a dozen books and Gospel tracts. For more information about his work and history, see his Personal Profile here or visit his website: http://www.roscoebarnes.net. Connect with him on Twitter (@roscoebarnes3) or by email: roscoebarnes3@yahoo.com.

F.F. Bosworth's Ministry to John G. Lake

How a Simple Question Led to a Spiritual Breakthrough -- and Years of Fruitful Ministry

By Roscoe Barnes III

Author, F.F. Bosworth: The Man Behind Christ the Healer

Copyright (c) 2018

#FFBosworth

#BosworthMatters

F.F. Bosworth played a pivotal role in John G. Lake's quest for a deeper life in the Spirit. His efforts are recorded in John G. Lake: The Complete Collection of His Life Teachings (Whitaker House, 2005), which is compiled by Roberts Liardon.

In 1907, several months after Charles Parham's visit to Zion City, Ill., Bosworth, who experienced his own Pentecost on October 18, 1906, gave Lake a gentle nudge to move him to the next level in his walk with God. 

Bosworth's assistance, as it turned out, helped to pave the way for Lake to receive the baptism in the Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. Lake would go on to experience a divine encounter that would take him to Africa and other parts of the world.

Bosworth's contribution to Lake's development occurred in three ways, each of which may be seen as an act of divine providence.

First, Bosworth used his own home for prayer meetings where Lake and others could come and learn about the Pentecostal experience. In 1904, Bosworth received a visit by the wife and sister-in-law of Charles Parham. According to historian Kemp Pendleton Burpeau, Lake had the privilege of meeting both of the women during that time. "The meeting played a most prominent role in Lake's religious development," Burpeau noted.

Second, Bosworth coaxed him into delving deeper into his faith and his walk with God. Bosworth accomplished that with a simple question: He asked Lake about his willingness to fully commit himself to Christ. "Lake," he said, "When are you going to surrender to Jesus?"

Third, Bosworth and Tom Hezmalhach (who was called Brother Tom), knelt and prayed with Lake, who then and there surrendered himself to the Lord. From that point on, he began seeking the Lord for sanctification and the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

Lake’s account of his meeting with Bosworth and Hezmalhach begins with his introduction to Hezmalhach in the home of Bosworth. It ends with the three of them praying, quite literally, on a sidewalk. Lake recalled:

Some months before I was baptized, (1907) I sat in a cottage meeting at the home of Brother Fred Bosworth. Brother Tom was preaching. At the close of the meeting, he came to me and said, "Brother, what is your name?"

             I said, "John Lake."

He replied, "John Lake, as I was preaching, Jesus told me, John and I are going to preach together."

I laughed, replying lightly, "I wish it were so, but I can't preach. I am not where I ought to be with God."

He said, "Never mind. Jesus is going to fix you up." 

Some months later as he visited our town again, one day I joined Brother Tom and Brother Fred Bosworth on the sidewalk. As we walked down the street, I stepped between them, taking each by the arm. Brother Bosworth turned to me, saying, "Lake, when are you going to surrender to Jesus?"

I said, "Anytime, Fred."

Tom turned to me saying, "Do you mean it!"

I replied, "I do, Tom." We all three fell on our knees on the sidewalk and right there I surrendered to my Lord. Then I sought God for sanctification and my Baptism in the Holy Ghost.

In October 1907 the Lord in His goodness baptized me with the Holy Ghost after several months of deep heart searching and repentance unto God at the home of a friend.

That Bosworth would suggest the need to surrender was not surprising, given his own background. After all, that is what he had been taught and what he experienced before his own Pentecostal experience. Bosworth, it should be noted, was present when Marie Burgess received the Spirit baptism. “As he watched her receive the baptism, he became so hungry that the power of God fell on him,” wrote historian Gordon P. Gardiner in Out of Zion into All the World (Companion Press, 1990). During that time, Gardiner explained, “The seekers were taught that they should be sanctified before they could receive the baptism.” Because of that view, some of the believers became discouraged, according to Gardiner. However, in Bosworth’s case, he reportedly came to a prayer meeting with a made-up mind and an attitude of surrender. Citing a woman who attended the meeting, Gardiner wrote: “The bandmaster of our city [F.F. Bosworth] came in and said, ‘I put the last thing on the altar coming up the hill.’”

According to Kemp Pendleton Burpeau, Lake received the Spirit baptism in October 1907, exactly one year after Bosworth had received the same gift. Burpeau wrote that Lake received the Spirit "with tongues (glossolalia), healing power, and other charismatic gifts. This baptismal empowerment was apparently distinguishable from his prior religious experiences in magnitude and comprehensiveness."

Lake's account is certainly clear and concise. It seems credible, and in a certain way, inspiring. He undoubtedly saw his time with Bosworth and Hezmalhach as something that was vitally important to his life and ministry. But despite their assistance, he chose not to mention them in his booklet, My Baptism in the Holy Spirit and How the Lord Sent Me to Africa (Divine Healing Institute, n.d.). When one considers the presumably close relationship that he had with the two, the omission of their names is a puzzling surprise.

References:

Burpeau, Kemp Pendleton. God's Showman: A Historical Study of John G. Lake and South Africa/American Pentecostalism. Oslo, Norway: Refleks Publishing, 2004.

Gardiner, Gordon P. Out of Zion into All the World. Shippensburg, PA: Companion Press, 1990. (Available at Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center. See ifphc.org)

Lake, John G. John G. Lake -- Apostle to Africa. Compiled by Gordon Lindsay. Dallas, TX: Christ For the Nations Inc., 1997.

------. John G. Lake: The Complete Collection of His Life Teachings. Compiled by Roberts Liardon. New Kensington, PA: Whitaker House, 2005. (See http://www.EnterHisRest.org)

------. My Baptism in the Holy Spirit and How the Lord Sent Me to Africa. Portland, OR: Divine Healing Institute, n.d. (Available at Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center. See ifphc.org)

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Would you like to know more

about F.F. Bosworth?

Follow the Bosworth Matters blog!

You can start right here:

ffbosworth.strikingly.com

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For more information:
Visit the F.F. Bosworth page here. Questions about the research and commentary on F.F. Bosworth may be directed to Roscoe Barnes III, Ph.D., via email at doctorbarnes3@gmail.com or roscoebarnes3@yahoo.com. For updates on F.F. Bosworth history, simply follow this blog or @Roscoebarnes3 on Twitter. #ChristTheHealer

Siblings of Anne Moody: ‘Principal Willis was Mr. Anselm J. Finch’

Family Confirms Name of the Founder of Willis High in Coming of Age in Mississippi

By Roscoe Barnes III

Chairman, Anne Moody History Project

Copyright © 2018

#AnneMoody

Anselm Joseph Finch

I have been saying for months that Anselm Joseph Finch is believed to be Principal Willis of Willis High in Anne Moody’s Coming of Age in Mississippi. The first person to suggest that was Charles E. Johnson, retired superintendent of education for Wilkinson County. He said to me, “There was no Willis High in Centreville. The school was Finch High School.”

And he was right.

Johnson’s information was confirmed this week by Anne’s brother, Fred Moody Jr., and her sister, Adline Moody, both of Gloster, Miss. Both siblings told me that they attended Finch High School in Centreville. They acknowledged Anne changed the names of many people – and places -- in the book. However, she used the actual names of her brothers and sisters, Adline said.

When asked about the controversy surrounding Finch and claims that he was an “Uncle Tom,” Adline said, “There was a lot of that going on back then. That’s how it was.”

In addition to being an educator and administrator, Finch was an accomplished writer. He published poetry, articles, and a number of books, including Mississippi Negro Ramblings (Adams Press, 1969). His work appeared in magazines and newspapers.

I recently learned of a biography of Finch by Sharon Burnette Bell that was written as a thesis for her Master of Arts degree at Jackson State University. It's titled, Anselm Joseph Finch: Mississippian and Life Long Educator (Jackson State University, 1976). It is well worth reading. One of the interesting features in Bell's research is a comment about the possible strategy that Finch employed in his dealings with the white community. Bell shared the thoughts of Dr. Lee E. Williams, who was vice president for administration at JSU and “had professional contact with Dr. Finch." Bell wrote: 

Mr. Williams also thought that Finch brought a lot of publicity to the state of Mississippi through his writings. He didn’t always agree with the context of the writings because he believed that Finch was too free and prolific with his unjust praise of Whites who often worked against Blacks. But this he feels was due to the time in which they both lived. Mr. Williams thought Finch probably used praise as a strategy to get what he wanted form the White man. (Pages 35-36)

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Acknowledgments:

Grateful acknowledgments are made to Ms. Darlita Ballard, university archivist for Jackson State University H.T. Sampson Library, for her assistance in providing information on Sharon Burnette Bell’s thesis.

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Would you like to know more about Anne Moody?

Visit the Anne Moody page here!

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For more information: 
See the Anne Moody page here.
Questions about the Anne Moody History Project may be directed to Roscoe Barnes III Ph.D. via email at doctorbarnes3@gmail.com or roscoebarnes3@yahoo.com For updates on Anne Moody history and the on-going work of this community service project, simply follow this blog or follow AMHP on Twitter (@AnneMoodyHP).
#ComingOfAgeinMississippi

A Look at Edna Lee Bland Jones, aka Sister Jones, in Coming of Age in Mississippi

Her Story, Photo Shared by Her Family

By Roscoe Barnes III
Chairman, Anne Moody History Project
Copyright (c) 2018

#AnneMoody

Sister Jones in Anne Moody's 
Coming of Age in Mississippi

Thanks to the Rev. LeReginald Jones, we now have a photo of Edna Lee Bland Jones, who is featured as Sister Jones in Anne Moody's Coming of Age in Mississippi. The photo was probably taken in the 1980s, according to her family.

“She was known for her cooking and her singing, and she had a sharp tongue,” said LeReginald. “We called her Mama. The people who didn’t know her called her, Ms. Edna.”

LeReginald, who serves as assistant pastor of Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church in Centreville, Miss., said he is the great-grandson of Sister Jones. When she died in 1990 at the age of 71, he was just two years of age.

Sister Jones’ family remembers her as a strong woman who was deeply religious. She was the mother of 13 children. LeReginald said she had strong faith in God, and her devotion to her church was well-known.

Sister Jones was a member of Mount Pleasant, the same church that Moody joined as a teenager. In Chapter Five of Coming of Age, Moody wrote:

Just as I was leaving to go back outside I saw Mama having a serious conversation with old Sister Jones who was now sitting beside her. I knew that she was trying to get Mama to get me to join Mount Pleasant.

Usually during revival season older sisters of the church recruited candidates for baptism and Sister Jones always outdid the others. 

Sister Jones had strength, but she also had pride. LeReginald and other family members used to wonder why she never did domestic work for white families back in the day.

“We asked my great-granddad,” LeReginald said. “We asked why she didn’t work and clean houses like everybody else did during that time. He said it was because of her mouth. She would speak her mind and not hold back. So he worked very, very hard to take care of the family. She never did domestic work for any white families.”

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Would you like to know MORE about Anne Moody?

Visit here to see the timeline of important

events in her life history!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For more information: 
See the Anne Moody page here.
Questions about the Anne Moody History Project may be directed to Roscoe Barnes III, Ph.D., via email at doctorbarnes3@gmail.com or roscoebarnes3@yahoo.com. For updates on Anne Moody history and the on-going work of this community service project, simply follow this blog or follow AMHP on Twitter (@AnneMoodyHP). #ComingOfAgeinMississippi