Pastor and author COL STRINGER’s soon-to-be-published book, ‘Smith Wigglesworth in the Land of the Holy Spirit – Australia and New Zealand’, takes an in-depth look at the visits of the Pentecostal movement pioneer’s visits to the two nations in the 1920s. Here, read an excerpt from the new book…
Pastor and author COL STRINGER’s soon-to-be-published book, Smith Wigglesworth in the Land of the Holy Spirit – Australia and New Zealand, takes an in-depth look at the visits of the Pentecostal movement pioneer’s visits to the two nations in the 1920s. An excerpt follows…
From the first time I ever read of Wigglesworth I have been captivated by his ministry, so much so that I read virtually everything I could lay my hands on about the man. While many world renowned ministers are barely remembered countless thousands still read Wigglesworth’s messages and memoirs. His name is still relevant in Christian circles as when he was alive. Yet, with all of this information available, I, like many Australians and New Zealanders, was unaware of the powerful affect this ‘Apostle of Faith’s’ ministry had upon the churches ‘Down Under’. Wigglesworth journeyed to Australia and New Zealand several times during the early twentieth century where he conducted some of the greatest revival and healing meetings these nations have witnessed.
MAN OF PASSION: British evangelist Smith Wigglesworth, who visited Australia and New Zealand in the 1920s.
Several years ago, while speaking for Pastor Mike Knott at the Elim Church in Wellington, I was excited to discover that Wigglesworth had spoken in that very church – AND – they had within their archives some of the original material from his meetings. I was champing at the bit when offered the opportunity to examine this material! I spent hours eagerly pouring over those records. I even obtained a copy of film footage of this great British evangelist’s visit to the ‘Land of the Long White Cloud.’ (I was under the impression there was no film records of the man).
From there it set me on a quest to track down and dig out whatever I could about Wigglesworth’s visits ‘Down Under’. The results of my efforts and research are contained in this new book and it is my heartfelt prayer that this material will help make us aware of the rich Christian Heritage of these two great nations who make up ‘The South Land of the Holy Spirit’.
Meetings In Australia
Wigglesworth was invited to Australia by Janet Lancaster of Good News Hall, Melbourne, however he first ministered in Sydney where meetings were arranged by Dr. R. Fallon. Edwin Orr writes in his book Evangelical Awakenings in the South Seas: “The great healing evangelist Smith Wigglesworth was relatively unknown when he arrived on his first trip to Australia. (He later returned for a second series of meetings in 1927).”
Wigglesworth journeyed to Melbourne where he held meetings at Good News Hall and the miracles continued. Here is a testimony of what God did in those meetings: Winnie Andrews writes, “Our Brother Wigglesworth landed here February 16th, and had a meeting that very night. The dear Lord was present to heal. A little girl of six, having never walked, after she had been prayed for, walked out of the front door with her mother, who was full of joy for what the Lord had done for her little one. The girl’s mother yelled excitedly to all around her: ‘Look at her! She has never walker in her life before!'”
W. Buchanan, a Christian worker from Melbourne wrote: “We had three glorious weeks of triumphant victory in the Melbourne meetings. Fully one thousand souls were converted to the Lord Jesus Christ, and many scores were healed. In fact, the testimonies of those healed are still continuing to come in.”
Woman rose from wheelchair – (excerpts from reports)
“Many deaf people have been delivered in answer to the prayer of faith. One night a dear man and his wife whom he brought to the meeting in a wheel chair, were both healed. He had been suffering from deafness for 20 years
and she had not walked for over six-and-a-half years. After prayer she got out of her chair and walked to the station, with her husband pushing the empty chair. He, too, was rejoicing in that he was now able to hear perfectly. O what a
wonderful God we have. Blessed be His holy Name!” (Confidence Magazine).
“Last night a young man suffering from consumption was prayed for and was instantly made whole. O, our hearts overflow at the glorious things God is doing in our midst! “Many have been healed of neuritis, heart and lung
trouble and stiff joints. One woman who had not walked for 22 years and could not as much as turn her head-after prayer-got out of bed and walked, Praise God!” (The Pentecostal Evangel, 15th April, 1922).
The following is from Melbourne from Winnie Andrews, in connection with Wigglesworth’s ministry there. A young woman declared: “I was brought to last Sunday’s meeting a poor, dying woman, with a disease which was eating
into every part of my being. I was full of corruption outside as well as in; but the Lord Jesus Christ came and loosed me and set me free. Since then I have slept better and have eaten more heartily than I have for eight years.”
Healings! Healings! Healings
When Wigglesworth prayed, the power of the Spirit came upon the people. Just some of the hundreds of healings included: healed of tumor in hospital; high blood pressure; displaced kidneys, running ear; broken ribs,
broken collar bone, pierced lungs.
Another writes, “I have received the second handkerchief which you prayed over, and the Lord is blessing. This cancer is slowly drying up. I have had no more hemorrhages and the terrible odour is leaving. Praise the Lord.”
(Meeting held in Richmond Temple, Melbourne. Published in Triumphs of Faith).
One the main ‘secrets’ to this great man of God’s incredible healing ministry was his strength and unshakable faith. He believed everything he read in the Bible and was not afraid to push through the limits in his faith with God. He wrote: “Believers are strong only as the Word of God abides in them. The Word of God is spirit and life to those who receive it in simple faith, and it is a verifier of all who own its sway. Know your Book, live it, believe it, and obey it. Hide God’s word in your heart. It will save your soul, quicken your body, illumine your mind. .Your life must be one of
going from faith to faith.”
Col Stringer would love to hear from anyone who may have something relating to this great man of God – in
Australia or New Zealand – before the book goes to print in the next few weeks. You can contact Col via www.colstringer.com.
