Evan Roberts (minister)
Encyclopedia
Evan John Roberts was a leading figure of the 1904-1905 Welsh Revival
who suffered many setbacks in his later life.
His obituary in The Western Mail summed up his career thus:
, Wales
, Evan Roberts was the younger of two sons of Henry and Hannah Roberts. Raised in a Calvinistic Methodist home, he was a serious child who attended church regularly and memorized scripture at night. From the age of 11 to 23, he worked in the coal mines alongside his father.
. Attendance at a service held by evangelist Seth Joshua
in Blaenanerch, Cardigan
led to an experience that formed Roberts' belief in the "Baptism of the Spirit
". In October of that year, Roberts began speaking at a series of small meetings. These appearances led to his involvement in the Revival. He was soon attracting congregations numbering thousands. Within two weeks the Welsh Revival was national news and before long, Evan Roberts and his brother Dan and his best friend Sidney Evans were travelling the country conducting Revival Meetings.
The four "points" of his message were:
was made into a successful stage musical by Mal Pope
called Amazing Grace in 2005.
1904-1905 Welsh Revival
The Welsh Revival was the largest Christian revival in Wales during the 20th century. While by no means the best known of revivals, it was one of the most dramatic in terms of its effect on the population, and it had repercussions that reached far beyond the Welsh border, triggering a series of...
who suffered many setbacks in his later life.
His obituary in The Western Mail summed up his career thus:
- "He was a man who had experienced strange things. In his youth, he had seemed to hold the nation in the palms of his hands. He endured strains and underwent great changes of opinion and outlook, but his religious convictions remained firm to the end."
Early life
Born in LoughorLoughor
Loughor is a town in the City and County of Swansea, Wales, within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan, Wales. It lies on the estuary of the River Loughor. The town has a community council called Llwchwr....
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, Evan Roberts was the younger of two sons of Henry and Hannah Roberts. Raised in a Calvinistic Methodist home, he was a serious child who attended church regularly and memorized scripture at night. From the age of 11 to 23, he worked in the coal mines alongside his father.
Ministry
In 1904, Roberts began studying for the ministry at Newcastle EmlynNewcastle Emlyn
Newcastle Emlyn is a town straddling the counties of Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire in west Wales and lying on the River Teifi.Adpar is the part of the town that lies on the Ceredigion side of the River Teifi...
. Attendance at a service held by evangelist Seth Joshua
Seth Joshua
Seth Joshua , was a Welsh Presbyterian minister and Evangelist who was noted for his influence before during and after the 1904-1905 Welsh Revival as well as for being a direct influence on the ministry of Evan Roberts, one of the leading figures of that revival...
in Blaenanerch, Cardigan
Cardigan
Cardigan may refer to:In geography:* Cardigan, Prince Edward Island, Canada* Cardigan , an electoral district in Prince Edward Island* Mount Cardigan, a mountain in New Hampshire, U.S.* Cardigan, Ceredigion, Wales...
led to an experience that formed Roberts' belief in the "Baptism of the Spirit
Baptism with the Holy Spirit
Baptism with the Holy Spirit in Christian theology is a term describing baptism in or with the Spirit of God...
". In October of that year, Roberts began speaking at a series of small meetings. These appearances led to his involvement in the Revival. He was soon attracting congregations numbering thousands. Within two weeks the Welsh Revival was national news and before long, Evan Roberts and his brother Dan and his best friend Sidney Evans were travelling the country conducting Revival Meetings.
The four "points" of his message were:
- Confess all known sin, receiving forgiveness through Jesus Christ
- Remove anything in your life that you are in doubt or feel unsure about
- Be ready to obey the Holy Spirit instantly
- Publicly confess the Lord Jesus Christ
Collapse
Roberts soon succumbed to the pressure of his rigorous schedule, and, in 1906, suffered a physical and emotional collapse.Later life
Evan Roberts died in 1951 at the age of seventy-three. He was buried in a family plot behind Moriah Chapel in south Wales. Today, a memorial column commemorates his contribution to the revival.Amazing Grace
The story of Evan Roberts and his role in the 1904-1905 Welsh Revival1904-1905 Welsh Revival
The Welsh Revival was the largest Christian revival in Wales during the 20th century. While by no means the best known of revivals, it was one of the most dramatic in terms of its effect on the population, and it had repercussions that reached far beyond the Welsh border, triggering a series of...
was made into a successful stage musical by Mal Pope
Mal Pope
Mal Pope , is a Welsh musician and composer, who is especially notable for his contribution to music theatre portraying Welsh national identities and themes...
called Amazing Grace in 2005.
Sources
- Invasion Of Wales By The Spirit Through Evan Roberts, James A. Stewart, Revival Literature, 1963.
- God's Generals, Roberts Liardon, Whitaker HouseWhitaker HouseWhitaker House is a charismatic, theologically conservative, evangelical Christian publishing house in New Kensington, Pennsylvania, just east of Pittsburgh...
, 1996. - Holding Forth the Word of Life, Heath Church, 2000
- Instrument of Revival, Brynmor P. Jones, Logos, 1995
- National Library of Wales, Sir John Herbert Lewis Papers