Jessie Penn-Lewis
Encyclopedia
Jessie Penn-Lewis was a Welsh
evangelical
speaker and author of a number of Christian
evangelical works.
in 1861. Her father was a Methodist
minister. She was married to William Penn-Lewis.
, one of the largest Christian revivals
ever to break out, although the revival was abruptly shortened with the mental and physical collapse of one of the leaders, Evan Roberts
. Penn-Lewis traveled internationally to take her message to audiences in Russia
, Scandinavia
, Canada
, the U.S.
, and India
.
Penn-Lewis was close to Evan Roberts and there is some controversy associated with her influence over him. After the breakdown by Roberts cut the revival short, he stayed with the Penn-Lewis's for a couple of years, but never fully recovered. Ultimately, Penn-Lewis declared some of phenomena of the Welsh Revival to be the work of Satan
, declaring her still controversial position in her book on spiritual warfare
called War on the Saints, which describes the work of demons on Christians, the theme for which Penn-Lewis is most known.
among others, and her books contain quotes from him and references to his works. Frank Buchman
, the founder of the Oxford Group
, credits Penn-Lewis with helping him to turn his life around from depression
when he heard her speak at a Keswick Convention
. She also influenced Johan Oscar Smith
, the founder of Brunstad Christian Church and the missionary statesman Norman Grubb
She founded the magazine "The Overcomer", which is still published.
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...
evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
speaker and author of a number of Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
evangelical works.
Early life
Penn-Lewis was born in Victoria Terrace, NeathNeath
Neath is a town and community situated in the principal area of Neath Port Talbot, Wales, UK with a population of approximately 45,898 in 2001...
in 1861. Her father was a Methodist
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
minister. She was married to William Penn-Lewis.
Welsh revival
She was involved 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...
, one of the largest Christian revivals
Revival meeting
A revival meeting is a series of Christian religious services held in order to inspire active members of a church body, to raise funds and to gain new converts...
ever to break out, although the revival was abruptly shortened with the mental and physical collapse of one of the leaders, Evan Roberts
Evan Roberts (minister)
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:- Early life :...
. Penn-Lewis traveled internationally to take her message to audiences in Russia
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
, Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and India
History of India
The history of India begins with evidence of human activity of Homo sapiens as long as 75,000 years ago, or with earlier hominids including Homo erectus from about 500,000 years ago. The Indus Valley Civilization, which spread and flourished in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent from...
.
Penn-Lewis was close to Evan Roberts and there is some controversy associated with her influence over him. After the breakdown by Roberts cut the revival short, he stayed with the Penn-Lewis's for a couple of years, but never fully recovered. Ultimately, Penn-Lewis declared some of phenomena of the Welsh Revival to be the work of Satan
Satan
Satan , "the opposer", is the title of various entities, both human and divine, who challenge the faith of humans in the Hebrew Bible...
, declaring her still controversial position in her book on spiritual warfare
Spiritual warfare
Spiritual warfare is a range of activity by various Christian groups whereby Satanic demons are combatted, using a variety of methods depending on the group, but typically through prayer.-Range of practice, history, and methodology:...
called War on the Saints, which describes the work of demons on Christians, the theme for which Penn-Lewis is most known.
Influences
Penn-Lewis was influenced by the reformed South African writer Andrew MurrayAndrew Murray (minister)
Andrew Murray was a South African writer, teacher, and Christian pastor. Murray considered missions to be "the chief end of the church."- Early life and education :...
among others, and her books contain quotes from him and references to his works. Frank Buchman
Frank N. D. Buchman
Franklin Nathaniel Daniel Buchman , best known as Dr. or Rev. Frank Buchman, was a Protestant Christian evangelist who founded the Oxford Group...
, the founder of the Oxford Group
Oxford Group
The Oxford Group was a Christian movement that had a following in Europe, China, Africa, Australia, Scandinavia and America in the 1920s and 30s. It was initiated by an American Lutheran pastor, Frank Buchman, who was of Swiss descent...
, credits Penn-Lewis with helping him to turn his life around from depression
Clinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
when he heard her speak at a Keswick Convention
Keswick Convention
The Keswick Convention is an annual gathering of evangelical Christians in Keswick, in the English county of Cumbria.- History :The Keswick Convention began in 1875 as a catalyst and focal point for the emerging Higher Life movement in the United Kingdom. It was founded by an Anglican, Canon T. D....
. She also influenced Johan Oscar Smith
Johan Oscar Smith
Johan Oscar Smith was a Norwegian Christian leader who founded the evangelical non-denominational fellowship now known as Brunstad Christian Church.-Early life and career:...
, the founder of Brunstad Christian Church and the missionary statesman Norman Grubb
Norman Grubb
Norman Percy Grubb was a missionary statesman, writer and theological teacher.- Early life :Grubb was born in London, the son of an Anglican vicar. He was educated at an English Public School before joining the British Army as a lieutenant in World War I. After the war, in which he was wounded in...
Works
- War on The Saints
- The Awakening in Wales & Some of the Hidden Springs
- The Spiritual Man
- The Centrality of the Cross
- Thy Hidden Ones
- Dying to Live
- Conquest of Canaan
- Face to Face
- All Things New
- Story of Job
- Fruitful Living
- Life in the Spirit
- Opened Heavens
She founded the magazine "The Overcomer", which is still published.
Further reading
- Orr, James Edwin (1975). The Flaming Tongue: The Impact of Early 20th Century Revivals; 2nd rev edition. Moody Press, 238. ISBN 0802428029.
- Garrard, Mary N. (June 2002). Jessie Penn-Lewis: A Memoir (paperback). Sentinel Publications, 320. ISBN 0965651932
See also
- Margaret E. BarberMargaret E. BarberMargaret E. Barber or M. E. Barber , was a British missionary in China. She was born in 1866 in Peasenhall, County Suffolk, England, the daughter of Louis and Martha Barber. She died at 63 years of age, in 1929...
- Watchman NeeWatchman NeeWatchman Nee was a Chinese Christian author and church leader during the early 20th century. He spent the last 20 years of his life in prison and was severely persecuted by the Communists in China. Together with Wangzai, Zhou-An Lee, Shang-Jie Song, and others, Nee founded The Church Assembly...
- David Morrieson PantonDavid Morrieson PantonDavid Morrieson Panton was the pastor of Surrey Chapel, Norwich, Norfolk, UK, where he succeeded Robert Govett. He was the editor of The Dawn Magazine, a writer of books and numerous tracts, and a British leader amongst those pursuing Prophetic studies.-Early days:Panton was born in Jamaica in...