It has been nearly two centuries since Charles
Grandison Finney was licensed to preach. Christianity
Today recognizes him as “the most effective evangelist America had ever
seen,” influencing through his evangelism, directly or indirectly, an estimated
half a million people to make decisions to follow Christ. His innovative
crusade tactics and unconventional approach to theology, while stirring controversy at the time
(which continues in theological debates today), were central to the second
phase of America’s Second Great Awakening. Finney was licensed to preach on
this date, December 30, in 1823. And oh,
how our nation could use another Finney today.
