The Apostle of Faith
The Apostle of Faith emerged from the fervent atmosphere of early twentieth-century Pentecostalism, when miraculous healings and spiritual phenomena were reshaping Christian experience across Britain and beyond. This biographical work captures the extraordinary ministry of Smith Wigglesworth, a former plumber from Bradford who became one of the most influential figures in the emerging Pentecostal movement. Written during the height of his international healing campaigns, the book documents a life that challenged conventional boundaries between the natural and supernatural.
Wigglesworth's account centers on his transformation from a barely literate tradesman to a man whose prayers reportedly resulted in dramatic healings and even resurrections from the dead. The narrative traces his baptism in the Holy Spirit, his reluctant entry into public ministry, and his subsequent travels across Europe, America, and Australia conducting healing crusades. The work presents faith not as intellectual assent but as a dynamic force capable of overriding physical laws. Wigglesworth describes his absolute conviction that God's power operates through believers who dare to expect the impossible, offering practical insights into prayer, spiritual authority, and the cultivation of unwavering trust in divine promises.
The book has remained influential within Pentecostal and charismatic circles for nearly a century, inspiring subsequent generations of faith healers and miracle-expecting believers. Wigglesworth's uncompromising approach to Scripture and his radical expectation of supernatural intervention continue to challenge Christians who have settled for less dramatic expressions of faith. His emphasis on simple, childlike trust in God's word resonates with those seeking to move beyond purely intellectual Christianity toward experiential encounter with divine power.
Who should read this: Christians drawn to Pentecostal spirituality and those curious about the theological foundations of the modern healing movement will find Wigglesworth's testimony compelling. Readers uncomfortable with claims of miraculous intervention or seeking scholarly analysis of early Pentecostalism should look elsewhere.