I have been reading up on the evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson for the last couple of weeks and it has been really extremely fascinating to me! I definitely think her story could be a major motion picture as there is so much to learn...I cannot really blog her life but let me touch on issues that surrounded her.
Personal Tragedy - Lost the love of her life Robert Semple after being married only two years which I think radically altered her life and left a lonliness that was never overcome.
Healing/Calling - Aimee was suffering from depression and sickness and the Lord called her to preach so she took the road with her kids and left the suzie-q-homemaker life and took her 2nd husband I am going you can follow if you like.
Racial Issues - Aimee early on preached to integrated crowds however she also courted the support of the KKK and she gave aid to illegal aliens during the Depression in CA which went against popular opinion.
Gender Issues - How many women much less men had a mega-church in the 20s.
Scandal - At the height of her ministry Aimee disappeared for 32 days and was thought to be dead when she reappeared and claimed a couple kidnapped her and held her hostage during that time...However the story does not really add up and a man she worked with at her radio station also went missing during that time so there is no conclusive proof but it is believed she was having an affair with a married man.
Body Image - After the scandal Aimee dropped thirty pounds and started wearing the latest fashions and makeup. See before and after photos above.
I really think she creates such a storyline for the shift and modern Christianity will mass media and megachurches...Check it out.
1 comment:
AND she also started a Protestant denomination, the Four Square Church! She was one amazing woman of God (with weaknesses like King David and many others whom God still used/uses for His Kingdom)! :-)
Post a Comment