"Billy Sunday (1862-1935) was the richest and most influential evangelistic preacher in the first half of the twentieth century. Bringing his brand of manly gospel to millions of Americans nationwide, Sunday connected with his fans through theatrics, conservative theology, and fervent patriotism. Published in the Ladies' Home Journal in 1932 and 1933 and now in book form for the first time, The Sawdust Trail is the only autobiography that this popular preacher ever wrote." From his childhood in Iowa to his baseball career with National League teams in Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia (he was the fastest runner in baseball of his time) to the challenges of preaching in New York City during his heyday, Sunday tells a story that gives us insight into the history of evangelism in America.
Billy Sunday (1862 - 1935)
Was an American athlete who, after being a popular outfielder in baseball's National League during the 1880s, became the most celebrated and influential American evangelist during the first two decades of the 20th century.Billy Sunday was a conservative evangelical who accepted fundamentalist doctrines. He affirmed and preached the inerrancy of the Bible, the virgin birth of Christ, the doctrine of substitutionary atonement, the bodily resurrection of Christ, a literal devil and hell, and the imminent return of Jesus Christ. At the turn of the 20th century, most Protestant church members, regardless of denomination, gave assent to these doctrines. Sunday refused to hold meetings in cities where he was not welcomed by the vast majority of the Protestant churches and their clergy.
William Ashley "Billy" Sunday was an American athlete and religious figure. Born into poverty in Iowa, Sunday spent some years in an orphanage before working at odd jobs, then after being a popular outfielder in baseball's National League during the 1880s, became the most celebrated and influential American evangelist during the first two decades of the 20th century.
Converted to evangelical Christianity in the 1880s, Sunday left baseball for the Christian ministry. He gradually developed his skills as a pulpit evangelist in the Midwest and then, during the early 20th century, he became the nation's most famous evangelist with his colloquial sermons and frenetic delivery.
Sunday held widely reported campaigns in America's largest cities, and he attracted the largest crowds of any evangelist before the advent of electronic sound systems. Sunday was a strong supporter of Prohibition.
Sunday continued to preach and remained a stalwart defender of conservative Christianity until his death.
Billy Sunday died in Chicago, November 6, 1935; services were held in the Moody Memorial Church with 4,400 present.
"Take 15 minutes each day to listen to God talking to you; take 15 minutes each day to talk to God; take 15 minutes each day to talk to others about God."
This young convert was deeply impressed and determined to make these the rules of his life. From that day onward throughout his life he made it a rule to spend the first moments of his day alone with God and God's Word.
Before he read a letter, looked at a paper or even read a telegram, he went first to the Bible, that the first impression of the day might be what he got directly from God.
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