Henrietta Cornelia Mears (October 23, 1890 – March 19, 1963) was a Christian educator, evangelist, and author who had a significant impact on evangelical Christianity in the 20th century and one of the founders of the National Sunday School Association[1] Best known as the innovative and dynamic Director of Christian Education at First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, California and in charge of the college and young adult people[2] in the mid-1900s, she built a dedicated, enthusiastic staff, trained and mentored her teachers and implemented a graded, age-appropriate curriculum from “cradle roll” to adults. Henrietta lectured and wrote passionately about Sunday school's power to teach others the Bible.[3] Within two years, Sunday School attendance at Hollywood “Pres” was averaging more than 4,200 per week.[4] She served in leading the Sunday School program from 400 to 6500.[5] Henrietta Mears taught the college age program herself.[3] Henrietta Mears was one of the most influential Christian leaders of the 20th Century. She founded "Gospel Light"., a publishing company for many of her training materials, Forest Home, a Christian conference center nestled in a wooded setting of California's coastal range, and "Gospel Literature Internationals (GLINT)"., and profoundly impacted the ministries of Bill Bright and Vonette Zachary Bright (Campus Crusade), Jim Rayburn (Young Life) and Billy Graham (Billy Graham Evangelistic Association) and Louis Evans, Jr. who was the organizing pastor of Bel Air Church (where Ronald Reagan and many other stars attended) and led the congregation of the National Presbyterian Church, Washington, D.C.[6] with her emphasis on Scripture and a clear Gospel message for young people. Mears is believed by many theologians to have most directly shaped Bill Bright’s Four Spiritual Laws, which defined modern evangelism in the 20th century.[7]
She was a gifted educator and was known as "Teacher" by those in her program.[8] Her book, "What the Bible is All About".," has sold over three million copies.[9]
Henrietta Cornelia Mears was born on October 23, 1890, in Fargo, North Dakota, the seventh child of banker E. Ashley Mears and Baptist laywoman Margaret Burtis Everts, whose father had been an influential Chicago pastor. Already 42 when Henrietta arrived, Margaret died when her youngest daughter was only 20. (An obituary tribute said, "as a Bible teacher she had few equals in the city of Minneapolis").
Henrietta's father, E. Ashley Mears was the President of First Bank of North Dakota and sold mortgages to private investors. At the height of his business, he owned approximately 20 banks.[12] Originally wealthy, the Mears family lost most of their money in the Panic of 1893 and re-settled in Minneapolis. Here Henrietta inaugurated her early schooling by announcing that she was bored with kindergarten because it was "to amuse little children, and I'm amused enough. I want to be educated." At seven years old she declared she was ready to become a Christian and joined the First Baptist Church of Minneapolis.
Henrietta was troubled by poor health, contracting muscular rheumatism at age 12. Though the prayers of a family friend brought healing, she suffered from bad eyesight all her life, and her doctors advised her that if she continued her studies (she planned to enroll in the University of Minnesota) she would be blind by age 30. Her response was, "Then blind I shall be—but I want something in my head to think about." She graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1913, still able to see, and began teaching chemistry at rural high schools. In 1915, Henrietta returned to Minneapolis to teach at Central High School and live with her sister. In Minneapolis, Henrietta attended the First Baptist Church where she was encouraged to apply educational standards to Sunday School programs. After teaching Sunday School for over a decade, in 1927, Henrietta took a sabbatical to California. While there she visited First Presbyterian Church Hollywood which had a Sunday School of 450 students.[13]
Public education might have remained Henrietta's life work if not for an encounter with Stuart MacLennan, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, who spoke at the Mears' sisters' church in Minneapolis in the 1920s. In 1927, Henrietta took a sabbatical year to consider whether she should enter Christian work full-time. She and Margaret traveled to California, where the sisters visited Dr. MacLennan's church and Henrietta spoke. Before Henrietta left, MacLennan offered her the Director of Christian Education post, and in 1928, she and Margaret moved to Hollywood.[14]
Mears, Henrietta C. (2012). Christians on the Move: The Book of Acts: The Continuing Work of Jesus Christ Through the Apostles and the Early Church. Gospel Light.
Mears, Henrietta C. (2013). Discover Jesus in the Pages of the Bible: Amazing Facts About the Greatest Person Who Ever Lived. Gospel Light.
Mears, Henrietta C. (2011). Founders of Our Faith: Genesis through Deuteronomy: From Creation to the Promised Land. Gospel Light.
Mears, Henrietta C. (2012). Sunday School Changes Everything: Your Church's Best Opportunity to Reach the Next Generation for Christ. Gospel Light.
Mears, Henrietta C. (2011). The Life of Jesus: Matthew through John: His Life, Death, Resurrection and Ministry. Gospel Light.
Mears, Henrietta C. (2011). What the Bible Is All About: Bible Handbook, KJV, rev. ed. Gospel Light.
Notes
^Ethel May Baldwin & David V. Benson, Henrietta Mears & How She Did It, (Glendale, California:Regal, Division of G/L Publications, 1966)
^Henrietta Cornelia Mears was born on October 23, 1890, in Fargo, North Dakota, the seventh child of banker Ashley Mears and Baptist laywoman Margaret Burtis Everts, whose father had been an influential Chicago pastor. Already 42 when Henrietta arrived, Margaret died when her youngest daughter was only 20. (An obituary tribute said, "as a Bible teacher she had few equals in the city of Minneapolis"). Originally wealthy, the Mears family lost most of their money in the Panic of 1893 and re-settled in Minneapolis. Here Henrietta inaugurated her early schooling by announcing that she was bored with kindergarten because it was "to amuse little children, and I'm amused enough. I want to be educated." At seven years old she declared she was ready to become a Christian and joined the First Baptist Church of Minneapolis. Henrietta was troubled by poor health, contracting muscular rheumatism at age 12. Though the prayers of a family friend brought healing, she suffered from bad eyesight all her life, and her doctors advised her that if she continued her studies (she planned to enroll in the University of Minnesota) she would be blind by age 30. Her response was, "Then blind I shall be—but I want something in my head to think about." She graduated from UM in 1913, still able to see, and began a career as a public school chemistry teacher, establishing a home with her older sister, Margaret. Public education might have remained Henrietta's life work if not for an encounter with Stuart MacLennan, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, who spoke at the Mears sisters' church in Minneapolis in the 1920s. In 1927 Henrietta took a sabbatical year to consider whether she should enter Christian work full time. She and Margaret traveled to California, where the sisters visited Dr. MacLennan's church and Henrietta spoke. Before Henrietta left, MacLennan offered her the Director of Christian Education post, and in 1928 she and Margaret moved to Hollywood.
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Henrietta Cornelia Mears October 23 1890 March 19 1963 was a Christian educator evangelist and author who had a significant impact on evangelical Christianity in the 20th century and one of the founders of the National Sunday School Association 1 Best known as the innovative and dynamic Director of Christian Education at First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood California and in charge of the college and young adult people 2 in the mid 1900s she built a dedicated enthusiastic staff trained and mentored her teachers and implemented a graded age appropriate curriculum from cradle roll to adults Henrietta lectured and wrote passionately about Sunday school s power to teach others the Bible 3 Within two years Sunday School attendance at Hollywood Pres was averaging more than 4 200 per week 4 She served in leading the Sunday School program from 400 to 6500 5 Henrietta Mears taught the college age program herself 3 Henrietta Mears was one of the most influential Christian leaders of the 20th Century She founded Gospel Light a publishing company for many of her training materials Forest Home a Christian conference center nestled in a wooded setting of California s coastal range and Gospel Literature Internationals GLINT and profoundly impacted the ministries of Bill Bright and Vonette Zachary Bright Campus Crusade Jim Rayburn Young Life and Billy Graham Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Louis Evans Jr who was the organizing pastor of Bel Air Church where Ronald Reagan and many other stars attended and led the congregation of the National Presbyterian Church Washington D C 6 with her emphasis on Scripture and a clear Gospel message for young people Mears is believed by many theologians to have most directly shaped Bill Bright s Four Spiritual Laws which defined modern evangelism in the 20th century 7 She was a gifted educator and was known as Teacher by those in her program 8 Her book What the Bible is All About has sold over three million copies 9 Literally hundreds of men and women 10 came out of her Sunday School program into full time Christian service including 1st Presbyterian Hollywood s Louis Evans Sr s son Louis H Evans Jr Colleen Townsend Evans who became the organizing pastor of Bel Air Presbyterian church 11 Bill Bright and his wife Vonette Zachary Bright founder of Campus Crusade for Christ which lived in and worked out of Henrietta s house for 10 years Billy Graham Reverend L David Cowie pastor of University Presbyterian Church in Seattle Washington 1948 to 1961 Donn Moomaw a UCLA All American football player in 1951 who later became Ronald Reagan s pastor at Bel Air Presbyterian Church in Bel Air California and Frederick Dale Bruner a biblical scholar best known for his commentaries on Matthew and John Contents 1 Early life 2 Selected works 3 Notes 4 ReferencesEarly life EditHenrietta Cornelia Mears was born on October 23 1890 in Fargo North Dakota the seventh child of banker E Ashley Mears and Baptist laywoman Margaret Burtis Everts whose father had been an influential Chicago pastor Already 42 when Henrietta arrived Margaret died when her youngest daughter was only 20 An obituary tribute said as a Bible teacher she had few equals in the city of Minneapolis Henrietta s father E Ashley Mears was the President of First Bank of North Dakota and sold mortgages to private investors At the height of his business he owned approximately 20 banks 12 Originally wealthy the Mears family lost most of their money in the Panic of 1893 and re settled in Minneapolis Here Henrietta inaugurated her early schooling by announcing that she was bored with kindergarten because it was to amuse little children and I m amused enough I want to be educated At seven years old she declared she was ready to become a Christian and joined the First Baptist Church of Minneapolis Henrietta was troubled by poor health contracting muscular rheumatism at age 12 Though the prayers of a family friend brought healing she suffered from bad eyesight all her life and her doctors advised her that if she continued her studies she planned to enroll in the University of Minnesota she would be blind by age 30 Her response was Then blind I shall be but I want something in my head to think about She graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1913 still able to see and began teaching chemistry at rural high schools In 1915 Henrietta returned to Minneapolis to teach at Central High School and live with her sister In Minneapolis Henrietta attended the First Baptist Church where she was encouraged to apply educational standards to Sunday School programs After teaching Sunday School for over a decade in 1927 Henrietta took a sabbatical to California While there she visited First Presbyterian Church Hollywood which had a Sunday School of 450 students 13 Public education might have remained Henrietta s life work if not for an encounter with Stuart MacLennan pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood who spoke at the Mears sisters church in Minneapolis in the 1920s In 1927 Henrietta took a sabbatical year to consider whether she should enter Christian work full time She and Margaret traveled to California where the sisters visited Dr MacLennan s church and Henrietta spoke Before Henrietta left MacLennan offered her the Director of Christian Education post and in 1928 she and Margaret moved to Hollywood 14 Selected works Edit What the Bible is All About Regal Books 1953 ISBN 978 0 8307 4329 2 God s Plan Regal Books 2008 ISBN 978 0 8307 4562 3 Teacher Regal Books 2006 ISBN 0 8307 3347 7 Mears Henrietta C 2012 Christians on the Move The Book of Acts The Continuing Work of Jesus Christ Through the Apostles and the Early Church Gospel Light Mears Henrietta C 2013 Discover Jesus in the Pages of the Bible Amazing Facts About the Greatest Person Who Ever Lived Gospel Light Mears Henrietta C 2011 Founders of Our Faith Genesis through Deuteronomy From Creation to the Promised Land Gospel Light Mears Henrietta C 2012 Sunday School Changes Everything Your Church s Best Opportunity to Reach the Next Generation for Christ Gospel Light Mears Henrietta C 2011 The Life of Jesus Matthew through John His Life Death Resurrection and Ministry Gospel Light Mears Henrietta C 2011 What the Bible Is All About Bible Handbook KJV rev ed Gospel Light Notes Edit Ethel May Baldwin amp David V Benson Henrietta Mears amp How She Did It Glendale California Regal Division of G L Publications 1966 Guest posts Kindling Page 4 inkindle wordpress com Retrieved 2015 11 04 a b Richardson William E HENRIETTA MEARS Lights 4 God Retrieved 2015 11 10 Henrietta Mears Wheaton www wheaton edu Retrieved 2015 11 03 The Henrietta Mears Story Barbara Hudson Powers ccel us Retrieved 2015 11 04 The Rev Louis H Evans organizing pastor of Bel Air Presbyterian Church dies at 82 Los Angeles Times Retrieved 2015 11 13 Forest Home Our Founder Henrietta Mears www foresthome org Retrieved 2015 11 14 Marcus Brotherton 2006 10 06 Teacher The Henrietta Mears Story Regal Books Retrieved 2014 10 29 Website offers new view of music Forest Home 2008 03 27 Retrieved 2013 10 05 Baldwin amp Benson p 142 quoting a letter to her from Dr Harold John Ockenga first president of Fuller Seminary in Psadena It s The Life That Wins Henrietta Mears www henriettamears com Retrieved 2015 11 03 United States Circuit Courts of Appeals Reports With Key number Annotations V 1 171 1891 1919 West 1903 01 01 Henrietta Mears Wheaton www wheaton edu Retrieved 2015 11 16 Henrietta Cornelia Mears was born on October 23 1890 in Fargo North Dakota the seventh child of banker Ashley Mears and Baptist laywoman Margaret Burtis Everts whose father had been an influential Chicago pastor Already 42 when Henrietta arrived Margaret died when her youngest daughter was only 20 An obituary tribute said as a Bible teacher she had few equals in the city of Minneapolis Originally wealthy the Mears family lost most of their money in the Panic of 1893 and re settled in Minneapolis Here Henrietta inaugurated her early schooling by announcing that she was bored with kindergarten because it was to amuse little children and I m amused enough I want to be educated At seven years old she declared she was ready to become a Christian and joined the First Baptist Church of Minneapolis Henrietta was troubled by poor health contracting muscular rheumatism at age 12 Though the prayers of a family friend brought healing she suffered from bad eyesight all her life and her doctors advised her that if she continued her studies she planned to enroll in the University of Minnesota she would be blind by age 30 Her response was Then blind I shall be but I want something in my head to think about She graduated from UM in 1913 still able to see and began a career as a public school chemistry teacher establishing a home with her older sister Margaret Public education might have remained Henrietta s life work if not for an encounter with Stuart MacLennan pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood who spoke at the Mears sisters church in Minneapolis in the 1920s In 1927 Henrietta took a sabbatical year to consider whether she should enter Christian work full time She and Margaret traveled to California where the sisters visited Dr MacLennan s church and Henrietta spoke Before Henrietta left MacLennan offered her the Director of Christian Education post and in 1928 she and Margaret moved to Hollywood References EditAmbitious for God http www christianitytoday com ch 2006 issue92 5 30 html Biographical Dictionary of Evangelicals https www amazon com Biographical Dictionary Evangelicals Timothy Larsen dp 0851119964 Inter Varsity Press Timothy Larsen editor Dream Big The Henrietta Mears Story http www christianbook com dream big the henrietta mears story earl roe 9780830763870 pd 763870 Regal Books 1990 Earl Roe editor Henrietta Mears http www kamglobal org BiographicalSketches henriettamears html Memorial Service http www discogs com Various In Memoriam Memorial Service For Henrietta C Mears release 2735979 Mother of Modern Evangelicalism The Life and Legacy of Henrietta Mears https www christianbook com mother american evangelicalism legacy henrietta mears arlin migliazzo 9780802877925 pd 877922 event ESRCN Eerdmans Publishing Arlin C Migliazzo Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Henrietta Mears amp oldid 1056387433, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
