Career William Irvine (Scottish evangelist)

1 career

1.1 faith mission

1.1.1 personality
1.1.2 new direction


1.2 break faith mission

1.2.1 alpha gospel
1.2.2 expansion
1.2.3 development


1.3 omega message

1.3.1 schism
1.3.2 jerusalem
1.3.3 message

career

for convenience, william irvine s career evangelist may divided 3 periods, though have been seen continuous stream considerable overlap during years.

faith mission

william irvine joined evangelical faith mission movement in scotland in 1895. during following year, sent head organization s missions in south of ireland , had enough success named superintendent.

personality

irvine met john long, methodist colporteur, in march 1897 in kilrush, s. ireland. @ time, irvine had big reputation faith mission evangelist remarkable saying, praise lord, no matter happened . john long describes irvine in either secular or religious matters, born leader of men; holy man, , practical. in personal dealing, preeminently best conversationalist ever met, , skilful in soul winning. had marvelous insight deep things of god s word, , master, apt teacher of received truth pleasure. set forth cross, , swift witness against pride, vainglory , hypocrisy; severe on christians, merciful sinners. in prayer, praise, , preaching excelled in joy, liberty, , power. opposed , misunderstood religious people; nevertheless, common people liked him , heard him gladly. other sources describe irvine s style of speaking hypnotic, sweeter honey in honeycomb , ferocious in sincerity. noted making outrageous , inflammatory statements, claiming st. paul second!

new direction

irvine became dissatisfied faith missions holiness teachings, growing organization , tolerance of churches. during july 1897, irvine described repining on spiritual laxity of churches; , spending time in prayer revival . began preaching return methods set forth in matthew chapter 10 during 1897, , began recruiting faith mission workers views. during period, became acquainted carroll family involved faith mission work , followed him ministry. in august 1897, irvine , john long held meetings independent of faith mission, in nenagh, county tipperary, ireland. upwards of 30 attended got converted . these new followers renounced former church ties , later gave had , became workers in new church, although no formal break faith mission occurred @ time.

during 1899, first workers apart irvine commissioned, , according irvine s reading of matthew 10, sold all, , became itinerant ministers. these john long, alex given, tom turner , george walker. although many within today s 2 two church deny irvine s role in originating movement, contemporary sources, including press coverage, statements various workers, letters irvine himself, modern scholarship, in agreement in explicitly stating irvine new movement s founder. religion known have started in ireland.

break faith mission

word irvine , others preaching along independent lines reached faith mission headquarters, , support stopped irvine , found participating in new movement.

alpha gospel

irvine s message, forcefully delivered, appealed young laborers , tradesmen. protestant churches supportive of irvine , revival crusade, changed. irvine abhorred ways in perceived various churches made distinction between rich , poor, , became frequent subject of sermons. next 3 years, irvine accepted faith mission funds, hospitality , facilities while fleshed out framework of new movement. wanted biblical basics , taught true ministers must follow jesus instructions apostles in matthew 10; leaving homes, families, property , responsibilities , going out preach two-by-two. great degree, copied faith mission s methods , traditions; used terminology , dress code; duplicated portable meeting halls , living quarters (baches); black stockings, hats , court-shoes women; , conventions. believed had restored god s true way , hence truth or truth in jesus came used members refer movement itself.

expansion

during years following 1900, increasing number of new workers left former churches. these included many began breaking faith mission affiliation, , support had been receiving organization (the dates each of workers began ministry preserved in 1905 list of workers ). although had ceased preaching inside faith mission framework or reporting headquarters time, irvine himself formally resigned organization in 1901. other workers had stayed affiliated faith mission followed (including john kelly). edward cooney joined in 1901, selling , donating considerable sum of £1,300 irvine (a working family live comfortably on annual income of £57–78 during time).

with ranks of ministry swelling, outreach expanded quickly. in 1903, first of annual conventions held in ireland. later year, william irvine, accompanied irvine weir (this may have been william weir) , george walker, became first worker set foot in north america.

development

in 1904, two-tiered system instituted, whereby distinction made between homeless itinerant missionaries (called workers ), , allowed retain homes , jobs (called friends or saints ). weekly home meetings began held, presided on elders (usually professing householder). group grew rapidly, , held regular annual conventions lasting several weeks @ time. irvine travelled during period, attending conventions , preaching worldwide, , began sending forth workers british isles follow , expand these footholds.

a controversial teaching, presumably originating irvine, of living witness doctrine (first recorded mention in convention sermon joseph kerr in 1905, later recanted after leaving group). according precept, faith , salvation come through hearing word preached lips of, , seeing gospel lived in sacrificial lives of, true ministry (the living witness ). consequence of doctrine, expelled on following years (among whom irvine s companion, john long). 1906 found irvine in san francisco during great earthquake.

the first workers in various regions began coordinate activities of ministry within geographical areas. looked overseers or head workers in charge of spheres. however, irvine continued have ultimate on both conduct , finances. eventually, , naturally, led growing friction , began regard activities interference.

omega message

in few years prior first world war, increased emphasis on eschatology noticed. has been later cited 1 of contributing factors towards first division in young denomination. preached age of grace, during alpha gospel had been proclaimed, coming close. message turned towards themes of new era held no place ministry , hierarchy had rapidly grown around alpha gospel, resentments on part of several overseers came head.

schism

all led division in church on period 1914–1918. various leading workers did not accept new developments in irvine s revelation, , although accepted in beginning irvine had received genuine revelation god in alpha gospel , did not accept omega message . these overseers rebelled against saw irvine s increasingly autocratic leadership in 1914, , refused give him opportunity speak @ conventions held within respective geographic regions. hundreds of irvine’s followers excommunicated, , name seldom mentioned time onwards. 1918, parting of ways had become permanent.

the greater majority of church members remained under overseers followed irvine s alpha revelation. few aware of circumstances of departure, , no public discussion of matter seems have occurred, although rumors of mental breakdown or indiscretions women spread (the latter may have arisen out of having fathered son out of wedlock young man prior start in ministry). small group of loyalists continued following irvine. unlike continued follow alpha gospel , these refused adopt official name, although came known among message people or witnesses .

to jerusalem

irvine spent many of world war years in america. during time, again visited pentecostals in los angeles, , reportedly experienced gift of tongues , of interpreting tongues. returned family in kilsyth, scotland around september 1919, , moved permanently palestine in november year.

although irvine had become isolated general membership of larger sect, continued follow alpha gospel , many among leadership continued maintain contact him, making pilgrimage jerusalem visit him. during controversy leading schism between overseers , edward cooney in 1928, irvine asked intervene settle dispute, although limited involvement advising cooney return ireland.

the message

irvine believed final age of grace , alpha gospel had been intended proclaim, had come end in august 1914, , had been chosen god bring last message of jesus christ world before final judgement (the omega message ). part of process, hinted 1 of 2 witnesses of revelation ch.11, have special powers prophesy , perform miracles, , killed in jerusalem , raised after 3½ days , taken heaven in cloud. prophesied there coming great famine, , encouraged followers sell homes , farms , invest money in food , other provisions enable them survive impending calamity.

during remainder of life, william irvine continued develop theology, transmitted followers in continuing series of letters. these letters reproduced selected members, , distributed among followers. collections of these letters bound , saved further study membership. followers believe true meaning of bible , prophecy unlocked studying irvine s reading of scriptures.