Here is a tidbit I’m betting you never knew! John Wilbur Chapman, who served as Bethany’s pastor from 1890–1892 and 1896–1899, wrote the lyrics to a hymn in 1908 and titled it “One Day”. Then Casting Crowns came along and used those lyrics to compose “Glorious Day”, a very popular praise song! Who knew? Chapman also wrote the popular hymn “Jesus! What a Friend for Sinners”.
However, Chapman’s lasting claim to fame is his work as an evangelist. While at Bethany, he tried something new and innovative. Working with 15 evangelists, he organized simultaneous revival meetings throughout the area. He later left Bethany to lead similar events in other U.S. cities. More than sixty million people attended his evangelistic campaigns worldwide and he was a strong influence on Billy Sunday’s ministry.
10:40 o’clock Monday night
March 12, 1888
My dear friend,
I have just come home this very cold snowy night from Bethany where after the Passion lesson we had a solemn tender talk about how one person could get another to find a blessing from God.
I could not but think of the dear members of my class & I feel it laid upon me to write you this personal note.
I write to each of you as a saved soul. If you are not saved my dear friend, flee to the merciful Savior as you would fly into this warm room tonight out of the cold streets and the drifting snow… If you are saved, humbly trusting in what Jesus did when His love failed not on the Cross, think of others not saved… NOT SAVED… going on to the eternal darkness, your near friend, your relative, and do something!
When you have faith enough and love enough to start out in the effort to bring a soul to the Savior. God the Holy Spirit joins in your effort, for God wants everyone saved and He works with even the poorest instrument that engages in His work.. Please read over again the words I have just written.
I want now to ask you to settle your mind and heart on some particular person to pray for and work with and not give up until that person is converted.
Your help is in God. He will put thoughts into your heart, ways into your mind, and words into your mouth. He will tell you when to be silent and only pray and show your concern.
If you once have the joy and sweet pleasure of bringing one soul to Christ, you will be hungry to get another. Do not argue, do not be rebuffed, be patient and gentle and keep on with a prayer in your heart and drop a good word here and there as you go along, an invitation to meeting, to the class, take your friend to the pastor or your teacher for a little talk. If discouraged go yourself and pray with your pastor or teacher. Persevere, it is an undying soul you are laboring for and any angel would come down from heaven if such could be, to do the very work you have the opportunity to do. Oh what a pleasure it will be to you to have some new born soul beside you at the next Supper of the Lord. If you would like to write to me and tell me who you have chosen to labor for and will let me remember you in prayer, I will be very glad. If you wish me to advise with you in any way let me know and do not fear that your letter or visit will take too much of my time. Do not put off a single hour- hearts grow harder and colder every day and Eternity is near.
God bless you every moment and your home also. Yours in the hope of heaven and to win our friends to go with us.
John Wanamaker,
Your Teacher
On the second Sabbath of February, (Feb. 14), 1858, a Sabbath School was opened in two second-story rooms of the house 2135 South Street, with twenty-seven scholars and two teachers.
It was not long before the rooms, halls and stairways were crowded with scholars, and the question what to do with the children became a serious one. The erection of a tent was resolved upon, and on the 18th of July, 1858, a tent, erected on the north side of South Street, west of Twenty-first Street, was opened for religious services, and a sermon preached in the morning by Rev. Dr. Challen. In the afternoon over three hundred children, with many of their parents, assembled in the new school-room. The evening service was a very precious one, a blessed earnest of better things to come. The canvas church was crowded with a motley audience. Old people tottering on the verge of the grave, mothers with children in their arms, young men and maidens, all eagerly listened to the Gospel as there preached.
So great was the success of the work during the summer months, that a portion of the lot on which the tent was pitched was purchased from Mr. R. Dunning, who had kindly given the use of the ground for the tent; and on the 18th of October, the corner-stone for a chapel was laid, with appropriate services. After the history of the enterprise had been read by Mr. John Wanamaker, the superintendent, addresses were delivered by Rev. Drs. Leyburn, Brainerd, Chambers and McLeod.
During the winter, and while the chapel was being built, the school met, first, in the depot of the Passenger Railway, and afterwards in the public school-house on Twenty-third Street. The chapel cost about $3,700 and measured forty by sixty feet.
Bethany was founded in February 1858 as an American Sunday School Union Mission by a 19 year old evangelist who was a Sunday School teacher at the First Independent Presbyterian Church. Bethany Church began in a tent 5 months later as a mission church, Bethany Chapel, under the pastoral leadership of Rev. John Chambers.