Autobiography of Elder Jacob Knapp

By: Elder Jacob Knapp

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Synopsis: “This long-lost biography of the nation's first widely-used Baptist evangelist is both inspirational and instructive to evangelists and Baptists of every sort. His example should have another chance to influence the Christian world, and you should read his book. It will change your thinking about spiritual revival.”-R. Flanders“For many years, Elder Jacob Knapp was an ordinary pastor. He preached, counseled, encouraged, and shepherded a small congregation in upstate New York. But something was gnawing at Knapp that would not go away. While the Presbyterians had Finney, Knapp lamented that “there was no one man who stood forth as the champion and exemplar of revival measures” among the Baptists. One day, Knapp felt God calling him to be that man. So in 1833, Knapp quit his pastorate of eight years.As he traveled from place to place, Knapp perfected Finney’s techniques. He eventually published a complete record of his work and methods in his 1868 autobiography. Once he hit the road, he was an immediate success. By 1840, Knapp was “almost as well-known as Finney.” In fact, one contemporary claims that it was only through Knapp’s influence that “Protracted meetings, as a system of measures, had acquired a permanent place” in the life of Baptist churches. By the time of his death in 1874, Knapp claimed to have converted 100,000 persons at over 150 separate revivals.”-9Marks