Fred Francis Bosworth
Fred Francis Bosworth (born January 17, 1877 in Utica , Nebraska , † January 23, 1958 in Miami, Florida ) was an American preacher and healing evangelist, who was best known for his book "Christ the Healer" (1924).
Life
FF Bosworth was born to Methodist parents in Utica, Nebraska. His musical talent was shown early on, which led to him joining a band. He became a traveling dealer and showed a talent for attracting the interest of his customers. He found his Christian faith through a Methodist evangelistic event and, after being cured of tuberculosis in 1899, he became a proponent of spiritual healing such as that practiced by John Alexander Dowie . This led him to move with his family to Zion City, Illinois in 1902 and join the Dowies Church. Bosworth continued his musical skills and became the leader of the Zion City Band . When Charles Fox Parham visited Zion City in 1906 and preached the baptism of the Holy Ghost, Bosworth theologically joined him and visited Azusa Street in Los Angeles, California , where the Pentecostal movement began with healing evangelist John G. Lake . In Dallas, Texas , Bosworth established his own Pentecostal church and conducted several revival events. Bosworth was part of the general council of Pentecostal churches in Hot Springs, Arkansas , at which the union of all Pentecostal churches in the Assemblies of God was decided. However, in 1916 he separated from the community because he did not want to see speaking in tongues as the first evidence of baptism with the Holy Spirit. On behalf of the Christian and Missionary Alliance (CMA), Bosworth has led several revival and healing events in the United States and Canada. His sermons and healing prayers drew up to 12,000 listeners in Ottawa in 1924 . Early on, Bosworth was accused of faking miraculous healings and amassing a fortune with donations from event attendees. During this time he published the book "Christ the Healer", which represents a Christian legitimation of spiritual healing and was widely distributed within the Pentecostal community. Around 500,000 copies of the book had been sold by 2000. Bosworth continued his ministry as a healing evangelist and later a radio evangelist until he retired. At the age of 71, Bosworth joined the prominent spiritual healer of the Healing Revival , William Branham , and even accompanied him to South Africa in 1951 . FF Bosworth died about seven years later.
Fonts
- Christ the Healer , 1924
literature
- Randall Herbert Balmer, Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism , Baylor University Press, Waco, Texas, 2004
- Roscoe Barnes III, FF Bosworth: The Man behind “Christ the Healer” , Cambridge Scholars Publishing, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, 2009
- FF Bosworth, Christ the Healer , Chosen Books, Grand Rapids, Michigan 2000
- James Robinson, Divine Healing: The Years of Expansion, 1906-1930 , Pickwick Publications, Eugene, Oregon, 2014
Individual evidence
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Bosworth, Fred Francis |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Bosworth, FF |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American preacher |
| DATE OF BIRTH | January 17, 1877 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Utica , Nebraska |
| DATE OF DEATH | January 23, 1958 |
| Place of death | Miami , Florida |