Early Life and Ministry
Born May 25, 1847, in Edinburgh, Dowie moved with his family to Australia as a boy, but later returned to Edinburgh to study theology. As a pastor, he then entered the Congregational ministry in 1870 in Alma, Australia, and spent the next several years campaigning against the use of tobacco and alcohol. During a personal experience of healing, he developed an interest in spiritual healing and eventually founded the International Divine Healing Association.
The Call to America
Sometime later a plague broke out in the city where Dowie was serving as pastor. At one point, after he became weary of all the death in his congregation, he looked to God to heal one of the members of his church; and from that time on, no one else in his congregation died from the plague. However, after this event, John didn’t preach divine healing; he simply continued on as before. A desire then began to grow within Dowie to go to America, and after praying about the matter, he and his family packed up and moved in the summer of 1886. Upon arriving in San Francisco, he started talking to people about the enduement of power from on high. John continued to minister in California for some time and then went to Chicago; and it was there that God used Dowie to do a great work among the people. He built a small building close to the entrance of the world’s fair in Chicago and dubbed it “the little wooden hut.” After preaching there for a little while, he and his work were blessed by God and it grew.
Persecution and Triumph
Later, he began to pastor in a large building, preaching against any and all types of vise. However, this message did not make him popular, and a great persecution presented itself against Dowie. In fact, he was arrested on false charges over 100 times in the course of one summer.
The Leaves of Healing
During the year 1894, Dr. Dowie began the publication of a weekly periodical called The Leaves of Healing, which he fondly spoke of, as The Little White Dove. There had been some early issues published at more or less irregular intervals, but in 1894, it became a regular publication, and through it Dr. Dowie’s sermons and writings became available to readers all over the world. However, during this same time, he had his third-class mail certificate revoked, and many other similar things occurred. His persecutors, in an attempt to block the spread of this publication, had found a willing ally in the Chicago postmaster and for a time had removed his third-class postage privilege. But Dowie prevailed and his mailing privileges were restored. Against hypocritical opposing clergy, fierce and slanderous tabloids, murderous mobs, and relentless officials, Dr. Dowie wore his apostolic calling as a crown from God, and his persecution as a badge of honor.
Tale Tuesday 027
Date: 7th February 2023
Title: JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE – Part 1
Source: The Azusa Street Revival
Author: Roberts Liardon
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