The 20th-century evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson was a woman ahead of her time. She crossed the United States with two young children in an era when women were not even able to vote. Our beloved founder established an evangelistic ministry and built a large evangelistic center at a time when women were expected to marry and have children, and leave religion and other important pursuits to men. But God had a plan for her life that did not take into account human ways of doing things.
Sister McPherson became an evangelist and preached the gospel not only across the entire United States but also around the world, incorporating the cutting edge communications media of her day. People were healed by the thousands when she prayed for them, even though she herself took no credit for the healings, instead giving full credit to God.
Upon opening the doors of Angelus Temple in Los Angeles in 1923, she developed an extensive social ministry, feeding more than 1.5 million people during the Great Depression. She summarized her message into four major points, which she called “the Foursquare Gospel”: Jesus is the Savior, Jesus is the Healer, Jesus is the Baptizer with the Holy Spirit, and Jesus is the Soon-Coming King. She founded The International Church of The Foursquare Gospel, also known as The Foursquare Church, which continues to spread the Foursquare Gospel throughout the world to this day.
The Beginning
She was born Aimee Elizabeth Kennedy on October 9, 1890, near Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada, and was the only child of James and Minnie Kennedy. Although she was reared in a Christian home, she began to question the truths of the Bible during her teen years.
When she was 17 years old and still in high school, she attended a revival service conducted by Pentecostal evangelist Robert Semple where she heard the message of repentance and a born-again experience. Although she resisted the message, the Holy Spirit continued to speak to her heart, convicting her of the sin in her life and of her need for a Savior.
After a three-day struggle with doubt and uncertainty, she finally prayed and asked the Lord to save her. As soon as she asked the Lord to forgive her, the weight of sin was gone and she was filled with amazing joy. She immediately began to sing the hymn “Take My Life and Let It Be,” and the sentiment behind those words governed her life from that point forward (McPherson 1923, 39).
Aimee had heard the evangelist speak also of the baptism with the Holy Spirit, and she began to be consumed with the desire to experience that Pentecostal baptism. After a time of prayer and seeking the Lord, she was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in tongues. From that time forward, she had a love and compassion for souls and a longing to serve the Lord that remained with her throughout her lifetime.
Setting Sail
The revival meeting that changed her life spiritually also changed her life romantically. Aimee continued to attend the revival and became personally acquainted with the evangelist. Before long, the handsome Robert Semple had won Aimee’s heart. Further, their individual desires to serve the Lord seemed to fit together perfectly.
The two were married in August 1908, just shy of Aimee’s 18th birthday. The Semples began the process of preparing to go as missionaries to China. In 1910, just shortly before Aimee turned 20, she and her husband of less than two years set sail for China. It seemed to the young couple that they would have a lifetime together, preaching the Word of God and ministering to those for whom the Lord had so burdened their hearts. But that was not to be.
Robert Semple died in Hong Kong three months after their arrival, and Aimee was left penniless and alone, waiting for the imminent birth of her first child. When her daughter, Roberta Star Semple, was a month old, Aimee returned to the United States, facing life as a single mother.