(ABOVE: John Inskip.)

JOHN INSKIP’S FATHER was an infidel who forebade his children to attend church. Inskip’s mother, although not a Christian, would read the Bible to her children when their father was out of the house. One of Inskip’s sisters and a wicked farm hand became followers of Christ. Witnessing the profound changes in their behavior, Inskip became convinced Christianity must be true.

One Sunday afternoon in April 1832, he listened to a sermon showing the feeble excuses people gave for not attending the great banquet in Christ’s parable. The pastor then listed some of the excuses common in Inskip’s day. Among them was Inskip’s own excuse: “I’m too young.” This hit home and he determined to come out on the Lord’s side.

A Methodist class-leader came to his assistance.

The old class-leader knelt by my side and said, “My lad, dost thou believe in the Lord Jesus Christ?” My response was, yes. He then inquired, “Dost thou believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is able to save thee?” Without hesitation I answered, yes. With increased emphasis he said, “Dost thou believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is willing to save thee?” My reply was, yes. Becoming more earnest in his manner he asked, “Dost thou believe He is able and willing to save thee now?” My answer was ready and emphatic, yes. In the most kind and solemn manner he said, “Dost thou, my lad, believe that the Lord Jesus Christ does save thee now?” I answered yes, and in an instant was on my feet, surprised, but saved.

Inskip attended every church meeting he could. A tavern keeper would get young men drunk and send them to disrupt the meetings. The whole congregation prayed for God to deal with the man. The result greatly increased Inskip’s assurance of God’s power. The tavern keeper went broke, and died terrified and hopeless.

Almost from the moment of his conversion, Inskip became a soul-winner. He and a friend exhorted in a small, overcrowded room. On his father’s farm was an unused blacksmith shop that would hold about sixty people. He prayed earnestly that the Lord would soften his father’s heart and then asked to be allowed to use the smithy. His father deferred to Inskip’s mother.

“My dear, John wants the smith-shop, to hold meetings in. What do you think of it?” She promptly responded, “Let him have it, by all means. If he don't get something to keep him home, he will kill himself running about to hold meetings elsewhere.” That settled the question.

Through attending services at the blacksmith shop, two of Inskip’s sisters were converted. When their father overheard them praying, he was furious and drove Inskip from home. But next day when sixteen-year-old Inskip went back to collect his belongings, his father was a changed man. He insisted Inskip read the Bible with him. In about a week the father became a sincere Christian, and the mother a few days later.

Inskip became a Methodist minister. Wherever he was assigned revival and church expansion followed. After thirty-two years of such ministry, he felt the Lord was leading him to hold camp meetings emphasizing holiness.

At one meeting he suffered sun stroke and struggled with serious effects for weeks, completely unable to preach for two months. But on this day, 11 December 1871, he wrote his wife with good news. His friend, Dr. Cullis had said “Why don’t you ask God to cure you?” Inskip assured him he was praying. Cullis then read James 5:14-15 aloud. Inskip was struck with the words, “The Lord shall raise him up.” He wrote “We knelt in prayers, and I believed, and God fulfilled his promise.”

Inskip worked thirteen more years. Three years before his death, he even took his message of holy living around the world.

—Dan Graves

CH 45 Camp Meetings and Circuit Riders tells more about American camp meetings.