WARREN SHIVER
Author: Albert B. Simpson: (1843-1919)
Composer: Unknown

Albert Benjamin Simpson was born on December 15, 1843 in Bayview, Prince Edward Island, Canada. Albert was reared in a devout Calvinistic Scottish Presbyterian and Puritan background; When Albert was in his early teens, he was torn by the teachings of his family and the Christian testimony of his friends. He was taken to his family doctor for advice and treated for anxiety. As he searched for peace in his heart he read a book written by author, Marshall, Gospel Mystery of Salvation (1692).

Albert was now 15 years old and this book helped him understand the Bible's plan of Salvation and Christian Holiness. From that day on Albert had a vision of serving God on a mission field or at least supporting the missionaries that were willing to go preach to the lost and dying around the world.

After graduation from high school, he took a job teaching so that he could earn enough money to attend Knox College at the University of Toronto. He graduated at age 21 and received calls from two churches. One was a rural church and one was a large church, the Knox Presbyterian Church in Hamilton, Ontario. He accepted the latter church and in just eight years he had 750 new members added to the church. God was blessing him and his church.

In 1873, the Reverend Simpson moved from Canada to Louisville, Kentucky to the Chestnut Street Presbyterian Church. His missionary zeal lead him to ask the church to build a simple building on the church grounds to accommodate the poor people and the street people in the community. The church built the building but would not support his effort to win the lost and have poor people attending their church services. This discouraged Reverend Simpson, but he worked as hard as ever for the church, and they had great growth. He stayed there five years, before accepting a call to The Thirteenth Street Presbyterian Church in New York. In New York he was reaching masses of immigrants, and he felt that God had given him a mission field right in his own front yard. At one point, he led over 100 Italian immigrants to Christ. Some members protested this intrusion of foreigners, and many left and joined other churches.

After many church members left, Reverend Simpson decided that God could not use him in churches that did not have a vision for the lost. He resigned his church and began his own ministry to the masses in New York. Reverend Simpson had a two-fold vision for his life. First, the fullness of Christ and its centrality in doctrine was his Biblical message. This became what he called the Fourfold Gospel: Jesus Christ our Savior, Sanctified, Healer, and coming King. Reverend Simpson attributed the term, Fourfold Gospel, to a suggestion of the Holy Spirit at the opening of the 1890 convention at the New York Gospel Tabernacle. This formulation has been used by the "Assemblies of God" and also the "Four Square Churches" to this day. Second, the Reverend Simpson had always carried a vision of the lost and dying world in his heart. This prompted him to send his first missionaries to the Congo in Africa. His beliefs were that spirit filled people living a Christ- like life would become active servants. The out come of his twin visions was the development of his

Christ centered message into what has become today the Christian And Missionary Alliance (CAMA).

Reverend Simpson believed that the quicker we preached the gospel to the entire world, the quicker the second coming of the Lord would be. He devoted his life to spreading the word of God to the uttermost parts of the world. His efforts paid off. The CAMA services are serving in several countries with missionaries. CAMA has several qualified Chaplains in the US armed services. They have a hefty loan account that is used to loan churches the funds to expand, and have over 6000 young people in training for evangelism programs. Reverend Albert Simpson died on October 29, 1919.

Stories Behind The Hymns is written by Warren Shiver of Biscoe,NC. Shiver has been fascinated with the true stories behind the hymns since he was a 12-year old attending East Gaffney Baptist Church in Gaffney, S.C. He began studying the stories behind the hymns in 1957. If you have questions or comments, he can be reached by email at wshiver99@embarqmail.com or by mail at PO BOX 775,Biscoe,NC 27209.

Warren has written two books, the first is a 300-page soft back, 104 Of My Favorite Hymn Stories Vol. 1 costs $14.95, the second book, 340-page soft back, 104 Of My Favorite Hymn Stories Vol. 2 costs $16.95. You may buy both books for $25.00. You may pick up your copies of both books at The Gaffney Ledger office on Floyd Baker Boulevard. Warren may be reached by email at wshiver99@embarqmail.com, or by mail at PO Box 775, Biscoe, NC.27209, you may also purchase the books on his website www.myfavoritehymnstories.com. Shipping for both books is $4.00, for one book $3.00. If you would like for Warren to come speak at your church, Sunday school class or any meeting you may contract him at 910-428-9911 or 910-428-4078.

Search Me, O God

Verse 1
Search me, O God, search me and know my heart;
Try me and prove me in the hidden part;
Cleanse me and make me holy, as Thou art,
And lead me in the way everlasting.
Refrain:
Lead me, lead me, lead me in the way everlasting;
Keep me from the things that wither and decay;
Give me the things that wither and decay;
Give to me the things that cannot pass away,
And lead me in the way everlasting.
Verse 2
Thou art the same today and yesterday;
Oh, make Thy life I me the same always;
Take firm my heart the things that pass away;
Lead, lead me in the way everlasting.
Refrain:
Verse 3
Take my poor heart and only let me love
The things that always shall abiding prove;
Bind all my heartstrings to the world above,
And lead me in the way everlasting.
Refrain:
Verse 4
Help me to lay my treasures up on high;
Teach me to seek my future in the sky;
Give me my portion yonder by and by,
And lead me in the way everlasting.
Refrain:
Verse 5
Oh, let my work abide the testing day
That shall consume the stubble and the hay;
Oh, build my house upon the rock, I pray,
And lead me in the way everlasting.
Refrain:
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