Charles Finney Tells His Story About Finding Religion and Helping Start the Second Great Awakening

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My name is Charles Grandison Finney, and I was born in 1792 in Warren, Connecticut. I grew up in a time of great change in America, and my life would become deeply intertwined with a movement that sought to change not just individuals, but society as a whole. While my early years were spent in rural New York, working hard and receiving little formal education, I had a hunger to learn. That hunger eventually led me to study law as a young man, thinking I would become an attorney and spend my life arguing cases in court. But God had other plans for me.

One day, while studying the Bible for legal purposes, I found myself profoundly moved by its teachings. In 1821, at the age of 29, I experienced a powerful conversion to Christianity. That moment changed everything. I could no longer pursue law; instead, I felt called to dedicate my life to preaching and helping others experience the same spiritual transformation I had. Soon after, I began traveling across upstate New York—what some would later call the "Burned-Over District" because of the fiery revivals that swept through the region—and preaching to anyone who would listen.

My style of preaching was different from the reserved, traditional methods of the time. I believed in direct, emotional appeals to people’s hearts, urging them to repent and commit to Christ. I also believed that religion wasn’t just a personal matter—it should inspire action to improve the world around us. During my revivals, I emphasized social reforms, such as the abolition of slavery, women’s rights, and temperance. My message was simple: if you’ve experienced the love of God, you have a responsibility to make the world a better place. This wasn’t always popular, but I never shied away from preaching what I believed was the truth.

Perhaps one of my most lasting impacts was my work at Oberlin College in Ohio, where I served as a professor and later as the president. Oberlin became a center for abolitionism and a refuge for African Americans escaping slavery through the Underground Railroad. It was one of the first colleges in the United States to admit both Black students and women, something I was proud to champion.

Throughout my life, I witnessed incredible change—both in individuals who found faith through my revivals and in the social movements I supported. I’m often called the "Father of Modern Revivalism," but I didn’t do it for recognition. I preached because I believed that faith could change hearts and that changed hearts could change the world. I hope my story reminds you that one person, with conviction and a willingness to act, can make a difference in both spiritual and social realms. Never underestimate the power of faith combined with action.

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