How do significant ministries begin? Smith Wigglesworth (1859—1946), is remembered for his bold healing ministry. Yet, how did he go from being a forty-one year old unordained plumber to an international evangelist praying for thousands? In the following we will explore Wigglesworth’s first experiences with the ministry of healing.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries many splintering holiness groups arose throughout England; emphasizing differing expressions of the deeper life. While brought up in Wesleyan Methodism, Wigglesworth’s hunger for God brought him in contact with many emerging holiness groups. It was in one of the more radical deeper life fellowships that he first encountered the ministry of divine healing. Julian Wilson writes that “One day each week, Wigglesworth visited the city of Leeds, nine miles away, to purchase plumbing supplies and it was on one of his visits that he heard about divine healing meetings taking place at a mission called the Healing Home.”

In the months that followed Wigglesworth attended services at this Dowie* influenced fellowship every time he could. Later, when the leaders of the Healing Home made plans to travel to the Keswick Convention, they asked Wigglesworth to fill in for them. Wilson recounts,

“The leaders of the home recognized Wigglesworth’s compassion for the sick and afflicted and when they all decided to attend that year’s Keswick Convention they were unanimous in concluding that he was the only person capable of conducting the services while they were away. Wigglesworth protested that he had no experience of leading a healing service, but they persisted and assured him that all he had to do was take
charge of the meeting, leaving him to assume that someone else would do the preaching.”

Wigglesworth found the idea of leading the healing meetings troubling. He tried to turn over the reins to someone else but was unable to do so.

With much fear and trembling, he reluctantly accepted responsibility.

When the service began that evening Wigglesworth passionately exhorted the congregation.

Immediately “…fifteen people with various infirmities rose from their seats and came forward to the altar of prayer. First up was a big Scotsman who hobbled slowly towards the platform on crutches. As Wigglesworth observed the man inching towards him, his heart sank at the prospecting having to pray for such an obvious case of infirmity. Faltering and with little confidence, he prayed, laying his hands on the man and was stunned to see him drop his crutches and leap up and down ecstatically, completely healed.”

With a sudden explosion of faith, the whole atmosphere of the meeting changed. Shockwaves erupted throughout the building. Many of those assembled began to respond. Wilson writes, “Emboldened, the others now stepped forward for prayer and all were healed. ‘I am sure it was not my faith,’ said Wigglesworth later, reflecting on this momentous moment, ‘but it was God in His compassion coming to help me in that hour of need.”

As Wigglesworth’s first healing meeting came to a close, “there were several instantaneous healings, of kidney troubles, loss of voice, weak eyesight, rheumatics and deafness.” Although surprised by what transpired, he could no
longer denounce his calling.

He returned to his hometown and “held a healing meeting at the Bowland Street Mission. Twelve people came forward and all were healed, including one with a badly bitten tongue and a woman with an ulcer on her ankle and a large discharging sore. More meetings and more miracles followed, until Wigglesworth became renowned in Bradford and its environs for possessing a divine healing ministry.”

At 41 years of age, an inconspicuous plumber by the name of Smith Wigglesworth was suddenly thrust into a significant healing ministry. His unique story demonstrates that the great calling and purposes of God can come upon unlikely people. May we find ourselves with a heart like Wigglesworth’s - obedient and receptive to the will of God.

*John Alexander Dowie was a controversial healing evangelist based out of Chicago, Illinois. His followers established healing works all over the world.

All references are from Julian Wilson; Wigglesworth:
The Complete Story; Authentic
Publishing; Milton Keynes, England; Copyright
© 2002.