Faithful Heroes: A. W. Towzer

A.W. Tozer was a prolific author whom we often hear about as a great Christian and

A. W. Tozer

author. But, who was he?

Aiden Wilson Tozer was born on April 21, 1897 in La Jose {now Newburg}, Pennsylvania.

He was born into poverty and self educated. He was determined to teach himself all that he felt he missed in high school and college.

He was a teenager in 1914 returning home from work at a tire factor, when he heard a street preacher say, “If you don’t know how to be saved … just call on God, saying, ‘Lord, be merciful to me a sinner.'”

When he returned home, he climbed up into the attic and repeated the preacher’s words.

Five years later, he accepted an offer to serve as pastor of his first church, in a small storefront church in West Virginia. He had no formal theological training. He served the next 33 years as pastor in a number of churches. He pastored a church in Chicago for almost 30 years. In his 44 years of ministry, he also worked with the Christian and Missionary Alliance.

Tozer married Ada Cecelia Pfautz and had six sons and one daughter together. After his death, his wife admitted that she was often lonely and eventually remarried.

The Tower family is said to live a “simple and non-materialistic lifestyle.” He and his wife “never owned a car, preferring bus and train travel. Even after becoming a well-known Christian author, Tozer signed away much of his royalties to those who were in need.”

In May 1950, he became editor of the Alliance Weekly {now Alliance Life} magazine.

In 1950, Wheaton College bestowed an honorary Doctor of Letters degree on him. Two

A. W. Tozer

years later, Houghton College, gave him an honorary LL.D. degree.

More than sixty books have been published that bear his name. However, surprisingly many of them were released after his death. These books were compiled from the sermons he preached and articles he wrote. Two of these novels are considered Christian classics: The Pursuit of God and The Knowledge of the Holy.

His biographer, James L. Snyder wrote, “His preaching as well as his writings were but extensions of his prayer life…He had the ability to make his listeners face themselves in the light of what God was saying to them.”

In 2001, Christian music artist Lauren Barlow published a compilation of 59 individuals who shared stories of how A.W. Tozer had inspired them.

How has Tozer inspired you?

 

A.W. Tozer's sermons became well known works of art for the kingdom of Christ #faithfulheroes #heroesofthefaith Share on X

 

 

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