Conversion of an Artist and his Wife

'Do you see yonder wicket Gate?' Evangelist pointing Christian in Bunyan's Pilgrims Progress to the way of salvation

Conversion of an Artist and his Wife

The Holy Spirit is sovereign and the wind "bloweth where it listeth". He uses unusual and mysterious ways to convict and save unusual people.

Of this young man, one of our leading painters has said that he is one of the foremost British painters of his generation. Winner of the Prix de Rome Scholarship he is now senior lecturer of a well known Art College.

Like so many he was brought up in the Church of England, confirmed at the age of 15, and became a Sunday School teacher although ignorant of the biblical and saving truth. He left off attending Church at 18 with National Service.

While he was attending an Art College his mother and sister came under an evangelical ministry, were converted, and began praying for him. This seemed to make no impression on him. But soon the Spirit of God in a way he cannot account for was causing him deep disturbance of soul. His vicar was unable to give him any definite guidance or help.

He was impressed by some Jehovah's Witnesses who seemed to speak with authority on religious matters. This provoked serious domestic discord, for his young wife a conscientious though unconverted churchgoer. For 6 or 7 months he very earnestly studied the Bible, becoming increasingly convicted by what he read. He even felt that his only means of salvation was to serve God by joining Jehovah's Witnesses and thereby earning Eternal Life. At the same time he had an uneasy feeling that he was following a false path and it was a terribly miserable time for this young couple.

One thing haunted him and restrained him from taking a false step — a remembered text from childhood — "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life!"

His wife now sought the help of a married couple who loaned one of their only two books of Reformation doctrine - Haldane's "Commentary on Romans". After 3 months of struggling to find a way of salvation, the justifying work of Christ and salvation by Grace through faith became clear to the husband. Conviction and conversion came to his wife also.

These two couples then drew others to join them in the study of the Scriptures and Reformation truth. This created quite a stir. An evangelical Christian amongst members of the Art fraternity with their existential outlook was indeed a wonder. Even an R.C. priest came to enquire and books of reformed doctrine found they way into the libraries of unlikely readers of such works.

Is it not significant that a great work on Romans which 150 years ago was instrumental in a revival at Geneva should, along with other Reformation and Puritan books, be so used of God today?

Reprinted by kind permission of

Rev. Charles D. Alexander

(Liverpool)

This Page Title – Conversion of an artist and his wife
The Wicket Gate Magazine "A Continuing Witness".
Internet Edition number 41 – placed on line March 2003
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