John MacNeil (1854 – August 1896), was a Presbyterian author and evangelist in Australia. He is best known for his 1894 book, ''The Spirit-Filled Life''.
Life
MacNeil was born into a Presbyterian family in Scotland, but was brought up in
Ballarat, Victoria
Ballarat ( ) is a city in the Central Highlands of Victoria, Australia. At the 2021 Census, Ballarat had a population of 116,201, making it the third largest city in Victoria. Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018.
Within months of Vic ...
. He studied theology at
New College, Edinburgh
New College is a historic building at the University of Edinburgh which houses the university's School of Divinity. It is one of the largest and most renowned centres for studies in Theology and Religious Studies in the United Kingdom. Student ...
and was ordained in 1879. Shortly afterwards he was introduced to the
Higher Life movement
The Higher Life movement, also known as the Keswick movement or Keswickianism, is a Protestant theologies, Protestant theological tradition within evangelical Christianity that espouses a distinct teaching on the doctrine of entire sanctificatio ...
.
He experienced "an
anointing of the Holy Spirit" and in 1881 began evangelistic ministry. Poor health, however, hindered his itinerant work until he recovered after laying on of hands by an Anglican minister. He then toured Australia, seeing many people turn to Jesus.
In 1890, together with a few others, he formed a prayer group which came to be known as "The Band". They met regularly to pray for revival. They also focused strongly on the need for an infilling of the Holy Spirit, and prayed for "the full Baptism of the Holy Spirit for themselves and for all ministers, officers and members of the Churches."
[Watsford, J., Glorious Gospel Triumphs London: Charles Kelly, 1900 (pg. 272)]
From their prayer times came a decision to hold a
Keswick-style convention in
Geelong
Geelong ( ) (Wathawurrung: ''Djilang''/''Djalang'') is a port city in the southeastern Australian state of Victoria, located at the eastern end of Corio Bay (the smaller western portion of Port Phillip Bay) and the left bank of Barwon River, ...
, with George Grubb, who had addressed Keswick Conventions in England, as the primary speaker, along with MacNeil, Webb and others.
In 1896 MacNeil toured
Queensland
)
, nickname = Sunshine State
, image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, established_ ...
a final time. At the end of his tour, in late August, he collapsed and died in a city shop.
Bibliography
Works
*The Spirit-Filled Life, Chicago: Moody Press (1894)
*Some One is Coming, London: Marshall Brothers (1896)
*Honey Gathered and Stored, London: Marshal Brothers (1897)
*Even So, Come, Chicago: Fleming H. Revell (1897)
Biography
*John MacNeil, Late Evangelist in Australia, by Hannah MacNeil, London: Marshall Brothers (1897)
References
*Barry Chant
The Spirit of Pentecost: origins and development of the Pentecostal Movement in Australia 1870-1939 unpublished Ph D thesis, Macquarie University, 1999.
External links
*
*
Bio from Southern Cross College1896 article from The Brisbane Courier
{{DEFAULTSORT:Macneil, John
1896 deaths
1854 births
Australian Presbyterian ministers
Evangelists
Australian people of Scottish descent
Australian religious writers
19th-century Scottish writers
Protestant writers
Scottish religious writers