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Wingspread: A. B. Simpson: A Study in Spiritual Altitude
Albert Benjamin Simpson was God's man. From inauspicious beginnings in Bayview, Prince Edward Island, Canada, he rose to prominence through Presbyterian pastorages in Hamilton, Ontario, Louisville, Kentucky, and New York City.
But God had other plans for Simpson. He resigned from his comfortable pulpit to launch a ministry aimed at reaching the world's lost multitudes.
Wingspread is Simpson's story—a story of one of God's chosen leaders, written by another man of God, A. W. Tozer. It will captivate and challenge you, inspiring you to rise up and attempt something great for God.
But God had other plans for Simpson. He resigned from his comfortable pulpit to launch a ministry aimed at reaching the world's lost multitudes.
Wingspread is Simpson's story—a story of one of God's chosen leaders, written by another man of God, A. W. Tozer. It will captivate and challenge you, inspiring you to rise up and attempt something great for God.
119 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2003
24 people are currently reading
133 people want to read
About the author
A.W. Tozer
664 books2,100 followersAiden Wilson Tozer was an American evangelical pastor, speaker, writer, and editor. After coming to Christ at the age of seventeen, Tozer found his way into the Christian & Missionary Alliance denomination where he served for over forty years. In 1950, he was appointed by the denomination's General Council to be the editor of "The Alliance Witness" (now "Alliance Life").
Born into poverty in western Pennsylvania in 1897, Tozer died in May 1963 a self-educated man who had taught himself what he missed in high school and college due to his home situation. Though he wrote many books, two of them, "The Pursuit of God" and "The Knowledge of the Holy" are widely considered to be classics.
A.W. Tozer and his wife, Ada Cecelia Pfautz, had seven children, six boys and one girl.
Born into poverty in western Pennsylvania in 1897, Tozer died in May 1963 a self-educated man who had taught himself what he missed in high school and college due to his home situation. Though he wrote many books, two of them, "The Pursuit of God" and "The Knowledge of the Holy" are widely considered to be classics.
A.W. Tozer and his wife, Ada Cecelia Pfautz, had seven children, six boys and one girl.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 6, 2020
Tozer's wit can be a little bit grating on the nerves, but Simpson's life is a testimony to the power of a person dedicated to living fully for Christ.
I had never studied Simpson until running into some of his more devotional writings a few years ago, and this book is a helpful perspective on his life and ministry. I appreciate that Tozer includes commentary on several failures and shortcomings in Simpson's life. This aspect is often missing in Christian biography.
I had never studied Simpson until running into some of his more devotional writings a few years ago, and this book is a helpful perspective on his life and ministry. I appreciate that Tozer includes commentary on several failures and shortcomings in Simpson's life. This aspect is often missing in Christian biography.
June 23, 2012
I very seldom start a book I don't finish, but this book almost became one of those few because I was so unhappy with it. My unhappiness was partially because of the subject, but mostly because of the author.
The subject: I was not convinced that Simpson was a particularly godly man or someone we should model our lives after. I felt his view of divine healing was extreme, I felt some of his other views were strange and I felt that he was grossly insensitive to his family's needs.
Having said this, I have read biographies of other men with just as many failings and have found them profitable. The difference was in the writer, the other writers were willing to admit and teach lessons based on the subject's fault.
The author: Tozer claimed to be writing such a biography, but I didn't think he did. I felt his praise of Simpson was unbalanced. On the one hand he would admit that he had faults but on the other hand he seemed always to be trying to impress on you how he was better than every other man that ever lived. I especially was displeased by his attitude towards anyone who criticized or objected to Simpson. These people were Christians and even if their criticisms were inaccurate (and I suspect they were often more accurate than Tozer wants to admit) we should still seek to think well of these Christians but Tozer presented them in a derogatory light and I found that very distasteful. Again on the one hand he would admit that they were godly men but on the other hand he would speak of them in such a way that made you think they really weren't.
I should say at this point that I'm a reformed Baptist and a Calvinist so I am not reacting to those doctrines and letting that color my perspective. I have never read anything by Tozer before but I've always heard good things about him but this book I do not think is one of them. Perhaps the only good thing I can say is that he is an easy to read author and does have a way of making things interesting. And Simpson lived for a while in Louisville, KY, my hometown, which is always interesting.
The subject: I was not convinced that Simpson was a particularly godly man or someone we should model our lives after. I felt his view of divine healing was extreme, I felt some of his other views were strange and I felt that he was grossly insensitive to his family's needs.
Having said this, I have read biographies of other men with just as many failings and have found them profitable. The difference was in the writer, the other writers were willing to admit and teach lessons based on the subject's fault.
The author: Tozer claimed to be writing such a biography, but I didn't think he did. I felt his praise of Simpson was unbalanced. On the one hand he would admit that he had faults but on the other hand he seemed always to be trying to impress on you how he was better than every other man that ever lived. I especially was displeased by his attitude towards anyone who criticized or objected to Simpson. These people were Christians and even if their criticisms were inaccurate (and I suspect they were often more accurate than Tozer wants to admit) we should still seek to think well of these Christians but Tozer presented them in a derogatory light and I found that very distasteful. Again on the one hand he would admit that they were godly men but on the other hand he would speak of them in such a way that made you think they really weren't.
I should say at this point that I'm a reformed Baptist and a Calvinist so I am not reacting to those doctrines and letting that color my perspective. I have never read anything by Tozer before but I've always heard good things about him but this book I do not think is one of them. Perhaps the only good thing I can say is that he is an easy to read author and does have a way of making things interesting. And Simpson lived for a while in Louisville, KY, my hometown, which is always interesting.
May 25, 2012
Great both for what is says about AB Simpson, and what it says about the author AW Tozer
A.B. Simpson was the founder of The Christian & Missionary Alliance. Simpson was among the better known religious leaders of his era. That in itself makes this book an enlightening and educational read. However, it is at least as interesting for what it reveals about the author A.W. Tozer who is perhaps the best known figure to emerge from the C&MA.
Simpson's influence represents something of a convergence in the late 19th century of Calvanistic doctrine with the holiness movements of that time, particularly the Keswick movement.
The C&MA and Simpson subsequently went on to have a tremendous influence upon the evangelical foreign missions movement of the 20th century. Influence was also exerted upon the holiness movements of Azuza Street and the formation of the Assemblies of God.
Simpson is an interesting and vital figure to understand from several perspectives, particularly as his teachings on the Four-Fold Gospel and healing represented major influences upon 20th century evangelical thinking and practice.
What makes this book a special treat however, is to see the treatment of Simpson by Tozer who is widely regarded by many as one of the most influential prophetic (in the sense of forthtelling, not future predicting) voices of our time. His sympathetic presentation of Simpson and integration of the man with his teaching and influence reveals a great deal about the author as well as the subject.
This is a classic biography worthy of reading and study regardless of why you come to it. A great many crossroad's branch out from here. You'll be glad you invested the time to read this biography.
A.B. Simpson was the founder of The Christian & Missionary Alliance. Simpson was among the better known religious leaders of his era. That in itself makes this book an enlightening and educational read. However, it is at least as interesting for what it reveals about the author A.W. Tozer who is perhaps the best known figure to emerge from the C&MA.
Simpson's influence represents something of a convergence in the late 19th century of Calvanistic doctrine with the holiness movements of that time, particularly the Keswick movement.
The C&MA and Simpson subsequently went on to have a tremendous influence upon the evangelical foreign missions movement of the 20th century. Influence was also exerted upon the holiness movements of Azuza Street and the formation of the Assemblies of God.
Simpson is an interesting and vital figure to understand from several perspectives, particularly as his teachings on the Four-Fold Gospel and healing represented major influences upon 20th century evangelical thinking and practice.
What makes this book a special treat however, is to see the treatment of Simpson by Tozer who is widely regarded by many as one of the most influential prophetic (in the sense of forthtelling, not future predicting) voices of our time. His sympathetic presentation of Simpson and integration of the man with his teaching and influence reveals a great deal about the author as well as the subject.
This is a classic biography worthy of reading and study regardless of why you come to it. A great many crossroad's branch out from here. You'll be glad you invested the time to read this biography.
February 16, 2010
A. W. Tozer presents an easy to follow and sufficiently engaging biography of Albert B. Simpson, the founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance.
Raised in a religious and strict home in Ontario, Canada, God radically changed his life. Called to the pastorate, he studied at Knox College in Toronto and was ordained under the Presbyterian church. After pastoring 8 years in Canada, he moved with his family to Louisville, Kentucky where he pastored the Chestnut Street Church.
As God moved in his life, he felt called to reach out to all people from every level of the social strata, and across the world. This led him to leave Kentucky for New York, New York where he pastured the 13th Street Church. His evangelistic zeal among the masses led to some challenges between the well-to-do church and Mr. Simpson.
Eventually, he left this church and founded the Gospel Tabernacle church, began the first non-denominational missionary magazine, founded the Christian Alliance and the International Missionary Alliance, which eventually became the Christian Missionary Alliance. His desire was not to start another denomination and it never did during his lifetime. The magazine and missionary sending arm of the CMA greatly impacted the world.
A. B. Simpson was by no means a perfect man; who among us is? The book neither focuses on his successes so as to make him a superior saint, neither does it delve unnecessarily into his faults so as to destroy the work of God through this man. It presents a brief, yet engaging look into a life that has certainly impacted our world for the better.
Raised in a religious and strict home in Ontario, Canada, God radically changed his life. Called to the pastorate, he studied at Knox College in Toronto and was ordained under the Presbyterian church. After pastoring 8 years in Canada, he moved with his family to Louisville, Kentucky where he pastored the Chestnut Street Church.
As God moved in his life, he felt called to reach out to all people from every level of the social strata, and across the world. This led him to leave Kentucky for New York, New York where he pastured the 13th Street Church. His evangelistic zeal among the masses led to some challenges between the well-to-do church and Mr. Simpson.
Eventually, he left this church and founded the Gospel Tabernacle church, began the first non-denominational missionary magazine, founded the Christian Alliance and the International Missionary Alliance, which eventually became the Christian Missionary Alliance. His desire was not to start another denomination and it never did during his lifetime. The magazine and missionary sending arm of the CMA greatly impacted the world.
A. B. Simpson was by no means a perfect man; who among us is? The book neither focuses on his successes so as to make him a superior saint, neither does it delve unnecessarily into his faults so as to destroy the work of God through this man. It presents a brief, yet engaging look into a life that has certainly impacted our world for the better.
January 30, 2018
This is a biography. And while it reads like one, it remains one of the most inspirational and influential books in my life. In particular, A.B. Simpson's resolve to dissolve denominational quarrels and divisions is most admirable, as well as his dependence upon God for his health.
This is a book you can pick up and put down, reading at leisure. And reread.
This is a book you can pick up and put down, reading at leisure. And reread.
March 26, 2019
It's hard to describe this book and how wonderful it is. It has a spirit and life to it that is hard to explain. But it is the wonderfully told true story of the founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance. This man's life is truly charmingly astounding and beautiful to read about.
April 29, 2013
Tozer als biograaf!
Heerlijk om te lezen. Scherp als altijd, maar ook eerlijk. Mooi klein boekje als medicijn voor je ziel.
Heerlijk om te lezen. Scherp als altijd, maar ook eerlijk. Mooi klein boekje als medicijn voor je ziel.
July 21, 2015
Definitely not one of Tozer's best. Not even comparable to his devotional works. But still I gleaned some neat insights about the life of a God fearing man.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews