Dr. Andrew Murray
In the Knighton & Fortnum & Keller households, he is a.k.a. "Grandpa Andy"!
Proudly displayed in Debbie’s china cabinet is a fragile, Bavarian china teacup that belonged to one of Grandpa Andy's daughters, an heirloom that Debbie will treasure long after it is passed it on to her own daughters!
Debbie's Great, Great, Great, Great Grandfather, South African Author, Evangelist, Missionary Statesman, led a revival in the 1800's that shook the country. His name was Dr. Andrew Murray…
Grandpa Andy was born in South Africa in 1828, the second of 11 children. When he was just 10 years old, his family made the difficult decision to send him and his older brother to Scotland to study. Over the next seven years, Andrew studied hard and graduated when he was 17 years old! He would then begin his theological studies in Holland at the University of Utrecht, even though he had not yet truly committed his life to Jesus Christ! It was during his time at the U of U that grandpa Andy became a part of "The Chocolate Club", a small band of students who covenanted together to "promote the study of the subjects required for the ministerial calling in the spirit of the Revival." They would also gather all the children of the poor families in the city for Bible lessons and worship every Sunday afternoon. It was during this time at Utrecht that Andrew underwent a significant inner change, which he called his "conversion", the authentic "new birth" decision to follow Christ wholeheartedly.
After graduating from Utrecht, and a memorable farewell with "The
Chocolate
Club" complete with celebrating the Lord's Table, Scripture reading,
prayer
and worship, Andrew and his older brother embarked on the long journey
back home to South Africa. Upon arrival at his parents' home in Graaf-Reinet,
he embraced his parents and several brothers and sisters whom he had never
met!
On his first Sunday back to church, he and his older brother and father
preached
and served communion together. Even though he was now a pastor,
his playful,
energetic disposition was a delight to his younger brothers and
sisters, who
exclaimed, "Is Brother Andrew a minister? That could never be:
he's just
like one of us!"
The firey young preacher fell in love with Miss Emma Rutherfoord, the daughter of a committed Christian businessman. They were married on July 2, 1856. Andrew was 28, and Emma 21. Together they raised eight children. The oldest was Howson Rutherfoord, named after Emma's father. He and his uncle went into a Cape Town business together only to die suddenly at age 23. Their oldest daughter, Emmie, served with the Salvation Army and rose to Staff Captain. She later became the director of a shelter ministry to young girls and women called, "Magdalena House." Mary entered the mission field and worked among the African tribals. Kitty became a teacher and an administrator in a seminary in Bethlehem, South Africa. Annie, who played a significant role in her father's writings, was Andrew's secretary. Andrew Haldane worked as a teacher and a farmer, but died in East Africa while in military service in World War I. John became a missionary to the Basuto people in Transvaal, and Charles, to the tribals in Nyasaland.
The fascinating adventures of Dr. Andrew Murray's life and ministry in South
Africa can be read in a powerful biography by Dr. William Lindner, Jr., Bethany
House Publishers, Minneapolis, MN. Grandpa Andy's life and writings have touched
the spiritual lives of Christians worldwide for one and a half centuries! His
legacy of profound writings include, The Spirit of Christ, With Christ in the
School of Prayer, Abide in Christ, and a host of other books. He was active
in theological debates, involved with South African church/state relations and
the founding of universities. His solid passion for the Truth and true spiritual
revival is why Debbie sees him as the mentor she’s never met. His books
continue to affect her worship song writing. But his faithfulness to God and
his family is a legacy that she is forever grateful to pass on to her own beautiful
children. What a fantastic family reunion they will have one day in heaven!
Find out what happenned when Andrew Murray tried to stop a revival! Click here*
Discover
the treasury of books by Grandpa Andy! link, TBA
Read more about Andrew and Emma here in another biography summary by author Leona Choy: www.goldenmorning.com/a&e.htm
~If you are an Andrew Murray fan, drop us an e-mail Debbie@FarAwayWorship.com and let us know how his writings have touched your life! If you have any Andrew Murray books that you’re willing to donate to the Knighton / Fortnum "Andrew Murray Treasury" that we will pass down to our children's children, let us know! Info@FarAwayWorship.com
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E-mail: Info@FarAwayWorship.com