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- BIO:Ernest Ira Reveal
-
- 1880-1959
- Rescue mission superintendent. E.I. Reveal was born in West
- Virginia, the oldest of twelve children. He had little educa-
- tion, leaving school in his teens to join his father in the
- contracting and bricklaying business. Gifted in this work, he
- prospered. However, this prosperity did not fill the void in
- his soul.
- He was converted to Christ on January 24, 1904, and
- soon began attending a Presbyterian church whose pastor
- proved to be a real friend to this new Christian. He grew in
- grace rapidly, entered into the activities of the church, and
- was made an elder. In March, 1919, he was ordained a minister
- by the Presbytery of Indiana.
- His call to rescue mission work came during a conven-
- tion of rescue mission workers at the Mel Trotter Mission in
- Grand Rapids, Michigan. Reveal learned that several pastors
- and laymen were interested in beginning a mission in his home
- town of Evansville, Indiana, which proved to be a direct an-
- swer to prayer, for this had been on his heart for some time.
- From the humble beginnings, the rescue mission grew until the
- work operated not only a well-equipped modern mission in
- downtown Evansville, but a summer camp outside the city.
- During his entire ministry, Reveal was a monument of
- the grace of God. Being a cripple with one leg in a strong
- brace did not in the least deter him from his God-given task.
- Living in an atmosphere of prayer and fellowship with the
- Heavenly Father for over 40 years, he prayed in the funds
- that sustained and provided the means of expansion for the
- mission. The records of the mission reveal hundreds of
- conversions. Of these, many who are now ministers, mission-
- aries, and laymen, were brought to Christ under his ministry.
- As a speaker, Reveal was earnest, though not elo-
- quent--practical, though not polished--preaching the Gospel
- in language that the men who faced him could understand. A
- deep love for Christ and a compassion for the spiritual and
- physical needs of the underprivileged prompted him to spend
- much of his life in prayer.
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