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EDITORIAL
JAMES RAY, Editor
Whosoever Will
May Come!
HAMILTON BAPTIST CHURCH
Chattanooga, Tennessee
(Pastor Virgil Smith)
PINE BLUFF BAPTIST CHURCH
Albany, Georgia
(Pastor Keith Smith)
WAY OF THE CROSS BAPTIST CHURCH
Dunlap, Tennessee
(Pastor Lanny Tate)
RINCON BAPTIST TEMPLE
Rincon, Georgia
(Pastor Joe Springer)
GREAT HOPE BAPTIST CHURCH
Chesapeake, Virginia
(Pastor John Godfrey)
CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH
McMinnville, TN
(Pastor Tom Fittis)
INDEPENDENT BAPTIST FELLOWSHIP
OF GEORGIA
Lawrenceville, Georgia
CENTERVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH
South Boston, Virginia
(Pastor Todd McClure)
FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH
Pikeville, Tennessee
(Pastor Doyle Ashburn)
CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH
Smyrna, Georgia
(Mary led Ladies Meeting)
JOURNEY BAPTIST CHURCH
N. Charleston, South Carolina
(Pastor Bob Boofer)
To schedule James Ray for your
church, you may contact him at:
Worldjray4@yahoo.com 423-802-5198 (cell)
BIMI 423-344-5050, Ext.2103
I t was on December 29, 1876, shortly after
7 p.m., when the Pacific Express Train
No. 5 left Buffalo, New York, destined for
Chicago. His dreams had come true. Philip
and his wife, Lucy, sat close together, their
minds in deep thought as they endured the
erratic movements of the train with its click-
click-click sound of the wheels moving over
the tracks. The winter storm beat
against the windows with swirling
snow. The train labored along
the track against fierce wind and
snowdrifts. Perhaps Philip’s mind replayed
memories of past days. His parents
were godly folks. His grandfather
had come to America from Wales.

Philip was born July 9, 1838, in
Clearfield County, Pennsylvania,
in a log cabin. One early memory
was that of singing with his
father, Isaac Bliss, the old hymns
most likely brought from Wales
by his grandfather. The Welsh
were famous for their singing. It
is probable that Philip’s love of
music could be traced backward
through the family to Wales. That
love of music contributed to Philip
Bliss becoming one of America’s
most loved Gospel songwriters. D. L. Moody
compared him to Charles Wesley. His hymns
were based on Scripture, and to this day, they
continue to touch millions.

His hymns included “Almost
Persuaded”; “Hallelujah, What
a Saviour!”; “Let the Lower
Lights Be Burning”; “Wonderful
Words of Life”; and the tune for
Horatio Spafford’s “It Is Well
with My Soul.” “Once for All,”
“The Light of the World Is Jesus,”
and “Wonderful
Words of Life” still
fill modern day
hymnals. Philip Bliss
Philip was eleven
years old when he
went to work on a
farm, followed by
work in a lumber
camp and sawmill.

Later, between jobs
he attended school
and studied music.

On one occasion in
1869, he attended
a revival meeting
to hear the great
evangelist Dwight
L. Moody. Philip
Bliss had a beautiful
voice and that voice
could be heard during the
congregational singing. After
the service, Moody shook hands
with him, got his information,
Lucy Bliss
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