“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 NKJV
In the Spring of 1801, Logan County, Kentucky teenager Peter Cartwright was convicted of
his sinful lifestyle by the Holy Spirit. Attending a camp meeting near his home in Logan
County in May 1801, Cartwright made the personal decision to “Believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ.”
Over a month prior, people prayed and advertised a scheduled meeting hosted by the
Presbyterian congregation at Cane Ridge (near Paris, Kentucky). Other Presbyterian,
Methodist, and Baptist ministers came together for a “sacramental meeting.” An estimated
20,000-30,000 people attended, and hundreds made commitments to Christ.
The host pastor observed: “It created a genuine fellowship uniting Presbyterians,
Methodists, and Baptists, cordially united – of one mind and one spirit.” The concept spread
quickly as Cane Ridge spurred the camp meeting phenomena forward, soon going across
America.
Within 2 years, in 1803, Peter Cartwright was licensed as an exhorter by the Methodists at
age 18.
Although early Methodist leaders Francis Asbury and William McKendree regarded
marriage as a handicap to the work of a circuit riding preacher, Peter Cartwright fell in love
when he was 23. In 1808, he married Frances Gaines on her 19th birthday.
Warren Wiersbe wrote: “Each of us as God’s workman will be either approved or ashamed.
The word ‘approved’ means ‘one who has been tested and found acceptable.’ Each trial
that we go through forces us to study the Word to find God’s will. As we rightly use the
Word, we succeed in overcoming our trials, and we are approved by God. When the Lord
judges our works, it will be revealed whether we as workmen have handled the Word of
God honestly and carefully. We cannot be approved unless we are tested.”
Peter Cartwright remained in itinerant evangelism until 1872, preaching the gospel in
Virginia, Tennessee, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois.
In 1823, John Ingle, the son of a Baptist pastor from England, came to America and
obtained 160 acres in Southern Indiana. Building a log cabin, he provided lodging and
hospitality for itinerant preachers. The road alongside “Ingle Cabin” went east to Boonville
and west to New Harmony; and the north-south path extended from Henderson, Kentucky
to Vincennes, Indiana.
It is possible, perhaps even probable, that Peter Cartwright visited John Ingle’s cabin. By
divine destiny, TTT Christian Youth Ministries is now located there.
”Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is strong, yes, a man of knowledge increases strength; for by wise counsel you will wage your own war, and in a multitude of counselors there is safety.” Proverbs 24:3-6 NKJV
Frances Scott Key was one of the founders of the American Sunday School Union in 1824.
Key was a leader in developing a plan to start Sunday schools across the country.
Individuals could hear the Gospel while learning to read and write, using the Bible as their
primary text.
In 1830, Key chaired the American Sunday School convention in Washington, DC, where
the “Mississippi Valley Enterprise” was launched. The goal was to plant a Sunday School in
every town between the Alleghany and the Rocky Mountains, between Pittsburg and
Denver – covering 1 million square miles and a population of over 4 million people.
Their goal was to complete the project in two years, but it took 50 years. By 1880, there
were 61,297 Sunday Schools established, with 407,244 teachers and an enrollment of
2,650,784 pupils.
Peter Cartwright’s circuit riding contemporaries participated with the Mississippi Valley
Enterprise. Peter Cartwright died in 1872, and in all probability personally participated,
ministering on horseback in several places across the Tri-state.
The Mississippi Valley evangelists were Bible-believing Christian communicators.
They were challenged to “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season.
Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” 2 Timothy 4:2 NKJV
Today is the same at TTT – We continue to focus on praying for the Lord of the harvest to
send out laborers into His harvest, and to be trained to share God’s plan of salvation during
July and August, participating in the concept called “Fair Share.” We’re praying that God
will raise modern Peter Cartwrights and Francis Scott Keys, workers sharing the Word of
Truth.
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete,
thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV
Will you search the truth? Will you share the truth?