Baptist History, Heritage and Distinctives

The conversion that “shook the world”

December 15, 1850 – Charles H. Spurgeon was converted to Christ, and it was the conversion that “shook the world.” According to the following account given by Baptist Historian William Cathcart:

“Spurgeon happened to go into a Primitive Methodist Chapel in Colchester, and heard a sermon on the text, ‘Look unto Me and be ye saved.’ From that hour he rejoiced in salvation.”

However, in a sermon that Spurgeon himself delivered in the New Park Street Chapel on Sunday, January 6, 1856, he gave the date of his conversion as Jan. 6, 1850. Nevertheless the conversion of the 15 year old boy can never be called into question, for his life was changed radically as he placed his trust in the finished work of Christ for his redemption.

It was a cold, snowy day, and the storm was so fierce that the scheduled preacher did not arrive to preach his message. Fifteen people or fewer made up the congregation. A local layman finally agreed to preach, and he chose for his text Isaiah 45:22, “Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth.” In a brief few minutes the speaker had exhausted the text…and seeing the guilt-ridden face of the lad under the balcony, he fixed his eyes upon Charles, and pointing with his finger he shouted, “Young man, you’re in trouble! Look to Jesus Christ! Look! Look! Look! “ And Spurgeon did look in faith, believing, and God brought peace and purpose to his heart and life. Little could that layman have known that the storm in his heart was more severe than the storm outside the building!

In hisAutobiography, he gives an entire chapter to the subject of his conviction. He said, “Let none despise the strivings of the Spirit in the hearts of the young; let not boyish anxieties and juvenile repentance be lightly regarded.” Jesus said, “Forbid them not.”

Presented by Thomas E. Kresal from: This Day in Baptist History Vol. I: Cummins Thompson /, pp. 523-24.