W. E. Sangster (1900-1960) was a Methodist minister centered in London for the last twenty years of his life. In preparation for the Nazi Blitz of the second world war, Rev. Sangster, had the church basement fortified outside and in. His family moved into a room in that basement and invited anyone to find refuge in the basement who needed a place of safety. His wife began cooking evening meals for everyone for the five years of the war. He preached sermons as he could on Sundays in the much-damaged church, but what the people asked was that he lead evening prayers and give a word of hope from the Bible each night. In the encyclopedia, 20 Centuries of Great Preaching, by Pinson and Fant, W. E. Sangster’s life story is told, and five full sermon manuscripts are included, revealing the pastoral heart of this man who had himself served in World War 1, and several small churches as pastor.

You may have noticed that he died when he was not quite 60 years old. Following the war, he coordinated efforts of evangelism and home missions for the Methodist Church across Great Britain. He was diagnosed in his mid-fifties with an aggressive muscular atrophy. His daughter wrote a tribute to her father shortly after his death. In her tribute she included this written note from his last Easter day, when he could no longer walk or talk. He wrote: It is terrible to wake up on Easter morning to have no voice with which to shout, ‘He Is Risen!’— but it would be still more terrible to have a voice and not want to shout. 

Easter is this Sunday. How will you be spending this Resurrection Day? They say it may rain or even storm, or possibly not. Come celebrate Jesus and shout, ‘He Is Risen!’

Keep healthy. Pray mightily. Enjoy your life today. He Is Risen Indeed! And let’s experience the love and power of God together.

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