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Titanic Preacher ~ John Harper Remembered

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Titanic Preacher ~ John Harper Remembered, save souls, iceberg, lifeboats, unsinkable ship, maiden voyage, Dwight L. Moody, Moody Church in Chicago, Fanny Crosby, 100 Year anniversary, Hymn Rescue The Perishing, Sinking, April 15, 1912, Glasgow Scotland, lifeboats, iceberg, John 15: 13, evangelism, Plantation Baptist church, hymn, faithful men, tragedy, survivors, save souls,

Titanic Preacher ~ John Harper Remembered

This story gripped me.

Immediately the verse John 15: 13 came to mind, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” And these people weren’t even friends. Likely, he had never met any of them until that day. Here is a short account of what happened:

It has been 100 years since Titanic, the greatest ship of its time, sank on its maiden voyage, killing more than 1,500 passengers. The “unsinkable ship” had been sunk. One of the supreme stories of the  fateful event is of the Titanic preacher John Harper and his passion to save souls.

Titanic Preacher ~ John Harper Remembered, save souls, iceberg, lifeboats, unsinkable ship, maiden voyage, Dwight L. Moody, Moody Church in Chicago, Fanny Crosby, 100 Year anniversary, Hymn Rescue The Perishing, Sinking, April 15, 1912, Glasgow Scotland, lifeboats, iceberg, John 15: 13, evangelism, Plantation Baptist church, hymn, faithful men, tragedy, survivors, save souls, John Harper, daughter Nana, Titanic pastor remembered

When pastor John Harper and six year old daughter Nana boarded the Titanic it was for the privilege of preaching at one of the greatest churches in America, Moody Church in Chicago, named for its famous founder Dwight L. Moody. This church was to meet their next pastor, as Harper planned to accept their invitation. Harper had led two churches in Glasgow and London.

Titanic Preacher ~ John Harper Remembered, save souls, iceberg, lifeboats, unsinkable ship, maiden voyage, Dwight L. Moody, Moody Church in Chicago, Fanny Crosby, 100 Year anniversary, Hymn Rescue The Perishing, Sinking, April 15, 1912, Glasgow Scotland, lifeboats, iceberg, John 15: 13, evangelism, Plantation Baptist church, hymn, faithful men, tragedy, survivors, save souls,

When the Titanic hit the iceberg, Harper successfully led his daughter to a lifeboat. Being a widower he may have been allowed to join her but instead forsook his own rescue, choosing to provide the masses with one more chance to know Christ. Harper ran person to person, passionately telling others about Christ.

As the water began to submerge the “unsinkable” ship, Harper was heard shouting, “women, children, and the unsaved into the lifeboats.” Rebuffed by a certain man at the offer of salvation Harper gave him his own life vest, saying, “you need this more than I do.” Up until the last moment on the ship Harper pleaded with people to give their lives to Jesus.

For us, 100 years after the Titanic, may we be as zealous as Harper was with every opportunity to share Christ with the perishing.

Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save.

Though they are slighting Him, still He is waiting,
Waiting the penitent child to receive;
Plead with them earnestly, plead with them gently;
He will forgive if they only believe.

Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter,
Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;
Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,
Chords that were broken will vibrate once more.

Rescue the perishing, duty demands it;
Strength for thy labor the Lord will provide;
Back to the narrow way patiently win them;
Tell the poor wand’rer a Savior has died.

(Rescue the Perishing by Fan­ny Cros­by, 1869)

Titanic Preacher ~ John Harper Remembered, save souls, iceberg, lifeboats, unsinkable ship, maiden voyage, Dwight L. Moody, Moody Church in Chicago, Fanny Crosby, 100 Year anniversary, Hymn Rescue The Perishing, Sinking, April 15, 1912, Glasgow Scotland, lifeboats, iceberg, John 15: 13, evangelism, Plantation Baptist church, hymn, faithful men, tragedy, survivors, save souls,

Here is the story behind the story just a few days ago in Glasgow.

Titanic Preacher ~ John Harper Remembered, save souls, iceberg, lifeboats, unsinkable ship, maiden voyage, Dwight L. Moody, Moody Church in Chicago, Fanny Crosby, 100 Year anniversary, Hymn Rescue The Perishing, Sinking, April 15, 1912, Glasgow Scotland, lifeboats, iceberg, John 15: 13, evangelism, Plantation Baptist church, hymn, faithful men, tragedy, survivors, save souls, John Harper's descendants in Glasgow, Scotland, memorial

  (excerpted from Baptist Press by Douglas W. Mize, April 13, 2012)

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Titanic Preacher ~ John Harper Remembered, save souls, iceberg, lifeboats, unsinkable ship, maiden voyage, Dwight L. Moody, Moody Church in Chicago, Fanny Crosby, 100 Year anniversary, Hymn Rescue The Perishing, Sinking, April 15, 1912, Glasgow Scotland, lifeboats, iceberg, John 15: 13, evangelism, Plantation Baptist church, hymn, faithful men, tragedy, survivors, save souls,

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Thanks for reading!

Jacqueline
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Comments

  1. Hi Jacqueline, That was a beautiful memorial. When we read a book about this as a read aloud, the tears were flowing… There is NO GREATER LOVE!

    I also wanted to make sure you got my email and that it didn’t land in the special little spam box 🙂

    Yours Truly ~ JES

    • I am sorry, JES, I haven’t yet responded! It is there, and I have it about 1/2 way done, but have been helping new friends move and have a son with his wisdom teeth removed keeping me slower than usual. I will get to you tomorrow, if that is OK. God bless you, and YES, I am excited <3

      • Please, NO HURRY, as long as I know it went through… I just get nervous about some emails going into cyber space or the fretted spam box. Please do what you need to do! Family and friends come first 🙂

  5. What an amazing story! They sure didn’t teach that part about the titanic in my public school. I’m so thankful you shared this with us, what a wonderful blessing and encouragement. I’m so thankful I can now teach it to my children at home, what a more wonderful way to remember the Titanic story.
    Joy
    P.s. Im new to your blog just found you but had to comment today on such a beautiful story thanks so muc for sharing.

  6. Wow–becoming the next pastor of Moody Church? I had never heard that part of the story–quite fascinating and sounds like he was a very godly man with great integrity.

    Have a great weekend!

  7. Hey. I was looking for more about the history of the Harper family, especially Nana, I was very impressed by the story of the little ones in the midst of such horror. Encunetro this blog recently and am very excited.
    From Argentina sent him a friendly greeting and I apologize for my bad English.

  8. Thanks for your words. I am very interested in the history of Harper and his daughter. The site suggests that you and I have visited several times. I will keep looking for information.

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