Company Keeper Conversion

Jonathan Edwards inherited the congregation his grandfather pastored for multiple decades. The famous Solomon Stoddard adopted what was known as the :half way covenant." This meant people could be a part of the church and take communion even if they were not saved. The theory behind the idea was that, if such people sat under the preaching of the word of God they would eventually get saved.

Over time the opposite happened.  The saved remained committed. The half way covenanters in their children and grandchildren became more carnal and less tender to the things of God. This weighed heavily on Edwards' heart after his grandfather retired and left the congregation under his leadership. Edwards noticed the spiritual drift of many in Northampton, Mass.

By 1734 Edwards felt burdened for the lost in his parish. He both prayed for and preached for their conversion. He prayed and preached for several months without seeing many results. He noticed a change in December of that year. He wrote, "The Spirit of God began to extraordinarily set in and to wonderfully work among us." God moved in individuals who sought out Edwards one at a time under conviction for salvation. Most did not even know others were doing the same thing.

That is until a young woman came to visit Edwards. She was known to be a company keeper. Meaning she was sexually immoral. She had a reputation. A checkered past. She was known as one of the greatest company keepers in the whole town. Mind you Northampton was a small town. You know the type. Where gossip runs faster than a track team.

When this young lady got saved, eyebrows raised. She truly had a profound salvation experience. People took notice. God used the company keeper's conversion to ignite revival all over the community. People were converted to Christ in every home. God answered Edwards' prayers. Soon the movement spread to other communities. This move of God in the early American colonies became known as the First Great Awakening.

It started with a burdened pastor. God used the conversion of a company keeper to draw many others to Christ. I cry out with all my heart, "Do it again Lord. Do it again."