Raymond T. Richey: "Little Man of Mighty Faith"

Raymond T. Richey was an important figure in the history of the Pentecostal-charismatic renewal movement. He can be credited with being one of the first Pentecostal healing evangelists leaving a significant legacy for those who followed in his path, such as William Branham, Jack Coe, Oral Roberts, and Kathryn Kuhlman. He served as an important transitional figure from the Azusa Street revival to the post World War II healing revivals (1947 to 1958). When a youngster, an accidental injury to his eyes led to near blindness, but a miracle healing in 1911 fully restored his vision. He was also healed of TB. This shaped much of his remaining life and ministry. Richey spread his dual message of salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ and physical healing in the atonement through relentless evangelistic crusades, publications, and radio broadcasts, financed through free-will offerings until the Great Depression curtailed his activities. He led soldiers to Christ during WWII as he campaigned with a large red, white, and blue tent. David Harrell (1975), the leading scholar of the post World War II healing revivals, draws a clear connection to Richey noting that he was one of the few revivalists in the early period who also had a major ministry in the post World War II revivals. Revivalists such as Richey helped bring Pentecostal theology and practice into mainstream Protestantism.