Cal Thomas has a column in the October 12 issue of WORLD magazine on one of the more important figures in the history modern American Christianity, Sister Aimee Semple McPherson. Thomas writes,
Aimee was more famous than any TV evangelist today. She combined a considerable amount of show business with an equal amount of religiosity and packed them in at her Angelus Temple in Los Angeles, which remains in operation today, long after her death.
To introduce a new generation to the wonder that is Sister, there’s a new musical, produced by TV’s Kathie Lee Gifford, that just debuted this week in Seattle.
It’s worth paying attention to Sister. She’s a terrific indicator of the nature of contemporary evangelicalism. If you want know more about Sister, there’s a chapter about her in Always Reformed.
UPDATE 11.29.12
Here’s an interview with KLG about the project.
Check out Dr. Clark’s interview on “Sister Aimee” on Christ the Center #157 (January 14, 2011) at http://www.reformedforum.org. Lots of interesting and colorful history, plus application to contemporary issues. Who said learning can’t be fun?
Here’s the precise link: http://reformedforum.org/podcasts/ctc157/
C’mon on, Dr. Clark, “fess up.” Weren’t you just a wee bit smitten by Sister Aimee?
Well, I’m a happily married man.
Some people I know, ahem, suggest that she was attractive. I suppose there is a certain sort of magnetism there. No one is as popular as Sister was who has no personal attraction.