Who remembers Arthur Blessitt?

I do for a start. Back in the day, as a young Christian, he made quite an impact on me as a mover and shaker for the cause of Christ, attracting me because he was not one of your respectable  Christian leader types (some I looked up to and others I didn’t) but he was pretty clear when it came to making the main thing (Jesus) the main thing. But as the decades passed by, along with all sorts of new developments and personalities coming to one’s attention in the Christian world, I had almost forgotten about this rather captivating and charismatic chap, up to just learning that the man is now dead.  

The reason I knew is that I came across and then checked out this touching and inspiring video: “Arthur Blessitt completed his mission on earth January 14th, 2025” (see here), made by the man himself, along with his second wife, as it made a timely appearance on my Facebook page. According to Wikipedia (see here): “Arthur Owen Blessitt (October 27, 1940 – January 14, 2025) was an American traveling Christian preacher who was known for carrying a cross through every nation of the world”.

There is lot more to be gleaned about Arthur Blessitt’s life and ministry from reading this short account and, having finished that, going onto one of the many articles about the man (mostly positive) that one can read following (for me) a customary Google search. The biggest and best impression was of this man walking the countries of the world, along with carrying his hallmark cross, sharing the gospel with all and sundry, ranging from very high to very low, being welcomed in unlikely quarters and not in those more likely. All the while, he helped to create a similar impression to what Jesus must have done when He managed to alienate the Scribes and Pharisees but was able to attract and relate to sinners and publicans, as Arthur went about sharing the good news concerning his Lord and Saviour.  

There were three things from the Wikipedia article that particularly struck me, that in fairness says as much about me and my particular interests as it does about the person who I am writing about here:

He was a Democrat: Wikipedia informs us “Blessitt made a failed bid for the 1976 Democratic nomination for President”. No-one is perfect but I thank God that He uses imperfect people.

He was divorced: Wikipedia informs us “His first marriage was to Sherry Anne Simmons, whom he married within three weeks of dating in 1963. Together they had six children: Gina, Arthur Joel, Joy, Arthur Joshua, Arthur Joseph and Arthur Jerusalem. Blessitt and Simmons divorced in 1990. He married Denise Irja Brown later in 1990. Together, they adopted a child, Sophia, and lived in Denver, Colorado”. I couldn’t find much about the reason for the divorce, maybe an area his supporters would rather ignore and something Christians in my own camp disapprove off and believe is usually wrong as is remarriage, (see here) for more information:

He was a fan of R.T.Kendall: Wikipedia informs us “Blessitt practiced within the evangelical tradition of Protestant Christianity and sat within the Charismatic wing of that tradition. He listed R. T. Kendall and Charles Spurgeon as inspirations”. Given that RTK and CHS are two of my top men of faith and sound doctrine heroes, this naturally is likely to endear me to AOB. I was struck by what RT had to say about Arthur (see here), a man who not only shook nations but his and the wider church as well.

So much more can be said about Arthur Blessitt but having felt compelled to write about him, unexpectedly, it has interrupted my “to be blogged about” list of subjects I want to write about, and now I need to get on and return to them, wondering perhaps what dear brother Blessitt might have made of current world events. Many articles say pertinent and helpful things about the man and the extraordinary, nigh unique, legacy he has left us. This is one of the best, with a great finale, I have come across: “World’s farthest walking pilgrim Arthur Blessitt dies at 84” (see here).

Leaving a legacy and making a difference are perhaps the two main things that concern me most, now that I am in my dotage. Arthur left a huge legacy and he made a difference, notwithstanding the flaws that we all have as mere mortals, notably in this most important area of bringing the greatest news anyone can bring to anyone, i.e. the Gospel. We do well to follow his example in our service for the Lord, even though we may not be called as a cross carrying pilgrim walking through the countries of the world.