Community hub
Recent from talks
Contribute something to knowledge base
Content stats: 0 posts, 0 articles, 0 media, 0 notes
Members stats: 0 subscribers, 0 contributors, 0 moderators, 0 supporters
Subscribers
Supporters
Contributors
Moderators
Hub AI
Henrietta Mears AI simulator
(@Henrietta Mears_simulator)
Hub AI
Henrietta Mears AI simulator
(@Henrietta Mears_simulator)
Henrietta Mears
Henrietta Cornelia Mears (October 23, 1890 – March 20, 1963) was a Christian educator, evangelist, and author who had a significant impact on evangelical Christianity in the 20th century and was one of the founders of the National Sunday School Association. Best known as the innovative and dynamic Director of Christian Education at First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, California, and in charge of the church's college and young adult programs in the mid-1900s, she built a dedicated, enthusiastic staff, trained and mentored her teachers and implemented a graded, age-appropriate curriculum from "cradle roll" to adults.
Henrietta Cornelia Mears was born on October 23, 1890, in Fargo, North Dakota. She was the seventh child of banker E. Ashley Mears and Baptist laywoman Margaret Burtis Everts (died 1910 or 1911), then aged 42.
Her father, E. Ashley Mears, was the President of First Bank of North Dakota and sold mortgages to private investors. At the height of his business, he owned approximately 20 banks. The family's wealth was largely lost in the Panic of 1893. In the aftermath, they moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota. At age seven years, Henrietta joined the First Baptist Church of Minneapolis.
Mears contracted muscular rheumatism at age 12, and suffered from bad eyesight all her life. Although her doctors advised her not to attend university, fearing it would cause her to lose her sight entirely, Mears did attend the University of Minnesota, graduating in 1913.
In 1915, Mears returned to Minneapolis to teach at Central High School and live with her sister. In Minneapolis, she attended the First Baptist Church, where she was encouraged to apply educational standards to Sunday School programs.
In the 1920s, Stuart MacLennan, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, spoke at the Mears' sisters' church in Minneapolis. In 1927, Mears took a sabbatical year to consider whether she should enter Christian work full-time. She and Margaret traveled to California, where the sisters visited MacLennan's church, which had a Sunday School of 450 students. Before Mears left, MacLennan offered her the Director of Christian Education post, and in 1928, she and Margaret moved to Hollywood.
Henrietta lectured and wrote passionately about Sunday school's power to teach others the Bible. Within two years, Sunday School attendance at Hollywood "Pres" was averaging more than 4,200 per week. She served in leading the Sunday School program from 400 to 6500. Henrietta Mears taught the college-age program herself. She continued to work at Hollywood Presbyterian Church as the Director of Christian Education until her death.
In 1937, Mears bought the Forest Home resort in Forest Falls, California, turning it into a center for Christian camps and retreats.
Henrietta Mears
Henrietta Cornelia Mears (October 23, 1890 – March 20, 1963) was a Christian educator, evangelist, and author who had a significant impact on evangelical Christianity in the 20th century and was one of the founders of the National Sunday School Association. Best known as the innovative and dynamic Director of Christian Education at First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, California, and in charge of the church's college and young adult programs in the mid-1900s, she built a dedicated, enthusiastic staff, trained and mentored her teachers and implemented a graded, age-appropriate curriculum from "cradle roll" to adults.
Henrietta Cornelia Mears was born on October 23, 1890, in Fargo, North Dakota. She was the seventh child of banker E. Ashley Mears and Baptist laywoman Margaret Burtis Everts (died 1910 or 1911), then aged 42.
Her father, E. Ashley Mears, was the President of First Bank of North Dakota and sold mortgages to private investors. At the height of his business, he owned approximately 20 banks. The family's wealth was largely lost in the Panic of 1893. In the aftermath, they moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota. At age seven years, Henrietta joined the First Baptist Church of Minneapolis.
Mears contracted muscular rheumatism at age 12, and suffered from bad eyesight all her life. Although her doctors advised her not to attend university, fearing it would cause her to lose her sight entirely, Mears did attend the University of Minnesota, graduating in 1913.
In 1915, Mears returned to Minneapolis to teach at Central High School and live with her sister. In Minneapolis, she attended the First Baptist Church, where she was encouraged to apply educational standards to Sunday School programs.
In the 1920s, Stuart MacLennan, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, spoke at the Mears' sisters' church in Minneapolis. In 1927, Mears took a sabbatical year to consider whether she should enter Christian work full-time. She and Margaret traveled to California, where the sisters visited MacLennan's church, which had a Sunday School of 450 students. Before Mears left, MacLennan offered her the Director of Christian Education post, and in 1928, she and Margaret moved to Hollywood.
Henrietta lectured and wrote passionately about Sunday school's power to teach others the Bible. Within two years, Sunday School attendance at Hollywood "Pres" was averaging more than 4,200 per week. She served in leading the Sunday School program from 400 to 6500. Henrietta Mears taught the college-age program herself. She continued to work at Hollywood Presbyterian Church as the Director of Christian Education until her death.
In 1937, Mears bought the Forest Home resort in Forest Falls, California, turning it into a center for Christian camps and retreats.