Revision as of 07:39, 9 October 2025

Dr. Max Isaac Reich was born in 1862 in England, and moved with his father from England to Berlin, Germany at a young age to live with his stepmother, an orthodox Jew, where he attended synagogue. Then was apprenticing for a printing firm in London, and asked his foreman John Crane about the meaning of life, and Crane replied, "Jesus".

Soon after, he heard the gospel from a daughter of William Booth (founder of the Salvation Army), then again hearing secondhand of Moody's London crusade which led him to turn his life over to Christ on the evening of June 24, 1884, which ostracized him from his Jewish friends, which led him into the discipleship care of John Galway McVicker of the PB. Thru this friendship led to influences from George Muller and Thomas Newberry, then left in 1886 to preach in North America with the Brethren.

In 1888, he married, and he and his wife ministered together to Native Americans in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas, then with nine children they relocated in 1892 to Scotland, and ministering throughout Europe, and "gained proficiency in five languages. In 1904 he became a Quaker, then he and his wife became overseers of a retirement home for Christian workers in North London called Beth-shan, returning to the U.S. in 1915 where he founded the Hebrew Christian Alliance of America and served as its president from 1921-1927. In 1937, he founded the Hebrew Christian Alliance in London. In 1930, he joined the extension staff of Moody Bible Institute, then joined the faculty specializing in Jewish Missions.

He also served an editor of Alliance Weekly and wrote articles for it, which eventually culminated in books such as The Deeper Life and Sweet Singer of Israel. He also published writings of A.W. Tozer and V. Raymond Edman of Wheaton College, and received an honorary degree from them in 1936. His papers including his Bible, diaries, photographs, sermon notes, verse and journals are preserved at the Wheaton College Special Collections. He died following an operation in 1945.

PB ministry 1886-1904

Abbreviated Reich's name after the 1st mention to MIR, the papers give first, middle & surname in every reference.

1880's

1887

• Oscoda, Iosco, MI: The Bay City Times, 1887-4-13: Michigan Matters: "Max Isaac Reich (MIR), who claims to be a converted Jew, is holding revival services at Oscoda."
  • Also published in the Grand Rapids Eagle, 1887-4-13 & the [https://www.newspapers.com/image/1182372815 Ypsilanti Commercial, 1887-4-22 about his continued revival services in Oscoda.

• Detroit, MI @ Michigan Ave. & Fourth St. with Thomas Donald William Muir "for some time" (between Oscoda & Ypsilanti). Also see Central Gospel Hall, Detroit, MI.

• Ypsilanti, MI: Ypsilanti Commercial, 1887-7-22: Gospel Tent: "Mr. MIR, a converted Jew of London, England, and Mr. Thos. D.W. Muir, expect to pitch a tent on the lot on Congress street formerly occupied by the skating rink, where they will conduct a series of gospel meetings, beginning with services next Sunday, at 3 and 7:30. Every body is invited to go and take their bibles. These gentlemen have been at corner Michigan Ave. and Fourth street, Detroit for some time and come from there here. Meetings will be held every week night except Saturday at 7:45, Sunday afternoon at 3:00 and Sunday evening at 7:30."

Ypsilanti Commercial 1887-8-12

• Chicago, IL: Chicago Tribune, 1887-12-11: "MIR, a converted Jew from London, England, will preach the Gospel at 7:45 p.m. in the Gospel rooms, corner of May and Fulton streets."

1888

• Kansas City, MO (KCMO):
  • The Kansas City Star, 1888-1-7: Sunday Services: "Mr. MIR, a converted Jew, from England, will preach in the Railway Y.M.C.A. hall Sunday afternoon at 3:30, and at the Main Street Gospel Hall, 1622 Main street, at 7:45, where meetings will be held every night except Saturday."
  • The Kansas City Star, 1888-1-21: Church Notes: "Mr. Max Isaac Reich, a converted Jew, from England, will conduct the evangelistic services at the Main street gospel hall, 1622 Main street, on Sunday night, at a quarter to eight, and every night of the week, except Saturday."

• Thayer, KS (and Cherryvale, Parsons, etc.):
  • The Head-light
    • 1888-2-10: Revival: "MIR, the converted Jew is having marked success in the revival work going on now in the Presbyterian church. He commenced Sunday night the 29th day of January and has preached every night since. We are glad to see they are having meetings at Parsons and that quite a number have been convened there, many surrendering. Mr. Reich is not a member of any church having never decided to join any denomination. He is very earnest, talks as loud as a Methodist, believes in immersion like a Baptist, prays as heartily as an old school Presbyterian and with all is as jovial and pleasant as a child, and never takes up a collection. He is only twenty-one and was born in Berlin."
    • 1888-2-17: "MIR, the converted Jew, has held meetings for nearly three weeks and has preached every night excepting one. Monday night he was at Cherryvale where he preached to a full house. He is only twenty-one years old and yet he preaches with wonderful power, and tells the truth of the Gospel in a plain and forcible manner. Last Sunday night the Presbyterian Church, in which the meetings are being held, was full and great interest manifested. Reich has never united with any church since his conversion and seems rather to favor the idea that if he belongs to Christ it is not absolutely necessary to salvation to be a member of any church. He does not take up a collection, giving as a reason that he is now "living off his Father" who, he says, is rich; richer than the Rothchilds, richer than any Jew in all the world, and that his Father holds the wealth of all the earth in His hands. He says also that he has a hundred homes according to the scriptural promise. He wants everybody to come to the meetings and if they are not satisfied he will give them two nights admission more, free, for all those they are not pleased with."
    • Cherryville Champion, 1888-2-18: "A large congregation greeted Rev. MIR, a converted Jew, at the Presbyterian church last Monday night and report having listened to an able and effective discourse."
    • The Head-light, 1888-2-24: "Mr. MIR returned to this city [Thayer] from Cherryvale, Wed. night. He reports good meetings there." Another reference mentions additionally that "a large congregation greeted Rev. MIR..."
    • Cherryville Bulletin, 1888-2-25: "Rev. MIR, the converted Hebrew, preached several excellent discourses at the Presbyterian church this week."

• KCMO:
  • The Kansas City Star
    • 1888-2-28: "MIR, a converted Jew, will preach at the Main street hall, 1622 Main street, tonight at 7:45."
    • 1888-3-3: "The evangelistic meeting tomorrow night at the Main street Gospel hall, 1622 Main street, will be conducted by MIR, a "converted Jew" from England. The meeting will begin at 7:45."
    • 1888-3-15: "MIR, "a converted Jew", will once more preach at the Main street Gospel Hall, 1622 Main street, tonight at 7:45."

• Thayer, KS: The Head-light, 1888-3-23: "MIR, of Kansas City, came down Saturday and is preaching here."

• Chanute, Neosho Co., KS: Chanute Weekly Times, 1888-3-29: "MIR, a converted Jew, from England, will hold an Evangelical meeting at William's Hall, Monday evening, April 24, at 7:30 o'clock. All are invited. No collections. Gospel hymns."

• Thayer, KS: The Head-light, 1888-3-30:
  • "MIR, a converted Jew, preached every night this week in the old post office, and will continue tonight and tomorrow night."
  • "Mr. [Caleb Jason] Baker (1840-1918), of Kansas City, is expected to come, and will preach on Saturday night at the School Hall. He will stay over Sunday."
  • "John P. Haner, of Urbana, was in our village Sunday night. By his card we learn that he is an Evangelist, and on the same card we read, "Prepare to meet thy God". Also "Holiness and Heaven or Sin and Hell". He came to hear MIR preach and got into one of the other places where the Gospel was being preached."
  • "MIR says he thinks country editors are a great set, because they are expected to say a great deal about their neighbors, please everybody, and suit the news to all. Mr. Reich is eminently correct."

• Chanute, KS: Chanute Blade, 1888-4-6: "MIR the converted Jew will preach here again at Williams hall Sun. eve. next at 7:30 p.m. Max Reich delivered a very interesting sermon Mon. eve., and was prevailed upon to preach again Sun. eve. No one should miss this. Bring your bible and gospel hymns. No collection."

• Thayer, KS: The Head-light, 1888-4-13: "Watch - MIR, the converted Jew, preached as usual last Tuesday night in the School hall. Among the audience was a young couple. She was fair to look upon. He was not too fair to look upon nor in any other way. Foults, the furniture man and jeweler, came and said he had not fairly acted with him, and searching him and the fair partner of the evening found a silver watch on the floor. One of the boys saw him slip it under where she sat. The boy's name is Willie Ewing. Willie found the watch on the floor. He had left it with Mr. Foults, the jeweler, for repair. The unfair young man with the fair young maid had cheek to wear the chain right out in meeting. Mr. Reich, the converted (or perverted, as the bad small boy makes the bill read, in close proximity to Henry Mills in his post office) Jew was just telling the unconverted watch thief and all other sinners that they were going on the downward road to hell, and yet he staid and listened, wore the watch and denied he had it until Mr. Foults came and searched him. Mr. Foults provided a new watch for Willie. We withhold the name of the fair young lady because it is hoped she was innocent, and of the unfair young man because of his dead father and with the hope he may see the error of his ways and repent."

1890's

1890

• Topeka, Shawnee Co., KS: Topeka Capital-Journal, 1890-1-4: "Max Isaac Reich, a converted Jew, from London, England, will preach at the Gospel Hall, 609 Kansas avenue, North Topeka, on Sunday evening, at 7:30. All are welcome. No collection."

Sources

• Biography adapted from Recollections of Wheaton
• Newspaper articles credited individually inside the hyperlinks.