Max Isaac Reich
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.
Contents
PB ministry 1886-1904
1880's
1887
- Oscoda, Iosco, MI: The Bay City Times, 1887-4-13: Michigan Matters: "Max Isaac Reich, 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. Max Isaac Reich, 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."
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