This week in Christian history: Vincent van Gogh preaches sermon, Reformation begins, ‘Quaker’ first used
Vincent van Gogh preaches first sermon – Oct. 29, 1876
This week marks the anniversary of when famous painter Vincent van Gogh, who had a brief stint as an evangelist in Belgium, preached his first sermon in a low-income mining community.
The son of a preacher, van Gogh served in a pastoral role for about six months, being based in a village in Belgium known as the Borinage and committing himself to living simply.
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In a letter to his brother Theo van Gogh that was sent several days later, Vincent van Gogh spoke with much excitement about his inaugural homily.
“When I stood in the pulpit I felt like someone emerging from a dark, underground vault into the friendly daylight, and it’s a wonderful thought that from now on, wherever I go, I’ll be preaching the gospel — to do that well one must have the gospel in his heart, may He bring this about. God says, Let there be light: and there is light,” wrote the artist.
“You know enough of the world, Theo, to see how a poor preacher stands rather alone as far as the world is concerned — but He can awaken in us, more and more, awareness and firmness of faith. ‘And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.’”
Despite van Gogh’s passionate sentiments, the Evangelical group that had sponsored his work eventually concluded that he was unfit for ministry and recalled him after about six months.
Having failed as a missionary, van Gogh eventually turned to art.
