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On this episode of Our American Stories, before modern televangelists, Aimee Semple McPherson used radio, stage productions, and Hollywood-style spectacle to bring Christianity to mass audiences across America. After arriving in Los Angeles during the 1920s, McPherson built Angelus Temple into one of the country’s first megachurches, drawing thousands each week with illustrated sermons, live orchestras, and elaborate productions designed to compete with the entertainment industry itself.

But her fame came with scandal. In 1926, McPherson vanished from a California beach and reappeared weeks later near the Arizona border with a sensational kidnapping story that captivated the nation and sparked one of the biggest media frenzies of the era. Historian Matthew Sutton, author of Aimee Semple McPherson and the Resurrection of Christian America, shares the story of the woman who helped pioneer religious broadcasting, celebrity ministry, and the modern megachurch movement.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

On this episode of Our American Stories, before modern televangelists, Aimee Semple McPherson used radio, stage productions, and Hollywood-style spectacle to bring Christianity to mass audiences across America. After arriving in Los Angeles during the 1920s, McPherson built Angelus Temple into one of the country&rsquo;s first megachurches, drawing thousands each week with illustrated sermons, live orchestras, and elaborate productions designed to compete with the entertainment industry itself. But her fame came with scandal. In 1926, McPherson vanished from a California beach and reappeared weeks later near the Arizona border with a sensational kidnapping story that captivated the nation and sparked one of the biggest media frenzies of the era. Historian Matthew Sutton, author of&nbsp;<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FSemple-McPherson-Resurrection-Christian-America%2Fdp%2F0674032535&amp;data=05%7C02%7CUraelBlackshear%40iheartmedia.com%7C016a9ff26f474ef537e608deb1cb7907%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C639143684633095707%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=b%2BGLnm6Mm6Rmn%2BvugitVA1tBFj76EtCNj7ctTV6QSOo%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="6">Aimee Semple McPherson and the Resurrection of Christian America</a>, shares the story of the woman who helped pioneer religious broadcasting, celebrity ministry, and the modern megachurch movement.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

Our American Stories tells stories that aren’t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we’ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit, and be inspired by our stories.

Our American Stories

Our American Stories tells stories that aren’t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we’ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit and be inspired by our stories.

Our American Stories tells stories that aren&rsquo;t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we&rsquo;ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit and be inspired by our stories.

Before Modern Televangelists, There Was Aimee Semple McPherson

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/75f20265-4a8c-4138-b2af-b44a017725cf/transcript