author
Gipsy Smith
1860–1947
Born into a Romani family in England, this self-taught evangelist rose from a childhood in traveling camps to become one of the best-known revival preachers of his era. For more than 70 years, he drew large audiences in Britain and the United States with a warm, direct speaking style and a gift for storytelling.
1 Audiobook
Your Boys
by Gipsy Smith
About the author
Rodney "Gipsy" Smith was born on March 31, 1860, near Epping Forest in Essex, England, and became widely known as a British evangelist. He came from a Romani family, and accounts of his early life often note that he had little or no formal schooling. That background became part of his public story: listeners were struck by the way he developed into a confident speaker and preacher through experience rather than academic training.
As a young man, he was associated with William Booth's Christian Mission, which became the Salvation Army, before later continuing his work more independently. Over a ministry that lasted more than seven decades, he preached across Great Britain and the United States and became especially popular in large evangelistic campaigns.
He was remembered for plain, heartfelt sermons, vivid personal stories, and an ability to connect with ordinary audiences. Smith died on August 4, 1947, while traveling by ship, closing a long public life that left a strong mark on English-speaking evangelical Christianity.