Former professional baseball player-turned urban evangelist. Follow this daily blog that chronicles the life and ministry of revivalist preacher William Ashley "Billy" Sunday (1862-1935)
Location South Bend & Mishawaka Wilkes-Barre, PA Columbus, OH McKeesport, PA Toledo, OH Whelling, PA Springfield, OH Newcastle, PA Erie, PA Porstmouth, OH Canton, OH Youngstown, OH Beaver Falls, PA Lima, OH East Liverpool, OH
Here’s a blog-ready narrative reflecting on the 1904–1905 campaign data from Billy Sunday’s early revivals:
Billy Sunday’s Early Impact: What the 1904–1905 Campaign Numbers Reveal
By Kraig McNutt
Before Billy Sunday became a national sensation—packing tabernacles in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh—he cut his evangelistic teeth in smaller Midwestern towns. The data from his 1904–1905 revival campaigns offers a fascinating glimpse into the early momentum of a man who would become America’s most celebrated evangelist of the early 20th century.
Here’s what the numbers reveal.
Small Towns, Big Spiritual Response
Many of the towns on Sunday’s early itinerary were small agricultural or industrial communities scattered across Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Colorado. Places like Exira, Iowa and Audubon, Iowa boasted modest populations—yet hundreds came forward to respond to Sunday’s message.
Centerville, Iowa (1905): 900 conversions
Sterling, Illinois (1904): 1,678 conversions
Macomb, Illinois (1905): 1,880 conversions
Dixon, Illinois (1905): 1,875 conversions
These numbers are especially impressive when viewed through the lens of population density. In many cases, Sunday was reaching 10–20% or more of the town’s residents. His message wasn’t simply heard—it reshaped the spiritual landscape of entire communities.
Collections: A Window into Support and Sustainability
While conversion data was consistently recorded, collections (monetary offerings) were only occasionally noted:
Centerville, Iowa: $1,500
Keokuk, Iowa: $2,200
Dixon, Illinois: $2,000
Macomb, Illinois: $3,100
These figures indicate that even in smaller towns, there was strong financial support for revival efforts. The money likely covered the costs of tabernacle construction, music, printed materials, and Sunday’s own ministry team.
These generous gifts also reflect the deep gratitude communities felt for the spiritual impact they experienced.
Consistent Fruit Across the Heartland
Across 22 cities recorded between 1904 and 1905, Sunday saw tens of thousands make public professions of faith. The median number of conversions hovers around 900–1,000 per town. For a relatively unknown evangelist in his early 40s, this marks a period of accelerating credibility and growing influence.
It was this consistency—town after town, soul after soul—that built the foundation for Billy Sunday’s national platform just a few years later.
A Revival Rooted in the Midwest
It’s no accident that Sunday’s early years focused on Iowa, Illinois, and Minnesota—regions that mirrored his own upbringing and values. These were towns where the church was central, alcohol was a public enemy, and personal salvation was not just a religious idea, but a community matter.
Sunday’s fiery oratory, moral clarity, and theatrical flair found fertile ground in these heartland soils.
Final Thought: The Humble Beginnings of a National Voice
The revival fires Billy Sunday lit in places like Bedford, Harlan, and Canon City were more than regional events—they were launchpads. These early campaigns showed that revival could still grip a town, change hearts, and reorder lives.
In 1904 and 1905, he wasn’t yet preaching to hundreds of thousands—but he was proving that he could.
And history shows—he would.
Enjoying this kind of historical insight? Subscribe to the blog or check out more posts at EvangelistBillySunday.com
In the early 20th century, few public figures stirred the American soul quite like Billy Sunday. A former professional baseball player turned dynamic evangelist, Sunday launched revival campaigns that were part gospel meeting, part moral crusade, and entirely unforgettable.
But beyond the sawdust trails and thunderous preaching, what do the numbers tell us about his real impact?
Let’s dive into an analysis of over twenty of Sunday’s campaigns—spanning from the industrial sprawl of Philadelphia to the steel towns of Ohio and Pennsylvania—to find out.
Big Cities, Big Numbers
Unsurprisingly, the nation’s largest cities saw the highest total conversions:
Philadelphia (1915): 41,724 conversions
Pittsburgh, PA (1914): 26,601 conversions
Columbus, OH (1912): 18,137 conversions
Impressive, no doubt. But when measured per capita, a surprising truth emerges…
The Real Revival Was in Small-Town America
Here’s where it gets fascinating:
Beaver Falls, PA (1912): 6,000 conversions in a city of 12,191 – nearly 49%!
East Liverpool, OH (1912): 6,354 conversions in a population of 20,387 – over 31%
Steubenville, OH (1912): 7,888 conversions out of 22,391 – over 35%
In these towns, Sunday didn’t just stir hearts—he helped reshape the entire community’s spiritual identity.
A Strategy Rooted in the Industrial Heartland
Most of Sunday’s campaigns concentrated in:
Pennsylvania
Ohio
West Virginia
Indiana
Why here?
These regions were filled with working-class cities grappling with the social challenges of industrialization: alcoholism, labor unrest, poverty, and moral uncertainty.
Sunday’s sermons, full of vivid illustrations and uncompromising moral appeals, landed powerfully in these settings. He spoke their language, addressed their fears, and challenged their habits.
His Peak Impact Years: 1912–1914
Many of the most spiritually responsive campaigns occurred just before World War I:
Scranton (1914)
Wilkes-Barre (1913)
McKeesport (1914)
Des Moines (1914)
Johnstown (1913)
This was Sunday’s sweet spot—a season where both momentum and message aligned. Before the war brought cultural upheaval, Sunday’s campaigns offered a moral anchor to cities teetering on the edge of change.
The Bottom Line: Revival by the Numbers
Across 23 cities analyzed:
Total population: 3,559,070
Total conversions: 250,872
Average conversion rate:~7.05%
That’s 1 in every 14 people making a spiritual decision.
But the real story is this: Sunday’s numerical reach was greatest in big cities, but his transformational impact was most profound in smaller towns where community bonds were tighter, distractions were fewer, and the message spread like wildfire.
Final Thoughts: When Revival Was a Shared Story
Billy Sunday didn’t have Instagram reels or livestream sermons. He had sawdust floors, a voice like thunder, and a message about Jesus that could shake a city.
And in towns like Beaver Falls, East Liverpool, and Steubenville, it did more than shake—it changed lives. Not in abstract theological terms, but in the daily rhythms of work, family, and community.
In these places, revival wasn’t just a moment. It was a movement.
Evangelist Billy Sunday (1862-1935) 