It seems fitting to have an old fashioned blog article on Henry Blackaby. After all, his famous study Experiencing God was first published pre-blog in 1990 but with its soaring popularity on in the late 20th century was easily a subject for the early blogosphere.
I never met Henry although he was a featured speaker at a few events I attended. I used his study a few times with small groups in my church. It was unique at the time and very helpful in discipleship in the church.
Once the study was a big hit and sales skyrocketed, Lifeway (naturally) expanded the product line to maximize sales. I never got into the other products.
Blackaby had an air about him, a sense of gravity and spirituality that was striking. Perhaps those who had private interactions with him saw and heard a different persona but he always seemed to be genuine to me.
Any popular Bible study is a magnet for petty critics. He had more than his share.
His tag line “find out where God is working and join Him” has endured. I still hear people drop that line even though they probably never heard of Blackaby. In a sense it is the simplest and most non-profound thing one could say about The Almighty, since He is omnipresent and is always working. The idea of considering this is sort of like acknowledging the presence of God in everyday life. I don’t think Blackaby meant to emphasize the obverse of the saying, that where you don’t see God working you should stay away. Let the theobruhs dice, dissect and declaim about that. I’ll pass.
A couple of other things about Henry Blackaby.
I understand he received no royalties from his study. Lifeway profited greatly, but not him.
There is, so far as I know, not a hint of scandal about Henry Blackaby.
Without Blackaby and Beth Moore, Lifeway would probably have gone belly up years ago. Moore left. Blackaby is dead. We’re left with lesser people.
These days every hack, pretty boy, and influencer publishes their own books. Nothing of consequence, recycled throwaway junk. Bah humbug.
Henry was 88, I understand. I appreciated his ministry.
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It may be a trivia question. Who was Blackaby’s co-author?
