Charles Grandison Finney was a leader in the Second Great Awakening. He has been called The Father of Modern Revivalism. Finney was best known as an innovative revivalist, an opponent of Old School Presbyterian theology, an advocate of Christian perfectionism, a pioneer in social reforms in favor of women and blacks, a religious writer, and president at Oberlin College.
He is not to be mistaken for his great-grandson, Charles G. Finney (1905-1984).
Finney's preaching is deep, well-reasoned, convicting, convincing, and (if received with sincerity) converting. Unlike the feel-good "sermons" offered by many of today's preachers that do little to encourage true righteousness, Finney's messages call for moral responsibility and personal accountability.