Hymn #283: Spirit of the Living God | First Congregational Church

Daniel Iverson (1890-1977) was inspired to write this hymn after hearing a sermon at the George T. Stephans evangelistic revival meeting held at Orlando, Florida, in 1926. After it was printed without his permission in Revival Songs (1929), it took years to restore his name as the author.

Daniel Iverson was born in Brunswick, Georgia, in 1890. Ordained as a Presbyterian minister, he served churches in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina before founding Shenandoah Presbyterian Church in Miami, Florida. He served there from 1927 until his retirement in 1951.

Daniel Iverson wrote this tune and text together in 1926, and it was used later that evening at a George T. Stephans revival meeting in Orlando, Florida. The song was taught to the congregation by rote, as was the practice at such meetings. It is named IVERSON here for the composer.

Daniel Iverson received his education at the University of Georgia in Athens; the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois; Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia; and the University of South Carolina. He died in Asheville, North Carolina, twenty-six years after his retirement.