Adoniram Judson (A. J.) Gordon (1836–1895) came to prominence in
the United States as the evangelical pastor of Clarendon Street
Baptist Church in Boston for more than twenty-five years. During
his tenure there, he saw the church completely transformed into one
of the most spiritual and aggressive churches in America, with an
unsurpassed effort in missions. A missionary training school and
publishing house were associated with the church, and Gordon
preached at many of D. L. Moody’s Northfield Conferences, along
with other notable preachers such as A. B. Simpson, A. T. Pierson,
and R. A. Torrey. His training school eventually became
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, in South Hamilton,
Massachusetts. He also founded Gordon College, in Wenham,
Massachusetts. He wrote his most famous book, The Ministry of
Healing, in 1882, but he also wrote at least fifteen hymns,
including “My Jesus, I Love Thee,” as well as other books of
Christian instruction.