The power behind the throne: Henrietta Mears and post-World War II evangelicalism

Although rarely recognized by historians of American religion, Henrietta Mears played several key roles in the reemergence of a vigorous American evangelical movement following World War II. Mears published popular evangelical curricula and led revivals that helped lay the groundwork for Billy Graham's 1949 Los Angeles crusade. Mears reflected evangelical ambivalence towards American society, which she viewed as threatened by communism and secularism but redeemable through evangelism. Mears avoided controversy within evangelical circles about her very visible leadership by consciously subordinating herself to her male colleagues.