He's a Friend of Mine

John Henry Sammis (1846–1919) was a Presbyterian minister whose career was a journey from the commercial world to the pulpit, eventually leading to a lasting impact on the global "Gospel Song" movement. Born in Brooklyn, Sammis initially pursued a business career, moving to Logansport, Indiana, at the age of twenty-two. It was there that he experienced a profound religious conversion, which redirected his professional life toward Christian service. He initially found a calling within the Y.M.C.A., where he demonstrated significant leadership skills as a local and then state secretary. This period of lay ministry eventually convinced him to pursue formal theological training at Lane and McCormick seminaries, leading to his ordination and a series of pastorates across the Midwest, including Iowa, Michigan, and Minnesota.

Sammis is best known for writing the lyrics to one of the most recognizable hymns in the English language: "Trust and Obey." The hymn’s origin story is as famous as the song itself. In 1886, while Sammis was attending an evangelistic meeting led by D.L. Moody, a young man stood up to offer a testimony. Struggling to find the right words to describe his faith, the man simply said, "I am not quite sure; but I am going to trust, and I am going to obey." Sammis was struck by the simple, rugged sincerity of the phrase. He sent the words to the composer Daniel B. Towner, who then wrote the music. The resulting hymn became a cornerstone of the 19th-century revival movement, translating a complex theological concept into a practical, everyday mantra for believers.

In 1909, Sammis moved to California to join the faculty of the Los Angeles Bible Institute (now Biola University). During this final chapter of his life, he was a prolific writer, contributing over 100 hymns to various collections. While "Trust and Obey" remains his primary claim to fame, his other works, such as "He's a Friend of Mine," reflect the same emphasis on a personal, active relationship with Jesus Christ. His writing was characterized by a clarity and directness that made it accessible to the masses, eschewing dense liturgical language in favor of the "living gospel" style.

Despite his scholarly training and his role as a seminary professor, Sammis remained deeply rooted in the practical spirituality he had learned during his years with the Y.M.C.A. He was described by his contemporaries as a man of great warmth whose hymns were merely an extension of his pastoral heart. When he passed away in Los Angeles in 1919, he left behind a legacy that continues to resonate in churches worldwide every time a congregation sings of the simple "way to be happy in Jesus." His life serves as a bridge between the urban revivalism of the late 19th century and the foundational years of American Bible institutes.