John Wanamaker

July 11, 1838 – December 12, 1922

Merchant & Sunday School Superintendent

Built department stores — ran the largest Sunday school for 60 years

Biography

Pioneer of the modern department store and U.S. Postmaster General. Founded one of the first department stores in America and revolutionized retail with money-back guarantees and price tags.

Faith & Testimony

Wanamaker served as superintendent of the Bethany Sunday School in Philadelphia for over 60 years, growing it to the largest in the world with over 5,000 students. He said: 'I have never been able to give one dollar to the Lord that I did not get back five.' He saw business success as a platform for Christian service.

Sources

Wanamaker — Wikipedia — Merchant prince and Sunday school leader
John Wanamaker: Merchant Prince and Sunday School Superintendent — Profile of Wanamaker's dual life as department store pioneer and devoted Christian leader who built Bethany Sunday School into the largest in America
John Wanamaker: King of Merchants by William Allen Zulker — Biography covering Wanamaker's lifelong Christian faith, his Bethany Mission work, and how he integrated faith with business innovation