Behold Your City
“I have a vision that one day Pittsburgh will be as famous for God as it is for steel.” — Samuel M. Shoemaker (1962)
A 70-Year story of Revival in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
“It’s been a long time since evangelism, Christ, and God was front page news around the world.” —Billy Graham (London, 1954)
This documentary explores a cultural vision and spiritual revival that birthed thousands of ministries, nonprofits and significant churches worldwide.
In 1952, an influential New York City pastor came to Pittsburgh and cast a vision for a movement that would reshape the world.
His name was Samuel Shoemaker.
“Sam was not a bestower of peace but a disturber of it, at least of false peace.”
—Bardwell Smith
In the midst of cultural division and turmoil from the 1960s to the 1970s, a movement of unity emerged out of Pittsburgh, and is still impacting the world today.
Perhaps this story is part of the DNA that birthed your organization?
Reid Carpenter
“We’re not talking about our history… We’re talking about God’s history. This is an on-going book of Acts... We just have the privilege of writing this particular chapter.”
John Guest
“It was rolling… It was happening… And we were running to catch up with what God was doing…”
Religion: God & Steel in Pittsburgh
A report on the vibrancy of Dr. Shoemaker’s movement in 1955.
In 2025 this vision turned 70 years old, and it continues to influence all types of churches and nonprofits across the U.S. and around the world.
One of its first mentions came in this Time Magazine story, published March 21, 1955.
Steel Faithful: Stories of God at Work in Pittsburgh
A fascinating summary of the significant spiritual events that are part of this story.
Find It on Goodreads →Is Your Organization’s Origin Interwoven in This Story?
So many were impacted, and we want to share all your stories. Tell us how your organization was birthed or influenced by this revival.
Send archived photos, articles or footage, and stay informed as we build an epic documentary to tell this amazing story.