Albert S. Reitz (1879–?)

Albert S. Reitz was born on January 20, 1879. He became an American evangelist and pastor, remembered not for public spectacle but for faithful, steady ministry—preaching Christ, shepherding ordinary believers, and urging hearts toward sincere prayer. His work belongs to that quiet stream of Christian service that rarely makes headlines yet shapes congregations for decades. Reitz’s life illustrates a kind of heroism measured in perseverance: showing up, speaking truth with gentleness, and pointing people again and again to the mercy of God.

As a gospel songwriter, Reitz published more than 100 hymns, contributing to the devotional life of churches and families. Gospel song in his era often traveled through revivals, tent meetings, and local congregations, carrying plain doctrine in memorable lines. Reitz used that humble vehicle to press one central concern: dependence on the Lord. His ministry suggests that spiritual depth is not manufactured by personality or platform, but formed by daily communion with God.

“Teach Me to Pray, Lord”

Reitz is best remembered for “Teach Me to Pray, Lord,” a simple and earnest plea that has helped generations confess their need and seek God’s help with humility. The hymn’s strength is its honesty: prayer is not mastered by technique but learned in fellowship with Christ. Its tone echoes the disciples’ request, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1). It also reflects the promise, “Call to Me, and I will answer and show you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3).

The hymn’s lasting use reveals a deep truth: believers often grow most when they admit weakness. Scripture commends this posture—“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Reitz’s message is not self-reliance but grace-reliance.

Legacy

Reitz’s legacy is not fame but a steady witness: prayer is learned at Christ’s feet, strengthened by dependence, and sustained by grace. His life reminds the church that lasting ministry often grows from quiet devotion—faithfulness in small places, courage to keep serving, and love that seeks God’s glory more than applause. In a noisy age, his hymn still calls the heart back to the simplest work of faith: to kneel, to ask, and to trust.