521 HT: Dan Graves TRADITION SAYS Columba was born in Gartan, Ireland, on this day, 7 December 521. He was of a noble family. Originally he was named Criomhthan, meaning “fox” but later people called him Columba, “dove,” or Columbkille/Colmcille, “dove of the churches,” because of the gentle character he developed and his part in founding many…
In the latest inspirational and informative article on influential Scots in Church History and Missions by Paul James-Griffiths of Christian Heritage Edinburgh, he writes, “Scottish Christians had a significant influence in the founding of the first Protestant Church in Korea. Dr John Ross, who is buried in Edinburgh, is regarded highly by the 12 million Christians…
1829 HT: The Reformation Resurgence India in the 18th century bore a scar so deep it cried out to heaven—Sati, the burning of widows alive. Women, stripped of hope and dragged to the flames, were sacrificed on the altar of cruel tradition. This wasn’t worship. This wasn’t devotion. It was murder wrapped in religion, a…
1685 HT: Dan Graves When John Wycliffe sent his barefoot preachers throughout England in the 14th-century, carrying the Scripture in English, and calling for real heart changes, his message crossed the border into Scotland. There Murdoch Nisbet heard and believed. He acquired one of the rare English-language manuscripts of the Bible. Murdoch’s son, grandson and…
298 HT: Dan Graves The merry-making was at its height that July, 298. The troops in North Africa celebrated Emperor Maximian’s birthday with feasting and drinking. As usual, there were sacrifices to the emperor, who was ranked with the gods. But not everyone was in a party mood. Marcellus, a centurion (officer over a hundred…