The online Bible teaching ministry of John Brand

Church History

John Gibson Paton: Missionary to the Cannibals

Of his latest article about Scottish missionaries, Paul James-Griffiths of Christian Heritage Edinburgh writes, “This week we meet John Paton, a man of great determination and courage, who left Scotland to pioneer the church among cannibals in the New Hebrides (today called Vanuatu) in the South Pacific.” John Paton stood, weeping and trembling with grief. His wife Mary…

James (Diego) Thomson, the Bible Man of South America (1788-1854)

Of his latest article about Scottish missionaries, Paul James-Griffiths of Christian Heritage Edinburgh writes, “This week we read all about a very energetic Scottish missionary called James Thomson, whom the locals in South America called Diego. I don’t know how he had time to eat or sleep! Everywhere he went Christian schools sprouted up, the Bible was translated…

This Day in HIS-story: March 18

1842 HT: Christian History Institute After a lawless youth, George Müller became a Christian and immediately began to live a life of full commitment to Christ. Although he did not consider himself to be a man with any special gift of faith, he undertook an orphanage ministry based entirely on donations. He determined never to ask for…

This Day in HIS-story: March 17

  1780 HT: Christianity.com When the church becomes a state-supported official religion, churchmen tend to become tepid officeholders. The zeal characteristic of the Scottish clergy in John Knox’s day had become diluted by the early 19th century. Hard as it is to believe, the moderate majority of Scotland’s preachers resisted Sunday schools, saying they would put…

This Day in HIS-story: March 16

  1889 HT: Diane Severance Grey dawn was streaking the sky, when they who had so lovingly watched Him to His burying were making their way to the rock-hewn tomb in the garden. Considerable as are the difficulties of exactly harmonizing the details in the various narratives–if, indeed, importance attaches to such attempts–we are thankful…

This Day in HIS-story: March 14

1812 HT: Christian History Institute Anne Hasseltine and Adoniram Judson were married on February 5, 1812. The next day, when Judson was ordained to do foreign mission work, Anne (whom he called “Nancy”) was beside him. Within a few days they boarded the sailing ship Caravan to sail to India. Judson’s eventual success in Burma (now known as…

Dr Robert Kalley, “The Wolf from Scotland” (Part 2)

Of his latest article about Scottish missionaries, Paul James-Griffiths of Christian Heritage Edinburgh writes, “This week I’ve continued with the amazing story of Dr Robert Kalley, who fled persecution in Madeira, and ended up pioneering the first Protestant church in Brazil. I hope it inspires you all.” After the persecution in Madeira, Dr Robert Kalley travelled to Palestine, as…