1528 HT: Dan Graves When Luther sparked church reformation in Germany, there was bound to be a backlash. In those intolerant days, when church and state acted together, there was no choice in matters of faith. Someone had to be the first to die for the new ideas. One of the first two martyrs was…
373 Death of Athanasius in Alexandria, Egypt. More than any other man, he took up the fight for Christ’s divinity in his writings. Five times he had been forced into exile. Slander dogged him. Yet he remained faithful to his vision of an uncreated Christ. He was the first to list the books of the…
Of his latest article about Scottish missionaries, Paul James-Griffiths of Christian Heritage Edinburgh writes, “This week is all about the 19th century mission to the Jewish people in Budapest, Hungary, which was one key influence of the modern Messianic movement. “Rabbi” John Duncan pioneered this work, which proved to be very fruitful.” “Rabbi” Dr John Duncan (1796-1870) by…
1672 HT: Dan Graves “God raised up Mr. Addison and his associates to lash the prevailing vices and ridiculous and profane customs of this country, and to show the excellence of Christ and Christian institutions.” To win such praise from John Wesley, Joseph Addison must have exerted a great influence indeed. God “raised up” Joseph…
1882 HT: Dan Graves MANTANTU DUNDULU was a hero in everyday life and in the kingdom of Christ. Reared by an uncle, who was a tribal chief (the boy’s father was not in the picture for reasons not entirely clear), he fiercely protected his three sisters. In 1881, as a young man of about eleven,…
1872 Frances Ridley Havergal, in Winterdyne, England, writes the words to the hymn “A Worker’s Prayer” aka “Lord, Speak to Me That I May Speak.” One stanza reads, “O teach me, Lord, that I may teach /The precious things Thou dost impart; /And wing my words, that they may reach /The hidden depths of many…
1650 HT: Dan Graves ON THIS DAY, 27 April 1650, a church committee appointed John Flavel to assist Mr. Walplate, the dying minister of Diptford, Devon, England. This marked the beginning of Flavel’s long association with Devon. Realizing that his university education had done little to prepare him for a pastorate, he studied hard on…
1806 HT: Dan Graves On this day, April 26, 1806, Alexander Duff was born in Perthshire in Scotland. The boy, who would win such a name for patient and enthusiastic faith as a man, grew up on a small farm. His father farmed but also had a heart for the things of God. He was…
Of his latest article about Scottish missionaries, Paul James-Griffiths of Christian Heritage Edinburgh writes, “This week is about a Scottish Christian who poured out his heart for the plight of the Australian Aborigines, and changed a nation – and died at 102 years old!” “No money, no hope,” John murmured, as he stooped down to the earth, his face…
1735 Death at Epworth, England, of Samuel Wesley, curate, author, and father of Methodist revival leaders John and Charles Wesley. 1800 Death at East Dereham, Norfolk, England, of English poet William Cowper. Despite lifelong depression, he had produced enduring hymns, including, “Oh For a Closer Walk with God” and “There is a Fountain Filled with…