I am a retired teacher who wrote 7 photocopiable books for Teachers and one book for children Union Jack Colouring Book.
The 7books covered Geography, History (Medieval/ Tudor/ Stuart), Travel and Transport, Myself and Events (this included diaries), Race Against Time Stories (SATS based), Church Dates for Children plus Nature and Seasons (including Sport). These 7 books have been mainly broken into a number of segments.
Challenging the Physical Elements, my Geography book, is complete.
I am a retired teacher who wrote 7 photocopiable books for Teachers and one book for children Union Jack Colouring Book.
The 7books covered Geography, History (Medieval/ Tudor/ Stuart), Travel and Transport, Myself and Events (this included diaries), Race Against Time Stories (SATS based), Church Dates for Children plus Nature and Seasons (including Sport). These 7 books have been mainly broken into a number of segments.
Challenging the Physical Elements, my Geography book, is complete.
Dorothy Ripley was a British evangelist who went to the USA in 1801 and died in 1831 in Virginia. By confession she was a Quaker but she had been raised a Methodist.
Dorothy was born in Whitby. Her father, William was a close associate of John Wesley. Wesley encouraged women to preach and William wanted his child to be a preacher. When Wesley visited he brought his group of women preachers with him.
Her father, who died while she was still a teenager, encouraged her toward that vocation. On his death there were financial problems and other set backs which profoundly impacted on her .
Dorothy believed she was called to Christian ministry and decided not to marry.
She went to the USA on at least 9 occasions, most times travelling alone. She spent time as an itinerant preacher in New York, South Carolina and Georgia.
She faced many challenges especially that she was a female preacher. To live she relied entirely on donations from people who believed in her ministry. The title of her second book The Bank of Faith and Works United explained her perseverance and the fact that her preaching won over her opponents since she continue to preach to large crowds.
On her first trip in 1801 she gained an audience with President Thomas Jefferson. She rebuked him for his slave ownership but secured the ‘approbation’ to minister to slaves and slave owners. She founded a school to educate freed slaves.
Dorothy preached in many African-American churches. Some male preachers were hesitant to let her preach but she won them over.
12 th January, 1806, she was the first woman to speak at USA capital.
(Read D R 1st woman to preach sheet)
In the UK she assisted Hugh Bourne in starting Primitive Methodism. With Lorenzo Dow the 3 of them conducted revival services and many people were brought into Primitive Methodist circles. One tour included a stay in prison for a night when she and the eccentric Dow were arrested.
Dorothy wrote 6 books in total. Rose Butler had 11 editions published .
In 1827 she had published in Philadelpia *Memoirs of William Ripley *
(See Publishing career and WorldCat Identities)
At her death in 1831, aged 64, one newspaper wrote in her obituary that she was
perhaps the most extraordinary woman in the world.
Sources used
History.House. GOV
WorldCat identities
wikipedia
David Christopher Knight Watson was an English Anglican priest, evangelist, author and a captain in the Royal Artillery.
David was born in Scotton, Yorkshire. He was educated at Bedford School (1940-6), Wellington College (1946-51) and St. John’s College, Cambridge.
He converted to Christianity while at Cambridge. Undoubtedly the most formative influence on my faith during the 5 years at Cambridge was my involvement with the boys’ house parties or ‘Bash camps’.
He became a priest in the Church of England began his ordained ministry among dock workers in the parish of St. Mark’s Gillingham, Kent. His second curacy was at the Round Church in Cambridge. While there he was encouraged by Martyn Lloyd Jones to seek the experience of baptism in the Holy Spirit and he began to speak in tongues.
In 1965 he became curate-in-charge at St. Cuthnert’s Church York. The church was 12 months away from redundancy and congregation of 12 when he took over. 8 years later the congregation had out- grown St. Cuthberts and he moved to St. Michael le Belfry, York. The congregation grew to many 100s in only a few years.
As David’s ministry progressed he became involved in missionary enterprises throughout the world. He became a high profile advocate of reconciliation and ecumenism in Northern Ireland. He was one of the first people to welcome John Wimber, the leader of Vineyard to the UK in 1980.
He became a regular contributor to* Renewal* magazine, a publication of the interdenominational charismatic movement which had started in the 1960s.
He left St. Michael le Belfrey for London in 1982. In his book Fear No Evil
he records his fight with cancer. David was only 50 when he died on 18th February 1984. A major, sad loss, to the Christian community, around the world.
Is it doubtful whether any other English Christian leader has had greater influence on this side of the Atlantic since Second World War
John Gunstone
one of the best-known clergymen in England J. I. Packer
Sources used
wikipedia
Amazon.co.uk
Enoch Adejaje Adeboye (born 2nd March 1942) is a Nigerian pastor, General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Worldwide.
Enoch came from a very poor family. His teachers recognized he was cut out for academia. His parents sold some cherished possessions and borrowed from friends so his dream was not held back. In 1956 he was admitted to one of Nigeria’s foremost secondary schools,Ilesha Grammar School.
Enoch went to the University of Nigeria in Nsukka but because of the Nigeria Civil War (1967-70) he completed his degree at Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University). MA (1969) PhD (1975). His degrees were in hydrodynamics and Applied Mathematics. He holds a position as professor of Mathematics at Lagos University
In 1973 he joined the RCCG. He began by interpreting Yoruba into English the sermons of Pastor Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi, the founder of RCCG. Josiah had recognized, in the Spirit, that Enoch, a young university lecturer, was to be his successor. Enoch was ordained a pastor of the church in 19 77.
Enoch found it hard to fully contemplate being the Oversee. Josiah, shortly before his death, shared the details of the covenant and the plans of the Lord for the church with Enoch. Josiah died in 1980 aged 71.
Enoch became General Overseer of the church in 1981. For 3 years he filled the role part-time at Unilorin before giving up his university position to preach full time. He continues to be the General Overseer.
He set his heart on taking RCCG to the next level of ministry, where all strata of society could be involved without compromising the true worship of God.
Prior to Enoch becoming the General Oversee at RCCG was not well known. It now has branches in about 196 nations (March 2017)and 14, 000 churches - grouped into 25 regions, in Nigeria.
Since 1981 RCCG, under Enoch’s leadership, has exploded across the world.
In 1990 the RCCG Bible School was founded.
The numbers are phenomenal
Holy Ghost Services (HGS) in the mid 1980s - now millions EACH month
Holy Ghost Congress 1998 - 7 million 1999 - 12 million
It constituted the largest mobilization of people in one spot on the surface of the earth never before recorded.
At each and every one of these events many souls are won for Christ. The Holy Spirit moves freely to heal, anoint and empower.
Open Heavens his daily devotional manual - 1 million published annually
He has written 60 books and broadcasts on numerous T.V. channels.
Enoch has received honours across the world ( See Recognitions include the following)
His trade mark of humility is disarming and endearing, enabling him to easily share his testimony of the gospel.
I have included information about:-
the Nigerian Civil War 1967 - 1970.
Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi - founder of RCCG
History and Beliefs of RCCG
Prosperity Theology
Sources
Dict, of African Christian Biography
wikipedia
Leonard was an English Christian evangelist and author who focused on the subjects of prayer and evangelism. Aged 20, while working as a tailor, he answered of God to the ministry.
Leonard was born in Leeds. England. He came to Christ at the age of 15 after the conversion of his father.
He went to Cliff College, in the UK. Samuel Chadwick was one of his lecturers.
In 1939 he married Martha (1912-2001). They had 3 sons -all became ministers.
His evangelistic meetings during WW11 drew large crowds, Many converts devoted themselves to Christian ministry and foreign missions. His burden to save souls took him all over the United Kingdom.
In 1950 he and his family moved to the USA. In the 1960s they travelled through the USA holding revival tent revivals and evangelistic meetings
In the 1980s, Leonard by now is over 70, moved to Lindale Texas. This was close to the Last Days Ranch where he regularly taught classes and mentored the late Keith Green.
His book *Why Revival Tarries * sold 1 milion copies world wide
Through his teaching and books Leonard he addressed the differences he perceived between the New Testament Church of the first century and the Church of his time and called for the following of the principles of biblical revival.
Leonard loved to use quotes -( See list supplied by wikipedia)
A ‘new’ biography of his life is now available *In Light of Eternity: The life of Leonard Ravenhill * by Mack Tomlinson published in 2011
*Leonard Ravenhill is one of the few men I’ve ever known who was a true prophet. I am delighted someone is finally writing this book. *
David Wilkerson
His life was characterized by a deep life of prayer, passionate evangelistic zeal and a powerful preaching gift. Leonard died on 27th November 1994, aged 87.
Sources used
ravenhillbiography.com
wikipedia
Michael is the founding publisher and executive editor of the Preaching magazine ( 2006-present). He is also the Dean of the new College of Christian Studies and Professor of Christian Ministry at Anderson University, Anderson, South Caroline (2008-present).
He has a BA (1975), MDiv. (1979 and Dr.Phd (1983)
Michael’s first pastoral ministry was at Union Flatrock Baptist Church, Osgood, Indiana (1976-8). Since then he has served a number of churches as interim pastor, and speaks regularly at churches, colleges and conferences.
( For full list of roles see Professional Experience)
Michael has taught and served on the administrative staff of several educational institutions. At Union University (1996-2002) he was Executive Vice-president and Associate Professor of Communication Arts and Christian Studies.
He is an author and editor of several books. *Handbook of Contemporary Preaching, Joy to the Ministry, Preaching with Power and Communicate with Power.
From 1996-2000 he was editor of the Abingdon Preaching Annual series.
His email newsletter, PreachingNow is read each week by more than 40,000 pastors and church leaders in the USA and around the world.
He is a former President of the Baptist Communicators Association.
He is founder and director of National Conference on Preaching and the International Congress on Preaching which have met in London (1997), Edinburgh (2002) and Cambridge (2007).
Michael is listed in a recent issue of Who’s Who in America
Sources used
Michael Duduit
David O. Oyedepo is the founder, senior pastor and presiding Bishop of the megachurch Faith Tabernacle in Ota, Ogun State. Nigeria. It is also known as Winners’ Chapel International. It is the largest church in the world with regard to a seating capacity of 50,400.
( The Basilica of of Our Lady of Peace, in Rome, is a bigger building .)
David comes from a mixed religious family. His grandmother introduced him to the virtues of Christian life via early morning prayers which she attended with him. She taught him to tithe.
In 1969 he was ‘born again’ through the influence of his teacher, Betty Lasher.
He studied to be an architect and briefly worked with the Federal Ministry of Housing. He resigned to concentrate on missionary work. He received a PhD i Human Development from Honolulu University, Hawaii, USA.
He says In May 1981 he received a mandate, through an 18 hour vision from God, to liberate the world from the oppression of the devil by preaching the word of faith. As a result he founded Liberation Faith Hour ministries, which later became Living Faith Church World Wide (LFCWW) .
17th September 1983 David and his wife Florence (now known as Faith) were both ordained pastors by Pastor Enoch Adeboye , the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. 1988 David is ordained bishop.
The church was founded on the 11th of December 1983. Cannanland was procured in 1983 and was initially 560 acres. The foundation laying took place on 29th August 1998. The church’s international headquarters , Faith Tabernacle was built in Cannanland between 1998- 9 and took 12 months to complete. It was dedicated in September 1999.
David’s church runs its own publishing company- Dominion Publishing House.
It was commissioned on 5th December 1992. It has published 70 Christian, inspirational and motivational books, magazines and other resources. It has over 4 million prints in circulation to date (See* Book Publishing* )
Cannanland is turning into Cannan City. It has Covenant university, Faith Academy secondary and Kingdom heritage model schools, plus shops, restaurants and housing. In 2012 it was proposing to build a 15,000 housing estate on the 17,000 acres. ( See Place of worship)
The church owns 4 private jets and several buildings in London and USA.
The Chapel International network of churches is now located in over 300 cities, in all states in Nigeria, and in several cities in 45 African nations, the UK and USA. David had been recognized as one of the pioneers of the Christian charismatic movement and exponent of prosperity theology in Africa. He is one of the most powerful preachers in Nigeria and is Chancellor of both the Covenant and Landmark University.
In March 2020 he opened his church during the COVID -19 pandemic
(Read Sunday service after backlash)
Sources used
Oyedepo speaks on Sunday after backlash
wikipedia
Selwyn was a Welsh Christian minister . He is best known for writing the daily devotional Every Day with Jesus. He founded the Christian ministry Crusade for World Revival and wrote over 50 Christian books.
He was born in Fochriw, near Caephilly, in Wales. As a child he was surrounded by a particular brand of Christianity, that of fervent Welsh Valleys 1920s revivalism.
For a number of years he was a miner in the Welsh coal mining industry.
He became convinced that he was called by God to work as a Christian minister so he left his job to study Theology at Bristol. After his ordination he spent 18 years ministering in Pentecostal churches in Cornwall, Wales, Essex and London
Every Day with Jesus started off as brief daily Bible reading note on postcards for his congregation to use in the 1960s. When demand increased he published them regularly - he kept this up for the next 40 years.
In 1965 he founded Crusade for World Revival which he built into a successful Christian training and publishing ministry in Farnham, Surrey.
In 2005 he published his autobiography My Story.
( I have included Robin Brace’s review of the book)
*there is no doubt that God used this worthy man to glorify Christ
Robin Brace
‘giant in the faith’
George Carey, former Archbishop of Canterbury
Source used
UK Apologetics - Selwyn's Story
wikipedia
Time in 2004 named Warren as one of the *leader who mattered most
Time in 2005 named him as one of the *100 Most influential People in the World *
U.S. News and World Report 2005 named him as one of America’s Top 25 leaders
Newsweek in 2006 named him one of 15 people who make America Great
Richard Duane Warren is an American Baptist evangelical Christian pastor and author. He has a B.A., M.D., and DrM.
In November 1973, aged 19, he and a friend skipped classes to drive 350 miles to hear W.A. Criswell preach. Rick waited to shake Crisell’s hand. Instead Crisell I feel led to lay hands on you and pray for you. He was then called to full time ministry.
Rick founded Saddleback Valley Community Church in 1980 when he was just 26 years of age. To many he is Papa Rick - a voice of wisdom, hope, encouragement and vision.
Saddleback , which is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention in Lake Forest, California. is the sixth largest megachurch in the USA and regularly has nearly 20,000 people in attendance each week
Rick has published a number of Christian books. *The Purpose Driven Church and The Purpose Driven Life *. The second book sold 30 million copies .
What followed was the Purpose Driven Network, a global alliance of pastors from more than 160 countries and 100s of denominations who have been trained to be purpose driven churches.
Following a trip to Rwanda he changed his trajectory. God gave him a vision for the PEACE plan - a mission to fight the 5 giants of spiritual emptiness, self-serving leadership, poverty, pandemic disease and illiteracy. that has devastated the lives of people around the world.
During the 2008 presidential elections Warren hosted the Civil Forum with John MvCain and Barack Obama. Warren gave the invocation at the presidential inauguration in January 2009.
Rick and Kay, his wife, consider it is their life’s work to empower local churches and local leaders to create sustainable change that gives voice to the voiceless and help to the helpless.
Sources used
Saddleback church
wikipedia
Delman having graduated with BA (1995), M.Div. (1998)- the year he was also ordained, MPhil (2002) and Ph,D (2006) has been honoured by many magazines since.
In 2008, TAAP honoured him as one of the 20 to watch
In 2012 The Root named him as one of of their 100 African American achievers and influencers
In 2013 The American Civil liberties Union honoured him for his commitment to advancing civil rights and liberties for all
In 2013 the Ebony magazine selected Delman as one of their *Power 100 *
Delman has been the senior pastor at Mt. Ennon Baptist Church since 2004. It is a megachurch located in Clinton, Maryland. In these 16 years the congregation has grown to nearly 10,000. October 2009 Outreach magazine named Mt. Ennon as one of the fastest growing congregations in the USA. It has grown so fast because Delman has initiated and revitalized ministries, expanded the church’s ministry campus and land holdings, and incorporated the Mt. Ennon Development Corporation.
Delman is founder of the New Abolition Campaign . He is founder and president of the Black Church Center for Justice and Equality. (BCC). He is a board member of the Parents Television Council and the National Action Network. He is a member also of other organizations.
He’s had a number of a large number of articles, plus sermons published. ( See* Career* and published articles)
His ministry, messages, and social activism spans a variety of media platforms. He has appeared on and been profiled in the national media. He is featured in the documentary The New Black.
Rev, Dr. Delman L, Coates obviously lives an extremely busy, rewarding life serving our Lord. He is obviously a man to watch. Where will the magazines place him in 2020?
Sources used
Meet Our Pastor/ mt Ennon Baptist Church
wikipedia
Deborah in i2018 became the Executive Director of the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity (IM4HI).
IN4HI is a Californian organization that connects clergy and people of faith to the work of social justice.
From 2009 until 2018 she served as the Program Director for the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity. In that role she built up the immigrant Justice program of the organization, engaging dozens of congregations in Northern California to become Sanctuary congregations to respond to the wave of migrant youth and families and the detention and deportation crisis.
Deborah has worked at the intersection of faith and social justice in many areas for over 25 years. She has consistently sought to strengthen the voice and role of faith communities in today’s social movements.
She has been part of the founding, development and running of numerous organizations:-
Women for Genuine Security
Network for Religion and Justice for API- LGBTQ people
Institute for Leadership Development and Study of Pacific Asian North
American Religion
Pilgrimages to Manzanar and the Sacramento River Delta
Her work has been recognized as innovative and impactful. In 2019 she received the Yuri Kochiyama Impact Award from Advancing Justice -Asian Law Caucus. She has received recognition from other organizations.
Deborah sees the task of IM4HI to make the criminal justice system more just and the immigration system more fair and humane.
Sources used
Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity
Pastor Michael Mcbride is known as Pastor Mike.He has been active in ministry for early 20 years. In 2013 he was in a group of 13 Faith Leaders to Watch.
In 2000 graduated from Bethany College with a double B.A. in Addition Studies and Theology. In 2005 he graduated with a M.A. from Duke University Divinity School.
In June 2005 he launched a new ministry, The Way Christian Center in West Berkeley where he currently serves as pastor.
Over the past 10 years he has been committed to a holistic ministry through his leadership roles in both church and community. ( See 2 lists of positions held).
Berkeleyside, an American ‘paper’ on June 5th, 2020. published Pastor Michael McBride’s thoughts on the present unrest in the USA - *The brutality of policing is reaching a breaking point in the social consciousness *
He spoke to Berkeleyside about reasons for hope, Berkeley’s role and what can be done to effect meaningful change. I have enclosed the article
Sources
Huffpost
Berkeleyside
Sister Simone is an American Roman Catholic Religious Sister, lawyer, lobbyist and executive director of NETWORK.She belongs to the Sisters Social Service (SSS). She is known as as an outspoken advocate for social justice.
Sister Simone was born in Santa Monica, California. She was given the first name of Mary after her paternal grandmother. She was the eldest of 4 siblings.
Sister Simone took her religious vows in 1967 (first) and 1973 (final) after joining the SSS in 1964 and adopted the name Simone.
In 1969 she received a B.A from Mount St. Mary’s College, Los Angeles and a doctorate in law from the University of California, Davis in 1977 where she was editor of the UC Davis Law Review.
Positions held
Founder and lead attorney for the Community Law Center in Oakland, California (1978-95) . She practiced family law and worked on the needs of the working poor of her county in Probate Court.
General director of SSS (1995-2000) and saw activities in the USA, Mexico, Taiwan and the Philippines
Executive director of Jericho (2002-4)
Network (2004- )
Informal role with Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR)
Took part in religious delegations in Mexico, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon
2010 saw the healthcare reform debate. Sister Simone wrote the ‘nuns’ letter. She was invited by President Obama to the signing ceremony of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The Network group were credited for helping to get the law passed. (Read paragraph which starts with* In 2010*)
In 2012 she became one of the main public figures to disagree with the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) hierarchy on the issues of same-sex marriages and abortion. ( Read paragraph which starts * In 2012*)
Pope Francis brought to an abrupt end the Vatican investigation.
The summer of 2012 saw her lead Nuns on the Bus. a 2 week tour across the USA. A small group of nuns travelled on a dedicated bus inside the USA publicizing different issues. The aim was to draw attention to nuns’ work with the poor and to protest against planned cuts.
2013 NETWORK partnered with ‘Faith in Public Life’ to promote the theme of immigration reform.
In 2014 she was the recipient of the Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom award in recognition of her advocacy work.
2017 she spoke out against the Republican tax plan , arguing that it would cause wealth inequality to widen.
For over 40 years Sister Simone Campbell has been a champion of those seeking social justice.
Sister Simone Campbell memoir * A Nun on the Bus* was published in 2014.
Sources used
Britannica Online Encyclopedia
wikipedia
James Innell Packer is known by his initials and surname across the world -
J.I. Packer. He must be the most influential English evangelical theologian of the 20th century.
J.I. Packer was born in Twyning, Gloucestershire, England. He went up to Oxford in 1944 and the same year became a Christian following a Oxford Christian Union Meeting at the college.
He won a scholarship to Corpus Christi College at Oxford - B.A. (1948), M.A. (1952) Dr Ph (!955). C.S.Lewis ,of Narnia fame was one of his professors.
Martyn Lloyd-Jones treated me like in the way that I imagine Paul treated Timothy.
In 1949 he entered Wycliffe Hall, Oxford to study theology. He was ordained a deacon (1952), and a priest (1953) in the Church of England, in which he became recognized as a leader in the evangelical movement. He started off as a curate in Birmingham but he soon became the Librarian of Latimer House, Oxford (1961/2) and then principal (1962-9). In 1970 he became principal at Tyndale Hall Bristol and then Associate Principle of Trinity College, Bristol (1971-9).
In 1978 he signed the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy, which affirmed a conservative position on Biblical Inerrancy.
!979 he moved to Vancouver, Canada. where he eventually became at Regent College the first Sangoo Youtong Chee Professor of Theology. In 1996 he was named as Regent College Board of Governor’s Professor of Theology until his retirement.
He served as the general editor of the * Revised Standard Version of the Bible* RSVB) and theological editor of the study Bible version.
Knowing God (1973) was a Christian best seller considered by many as the definitive classic evangelical book of the 20th century -sold over 1 million copies in North America alone.
In Finishing Our Course with Joy (2013) he offers us a model of what it means to grow in grace and grow older gracefully.
Over the years he trained, face to face, and continues to train through his many books, countless leaders of the church.
J.I.Packer is associated with St. John’s Vancouver Anglican church and since 2009 has been the theologian emeritus of the Anglican Church in North America, He was involved with Texts for Common Prayer (2013) and
general editor of the task force which wrote *To be a Christian: An Anglican Catechism *(2014)
He is in favour of the ecumenical movement but not at the cost of abandoning orthodox Protestant doctrine i.
On 27th June 2014 he was awarded the St. Cuthbert’s Cross for his* unparalleled contribution to Anglican and Global Christianity * by retiring Archbishop Robert Duncan.
Aged 89 he was diagnosed with macular degeneration which meant he could no longer preach, write or travel - a disease which had started in his left eye 10 years earlier.
J.I. Packer is England’s and Canada’s greatest living theologian.
On 26th July 2020 he will be 94.
Sources used
wikipedia
Christianity - interview with Krish Kandish in 2015
monergism.com
Christian News
The famous hymn *What a friend we have in Jesus
was written by Joseph Scriven -read the story below
Sunday 15th September, 2019 Banbridge , in County Down, celebrated the bi-centenary of Joseph’s death. The Anglican Bishop Henry Scriven, the great-great nephew attended the 6.30.pm service and a stained glass window dedicated to Joseph.
Joseph was born in Banbridge, County Down, Ireland. He graduated from Trinity College Dublin in 1842.
In 1843, the day before he was due to marry, his fiancee accidentally drowned. He migrated to Canada in 1845 to escape from the religious influence of the Plymouth Brethren who were estranging him from his family. He became ill and returned to Ireland to join the Royal Dragoons and spent time in the Middle East.
He returned to Canada in 1947.
In 1855 he received news that his mother was seriously ill. He wrote her a poem to comfort her Pray Without Ceasing. It was later set to music and renamed by Charles Crozat Converse and became the hymn What a friend we have in Jesus. Joseph had no idea when he wrote it that it would be published and become a favourite among millions of Christians.
In 1857 he moved to Port Hope, Ontario, Canada. He again fell in love. He became engaged to Catherine Roche but in August 1860 she died of pneumonia. She had contracted it after a baptism in icy waters. They were due to get married in a few weeks time.
Joseph devoted the rest of his life to tutoring, preaching and helping others.
In 1869 he published a collection of 115 hymn sand other verses.
In 1886 Joseph, aged 66, died by drowning. It is not known whether it was accidental or suicide since he was in a serious depression at the time. We left him about midnight. A friend found his room empty and with other friends went to search for him. It was not until the afternoon that his body was discovered in the water nearby, lifeless and cold in death, He was buried with Catherine in Bewdley. Ontario
In many respects he led a tragic life. His many hymns will continue to be sung.
What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bare! What a privilege to carry everything to God in Prayer. Amen
Memorials
tall obelisk over his grave, a plaque on the POrt Hope-Peterborough Highway, a monument on Downshire place and a stained glassed window in Banbridge church.
Lucas media L.L.C, released a full length documentary Friends in Jesus, The Stories and Hymns of Cecil Francis Alexander and Joseph Scriven, in 2011. Lasts 45mins. - details his life and influence on popular hymns.
Sources used
BelfastTelegraph.co.uk
Hymnary.org
wikipedia
Nathan Bangs was an American Christian theologian in the Methodist Tradition and a very influential leader in the methodist Episcopal Church before the 1860s.
Nathan received a limited education, taught school and in 1799 went to Upper Canada in search of work as either a teacher or a land-surveyor.
!800 he was converted to Methodism and worked for 8 years as an itinerant preacher in the wilderness of the Canadian provinces. He took responsibility for organizing the first camp held in Upper Canada. in 1805.
In 1805 he also married Canadian Mary Bolton of Edwardsburgh Township. They had 11 children
After a brief stint in Lower Canada he was transfered back to the USA in 1808 - first in Albany then New York 1810. 1812 made presiding Elder of the Lower Canada District, also riding the Montreal Circuit Today he would be equivalent to a district superintendent.
With war brewing between Britain and the USA he ended up becoming Presiding Elder of the Croton Circuit in Delaware.
1820 he was transferred from a pastorate in New York to become the Senior Book Agent of the Methodist Book Concern . Founded in 1798 by John Dickins it was the publishing arm of American Methodism. Under Nathan the establishment was provided with its first press, binary, official premises and weekly newspaper. He paid off the Concern’s debts and was the first editor of the Methodist Magazine. In 1828 he officially became editor also of the Christian Advocate. When the Methodist Quarterly Review replaced the Methodist Magazine in 1832 he stayed editor.
In 1836 Nathan became the principal founder and secretary of the Methodist Missionary Society. He devoted his chief energies to its service. (1836-41.
In 1841, aged 62, he left the Society and was appointed president of the Wesleyan University of Middletown. His skills unfortunately did not far well in higher education. He returned to New York where he spent the next 20 years devoting his time to writing and pastoral work. He did stay on the Wesleyan board until his death.
His most important piece of writing was History of the Methodist Episcopal Church from its Origins in1776 to the General conference of 1840 (4 volumes, New York, 1839-42) ( See list at end of wikipedia entry)
Unfortunately his reputation suffered when he failed to support Methodist abolitionists at The General Conference in 1844.
Nathan died on 3rd May 1862 in New York City.
He had an illustrious career. During his time the Methodist Episcopal Church (MEC), in both the USA and Canada, was transformed from an alternative society into a middle class, main stream denomination.
Jared Maddox’s book Nathan Bangs which came out for the bi-centenary of the MEC in 2019 revises our estimates of the man who played Wesley-like roles in refashioning post Asbury American Methodism for the print age.
Sources
Britannia Online Encyclopedia
Methodist mission Bicentenial
wikipedia
Menno Simons, in full Menno Simonszoon, was born in Witmarsum, Friesland (Netherlands). He was a Dutch priest and an early leader of the peaceful wing of Dutch Anabaptism. His followers formed the Mennonite church.
At an early age Menno was enrolled in a monastic school. He learned Latin and some Greek. In March 1524 , aged 28, he was ordained at Utrecht and assigned a parish at Pingjum. 7 years later he became the village priest in his home parish at Witmarsum.
In his first year he questioned the presence of Christ in the bread and wine of the Eucharist. Up to this point he had avoid reading the Bible for fear he would be adversely influenced by it. He started to read both the Bible and writings of Martin Luther.
By 1528 he was known as an evangelical preacher, but he had continued as a parish priest.
He began to question infant baptism. He came to the conclusion that only persons of mature faith should be baptized. The experience of conversion came to be central to all of Menno’s life and theology.
On 7th April, 1535 Olde Klooster near Bolsward , fell to the onslaught of the State Militia. Munster then fell on 25th July. In January 1536 he went into hiding after a spiritual struggle of 11 years.
He spent a year in hiding, seeking to find a sense of direction for his future work. He wrote *The Spiritual Resurrection, THe New Birth, and Meditations on the 25th psalm *.
Late 1936/early 1937 he received a believer’s baptism and ordained. He was called to leadership by the peaceful Anabaptist group founded by Obbe Philips in 1534. Menno married Gertrude - they had at least 3 children
From this time in his life he was in constant danger as a heretic. 100 guilders reward for his arrest.
1543/4 he worked in East Friesland. 1544/6 spent in the Rhineland. 1546/61 he travelled from his home base in Holstein, near north east of Hamburg.
25 years after his renunciation of Catholicism Memmo died on31st January 1561. He was buried in his garden in Wustenfelde, Holstein.
Menno’s influence on Anabaptism was so great in the low countries- Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg that William Estep, a Baptist historian, said that their history was divided into 3 parts - before Menno, under Menno and after Menno. He established a viable Radical Reformation movement.
Included definition of Anabaptism and where it ‘sits’ with other Christian faiths.
Sources used
Britannica Online Encyclopedia
wikipedia
Great Leaders of the Christian Church
Robert was born at 14 Dublin Street, Edinburgh, on 21st May 1813. He died at the young age of 29, during an epidemic of typhus. but he left a massive legacy in Dundee, Scotland.
He was educated at the University of Edinburgh and at the Divinity Hall of his native city. He spent a year in the parish of Larbert and Dunipace, near Falkirk. He then served as minister at St. Peter’s Church (1836-43) until he died.
In 1838 it was suggested, due to poor health, he should have a break So In 1839 with two senior ministers he went to Palestine. The reportNarrative of a Visit to the Holy Land and Mission of Inquiry to the Jews led to the establlshment of missions to Jews by the Church of Scotland.
While he was in Palestine a great revival broke out in his homeland and swept through Scotland. In his absence William Chalmers Burns, with his powerful preaching, had ran the church. Robert rejoiced in an other man’s work.
Robert exercised a remarkable fruitful ministry in Dundee while in constant demand to minister in other places.
In 1843 Robert prepared his congregation for the coming Disruption. he died before it happened. (See History for explanation of disruption)
Robert was a preacher, pastor, poet and a man of letters. He was also a man of deep piety and a man of prayer He will always be remembered as a man of prayer.
Heroes of the Faith is a beautiful piece of writing. The sexton tells the visitor as he walks him around the church t o -Sit down here. Now put your elbows on the table. Now let the tears flow.Put your elbows on the pulpit. Put your face in your hands. Now let the tears flow. That was the way Mr McCheyne used to do it. (See writing by Albert Hull)
Robert’s frail body was laid to rest at the North West corner of St. Peter’s burying ground. On the day of his burial, business was suspended.
His friend Andrew Alexander Bonar edited Robert’s biography and some of his manuscripts. *The Memoir and Remains of the Rev. Robert Murray M’chyne
went into many editions. It has had a lasting influence on Evangelical Christianity worldwide.
Farewell we say to one of Scotland’s brightest warriors, until the day dawn and the shadows flee away Albert Hull
Sources used
Banner of Truth UK
Free Church of Scotland
wikipedia
Henry was an Anglican clergyman who is recognized as one of the foremost Protestant missions strategists of the 19th century. He was an outstanding administrator who served as the honorary secretary of the Church Missionary Society (CMS) (1841-73) for 32 years
Henry was born into a leading evangelical Anglican family. His grandfather Henry Venn (1725-97) was an outstanding pastor evangelist. His father John Venn (1759-1813) was also a pastor who presided over the formation of the CMS (1799) and helped found the *Christian Observer * (1802).
Education
He matriculated at Queen’s College, Cambridge (1796). He graduated with a B,A. (1818). He was elected a Fellow of his college (1819) . He graduated with an M.A, (1821) and B,D. (1828)
He was ordained deacon of Ely (1819) and priest (1820). He became curate of St. Dunstan- in -the-West (1820-4). He became a proctor, a lecturer, a teacher. In 1826 he moved o Kingston upon Hull.
In 1829 he married Martha. They had 11 unusually happy years together. She died in 1839 leaving Henry to look after their 3 young children.
He then accepted the living of St. John’s, Holloway and was here for 12 years.
He became a canon at St. Paul’s Cathedral. He resigned from St. John’s in 1846 and devoted himself, now aged 45, to CMS. He had become a member in 1820.
In 1838/9 he had suffered a near fatal heart disease. He spurned medical advice to lead a quiet life, he learned to pace himself. His 6,000 official letters in the CMS archives and the 230 items in his biography bare testimony to his capacity for disciplined work.
Henry was a mission theorist. He expound the basic principles of indigenous Christian missions. A church was seen as indigenous when it was self-propagating, self-financing and self governing. Henry developed his theory of missions in a series of pamphlets and policy statements written in the years 1846-65.
He saw the CMS grow. In 1841 there were 107 European and 9 African and Asian missionaries. By 1873 there were 230 European and 148 African and Asian missionaries. During those 32 years 498 were clergy.
Henry was twice appointed to Royal commissions to represent this tradition (1864 and 1867).
Henry’s father had founded Christian Observer . He had regularly contributed
articles. In 1869 he 'temporarily assumed editorship. Through the magazine he pronounce vigorously on various theological issues before the church.
Henry Venn, at his funeral, was remember for his warm hospitality and irrepressible humour.
Brief History of CMS included
Sources used
Dictionary of African Christian Biography
CMS
wikipedia
Maria Buelah Woodworth- Etter was an American healing evangelist . Her ministry style was a model for Pentecostalism.
Her parents were not Christians until they joined the Disciple church in 1854. Her father died of sunstroke in 1857 leaving his wife Matilda with 8 children no support .This meant Matilda, and the children old enough to work,had to support the family.
Aged 13 she heard the call of God and immediately dedicated a life to the Lord.
*I heard the voice of Jesus calling me to go out in the highways and hedges and gather in the lost sheep.
This confused her because the Disciple church did not allow women . She thought if she married a Christian man they could do missions work together.
In 1863 she married Philo Horace Woodworth.They had 6 children, 5 died young.
The farm they bought failed.
She still felt called to preach to the lost. She spoke at a Friend’s meeting where she had a vision of a pit of hell and people not knowing the danger. She wanted to study but had a vision where souls were perishing and she had to get started.
She finally started in her local area and began to see many conversions. The power of God would fall and sinners would run to the front in repentance. She held 9 revival meetings and started 2 churches.
Maria and Philo decided to start a travelling ministry.
In 1885 she began to pray for the sick believing that those with sufficient faith would be healed. The Holy Ghost would ’ fall’ on the people and they would lay on the floor in a trance like state - on recovering they reported of having profound spiritual experiences. Evangelism and healing went hand in hand as 1000s were won for Christ as a result of seeing others healed. She preached throughout the USA, her reputation grew, leading to her buying an 8,000 seat tent.
1890-1900 were tough years. In Framingham she was arrested for claiming people were being healed - testimonies from those healed saw her released.
Local psychiatrists filed charges of insanity. A person called Ericson prophesied a tidal and earthquake would shortly happen -it happened in 1906. In 1891 she divorced Philo for infidelity. He remarried and died within a year of typhoid fever.
In 1902 married her second husband Samuel Etter. They worked together until he died in1914.
In 1912 she joined the young Pentecostal movement and preached widely in Pentecostal circle until her death in 1924, having founded the Assemblies of God in 1914
In 1918 Maria founded Lakeview Church (Temple) of Indianapolis, Indiana.
Maria, the Mother of Pentecost, died on September 16th, 1924. Her inscription reads Thou showest thousands lovingkindness
Definition
Pentecostal churches emphasis the need to be baptized in the Holy Spirit like the disciples were on the Day of Pentecost, 50 days after Christ’s resurrection. Those baptized are said to be ‘born again’. Acts ch 2 v 1-4 )
Sources
wikipedia
Revival Library
Healing and Revival
Francis Jane Crosby caught a cold when she was just 6 weeks old, she had inflamed eyes. Their usual doctor was unavailable. The stand-in doctor unwittingly prescribed a hot mustard poultice - Fanny was blinded for life. Sometime later she said she had forgiven the man and that on her death the first person she would be see would be her saviour, Jesus.
Fanny’s father died when she was 10 months old. Her mother , Mercy, remarried.
Her grandmother Eunice became Fanny’s eyes, she described to her the wonderful colours of nature and everything she was missing. She patiently taught how to memorize parts of both the O.T. and N.T. of the Bible.
At the age of 8 she wrote her a poem about her blindness (See notes)
Aged 15 she entered the New York Institute for the Blind (NYIB. She was there for 7 years as a pupil and 11 as a teacher. She learned to sing and play a number of musical instruments. She became a noted harpist.
Fanny was the first woman to speak before the Senate and the House of Representatives. Her poetry and winning personality resulted in her becoming friends with presidents and staying at the White House. her poems appeared in the Saturday Evening Post and other newspapers and magazines.
She wrote 3 volumes of poetry and 2 of autobiography.
In 1958, aged 38 she married Alexander Van Alstyne, a blind scholarly accomplished musician. He insisted she kept her maiden name; for legal documents she used her husband’s surname. The baby they had died.
20 years after her first poem she wrote Rosalie,the Prairie Flower.
George Frederick Root set it to music. It sold in 10s of 1000s and she earned $3,000 dollars in royalties - a lot of money in those days.
In 1864 William Bradbury suggested she should devote her talent to writing hymns. She never wrote another secular song. She eventually wrote between 5,500 and 9,000 hymns. using many pseudonyms -( as many as 200, according to some sources) these were employed to preserve her modesty . Her husband wrote many of the tunes to accompany her words…
In 1868 musician Doane knocked on her door - in 45 minutes he was to catch a train. He hummed a tune - the result - Safe in the arms of Jesus.
Fanny began a second career in her 40s. She worked in the Bowery distict slums of New York City.
In 1875 she visited William Doane. Enjoying the sunset the hymn *I am thine o Lord *was born.
Fanny and Alexander became estranged, apart, but stayed married.
Alexander died in 1902. Fanny died in 1915 aged 94 in Bridgeport. Near her grave is Bing Crosby’s -one of descendants.
When Fanny had a session of writing she always started with a prayer. It seemed that without a prayer the words would not flow. A hymnal without her hymns is considered incomplete.
Her blindness the good Lord, in his infinite mercy, by this means consecrated me to the work that I am permitted to do
Sources used
Christianity Today
Britannia Online Encyclopedia