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.
Donald Henry Frere Gee ( 1891- 1966 was an English Pentecostal Bible teacher. He wrote the book Wind and Flame which is the story of Pentecostalism in Europe in the 20th century. He was called ‘The Apostle of Balance’.
One biographer described him as pastor, author, conference speaker, editor and ecumenist (unity seeker).
Donald was born on the 10th May 1891 in London.
Seth Joshua, the Welsh revivalist, held an evangelistic meeting at Finsbury Park Congregational church in October 1905. Only 3 were saved, Donald was one of them.
At a Pentecostal meeting he met Pastor Saxby who was pastoring a divided church.
Donald spent 7 years under the influence of this pastor who was a shining example of his office.
He joined a Baptist church with his mother in 1912. He was baptised in the Holy Spirit in March 1913. It was under this ministry he made his first attempt at testifying and preaching.
When war broke out in 1914 and in 1916 he registered as a conscientious objector and worked on a farm in Buckinghamshire. He was a social outcast - he worked to the point of utter physical exhaustion
He is now married with 2 children. Their house was used for ‘Tarrying’ meetings where believers sought and received the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.
After the war the family returned to London. He would cycle 10 miles to preach in some Pentecostal fellowship. .
In June 1920 they moved to Scotland. He had a congregation of 12. He stayed eventually,as pastor, for 12 years. (After year 1 he fled to London for a fortnight, then returned.) His ministry in Scotland prospered. The church bought Bonnington Toll Hall. 1924 Met with others to form the Assemblies of God In Great Britain and Ireland - on executive presbytery 1925-63.
1928 he is invited to go to Australia. After praying he accepts. Over 10 months he also visits New Zealand, America and Canada.
On his return he now resigns from Bonnington Toll Hall and uses it as a base. The next 23 years he travels the world. Invitations pour in from across the world. 1931-3 saw him travel to 12 countries annually. He then became joint editor of Redemption Tidings magazine - it needed the ‘gifting’ of the teacher.
During WW11 (1939-45) he constantly travelled in Britain encouraging fellowships.
In 1947 he was chosen to edit the *World Pentecost *magazine
Aged 60 he became the unpaid Principal of the new Assemblies of God college at Keneley (1951-62). He was able to leave his mark upon the students. In 1962 he retired from all his positions and responsibilities except writing for magazines
Donald, the Apostle of Balance, died in a London taxi on 20th July 1966.
A gifted writer has laid down his pen. An eminent Bible expositor will teach no more. A distinguished editor has vacated his chair. A renowned author has concluded his last volume. A veteran leader has left our ranks. A great warrior has fought his last battle. Our friend Donald Gee has fallen asleep
John Carter at Donald’s funeral
John Charles Ryle was an English evangelical Anglican bishop. He was a writer, pastor and an evangelical preacher. He was the first bishop of Liverpool (1880-1900).
He was born in Macclesfield on 10th May 1816. He was the eldest son of John Ryle, a private banker and M.P. for Macclesfield (1833-7).
He was educated at Eton and Christ Church college,Oxford. He graduated with an BA in 1838. He excelled at rowing and cricket.
In 1937 he was struck down with a serious chest infection. For the first time in 14 years he turned to his Bible and prayer. One Sunday, when he was late for church, he heard these words from Ephesians ch.2 v 8
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and not of yourselves: it the gift of God.
He was converted through hearing the Word of God, without comment or sermon.
He earned a First in Classics at Oxford. He turned down the college fellowship he was offered. He decided he wanted a career in politics and went to study law in London. The smog of London, over a period of 6 months, caused a recurrence of his chest problem.
His father’s bank crashed in 1841. He now had no money so he entered the ministry of the Church of England.
He took holy orders. 21st December 1941 he was ordained by Charles Sumner , the Bishop of Winchester. He became curate at Exbury, Hampshire (1841/2). In 1843 he was preferred to the rectory of St. Thomas, Winchester. In the following year he exchanged for Helminghan, Suffolk (1843-61). He moved to the Stradbroke where he initiated its restoration ((1861-9). In 1869 he was made rural dean of Hoxne. 1872 he became honorary canon of Norwich. He was then the ‘select’ preacher at Cambridge and Oxford for several years. In 1880 designated dean of Salisbury and on 19 April advanced to the newly created see of Liverpool (1880-1900).
John was described as having a commanding presence and being vigorous in advocating his principles, albeit with a warm disposition. It was while he was at All Saints in Stradbroke he became nationally known for his straightforward preaching and firm defence of evangelical principles. He believer in the return of the Jews to their own land. ( See information about the* Balfour Declaration*)
He wrote a number of books (see ‘Published works’)
He married 3 times, his first 2 died young.
John became the first bishop of Liverpool on the recommendation of Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli. His 20 years there time resulted in churches and mission halls being built to reach the expanding urban areas of the city… He is credited with having strong success evangelizing the blue collar community.
He retired in 1900 aged 83. He died on 10th June,1900, a month after his 84 birthday. He is buried at All Saints Church, Chidwall. Liverpool.
His successor, Francis Chavasse, described him as a man of granite with the heart of a child.
Sources
Wikipedia
Sir Wilfred Thomason Grenfell KCMG was a medical missionary to Newfoundland.
Wilfred was born at Parkgate, Cheshire, England on 28th February 1865. His father was Rev, Algernon Sidney Grenfell, headmaster of Mostyn House School.
He moved to London in 1882 and commenced the study of Medicine at the London Hospital Medical College (now part of St. Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry). He graduated in 1888.
In 1892 The Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen RNMDSF)(1881) sent him to Newfoundland. His task was to improve the plight of coastal inhabitants and fishermen. he began by recruiting 2 nurses and 2 doctors for hospitals at Indian Harbour. He later opened cottage hospitals along the coast of Labrador.
The mandate expanded to making a small ‘village’- schools, orphanage, . co=operatives industrial projects and social work.
In 1907 he imported a group of 300 reindeer from Norway but the animals carried a parasitic roundworm that spread to the native caribou herds The reindeer herd eventually disappeared.
1908 he got caught in a ‘slob’ a sludgy mass of floating ice, with a team of huskies,
on his way to a medical emergency. He managed to get onto an ice-pan and drifted for several days without food or fresh water. To keep warm he had to sacrifice some of his dogs to make a warm coat for himself. He buried the dogs and put a plaque saying ‘Who gave their lives for me.’
In 1909 he married Anne Elizabeth Caldwell MacClanahan. She brought comfort and refinement into his life, She became totally involved in his work - organizing his fundraising tours and lectures, editing his books and helped secure scholarship for the children to continue their education.They had 3 children of their own.
By 1914 the mission had gained international status. The International Grenfell Association , a non-profit mission society, was founded to support his work.
In 1927 he was knighted by the king for his years of service on behalf of the people of his community. He received 5 other awards. ( See 'Awards)
Wifred wrote 20 books- mixture of religious books and about Labrador. (See ‘Publications’)
The Grenfell Mission (1892 branch of RNMDSF) established a Village Industry Department prior to 1930.
They retired to Vermont after his work in Newfoundland. Anne was ill towards the end of her life. She kept the pain hidden from her husband and took care of him until she died in 1938. Wilfred died on the 9th Ocyober 1940.
The Sir Wilfred Thomason Grenfell Historical Society was formed in 1978.
Wilfred is honoured with a feast day on the liturgical calendar of the Episcopal Church (USA) on 9th October.
Information included about
Fishermen’s Mission
Grenfell Mission
Sir Wilfred Thomason Grenfell Historical Society ( See ’ Death and legacy)
Samuel Kaboo Morris (1873-1893) was a Liberian prince from the Kru Tribe. He was converted to evangelical Christianity around the age of 14 - a short time after a ‘blinding light’ released him from his ropes.
Around the age of 18 he left Liberia for USA to achieve an education and arrived at Taylor University in December 1891. He died from complications of a respiratory infection in 1893. A residence hall at Taylor University bears his name.
His life has been the subject of 5 novels, over 12 biographies, a 1954 film and a 1988 documentary.
He was born in Liberia in 1973, He was a prince of the Kru tribe. Aged 14 his tribe was attacked by the Grebos. He was captured and used as a ‘pawn’. His father was forced to pay each month to ensure his safety. When he had no more money the Grebos began to daily tortured his son with a poisonous, thorny vine he used as a whip.
One night there was a flash of light and a voice telling Kaboo to flee. His ropes fell off and his sick body gained strength. The bright light guided him through the night.
(Read his incredible story based on his own account).
Having escaped he came to a coffee plantation owned by a former slave who was a Christian. He worked there with another boy from his village. He began to attend church where he was taught by missionaries. On hearing of Paul’s conversion where he encountered a blinding light he converted to Christianity. he was baptised and took the name Samuel Morris -the name of one of the missionaries. He wanted to go
to America and was encouraged to meet Stephen Merritt, a Christian teacher in New York.
After waiting at the docks he eventually found a passage to N.Y. in exchange fro work. He was initially abused on the 5 month journey but he won them round. They saw him praying even during dangerous storms Many of the crew were converted.
In N.Y. he found Stephen Merritt.and he lodged with him. The Samuel Morris Missionary Society was formed to to collect funds to send Kaboo to Taylor University.
he encouraged many people in their faith. Students often asked to pray with him
Newspapers wrote about the boy from Africa who was charging Fort Wayne with the electric power of God.
His desire was to return to Africa as a a missionary but late in 1892 he suffered a case of pneumonia which would eventually end his life. He died on 12th May 1893 aged just 20.
Students acted as pallbearers at his funeral. many felt led to go to Africa as missionaries in his place.
HIs body initially was buried in the ‘Negro’ section of the cemetery but was moved to the centre of the cemetery, linking blacks and whites in death like he did in life.
Famous Christian Mystic
Apostle of Simple faith
Exponent of the Spirit filled life
(Read the rest of the memorial placed at his gravesite)
John Paton (1824-1907) was a protestant missionary to the New Hebrides Islands of the South Pacific. He brought to the natives of the New Hebrides education and Christianity.
John was born on the 24th May 1824 in a farm cottage at Braehead, Kirkmahoe, Dumfriesshire, Scotland. He was eldest of 11 children. His parents moved to Torthorwald in the same county. His father was a stocking manufacturer and a stocker of books- Bibles.
From the age of 12 he learned the stocking manufacturing trade, working 14 hours a day manipulating one of the 6 ‘stocking frames’.
He also studied for 2 hours during the alloted time to eat.
He was greatly influenced by the devoutness of his father who 3 times a day went to his ‘prayer closet’ and conducted family prayers twice a day’
He felt he was called by God to be a missionary.
He went to Glasgow ( 40 miles walking to Kilmarnock, the rest by train).
There he undertook theological and medical studies. For years he handed out tracts, taught at schools and laboured as a city missionary.
!858, 23rd March, ordained by the Reformed Presbyterian Church. On 2nd April married Mary Ann Robson. 16th April, accompanied by Mr Joseph Copeland, they set sail for the South Pacific. 5th November landed on the island of Tanna - the natives there were cannibals!
The cannibals - 'painted ’ savages wore very little -the men were naked, the women wore a short grass or leaf apron.
1859, 12th February Peter Robert Robson born, Mary dies 19 days later from tropical fever. Baby Peter dies after 36 days. They were buried together and John guarded the grave from the cannibals. The grave is still accessible to this day and a plaque in 1996 was erected to mark the spot.
John continued with his missionary work in spite of constant animosity form the natives. During one attack a ship arrived just in time to take him and Mr. Mrs. Mathieson to the safety of Aneityum.
He then went first to Australia then back to Scotland to recruit missionaries and raise funds for the building and upkeep of a ship.
1864, 17th June, he marries Margaret ( Maggie) Whitecross.
1866, August, back in the New Hebrides, they establish a new mission station on Aniwa Island, the island closest to Tanna. They live in a native hut while they build 3 houses- i for them and 2 for orphans.
They find the natives similar to those on Tanna but they continue with their missionary work. They have 10 children, 4 die early or in infancy.
John learns the language and turns it into written form.
Maggie works with 50 women/girls who become experts at sewing, singing, plaiting hats and reading.
They expound the Scriptures
They administer to the sick
Send out natives to preach the gospel
After years of deprivation, danger from the natives and disease and patient ministry the entire island of Aniwa professed Christianity.
( Read ‘Return to the New Hebrides’)
1899 Aniiwa N.T. printed & 25/30 islands have missionaries
William Whiting Borden (1887-1913) was a philanthropist and millionaire Christian Missionary Candidate who died in Egypt before reaching his chosen field, Gansu province in China.
William was born onto a prominent and wealthy Chicago family.His father had made a fortune in Colorado silver mining. He was the third of four children.
His mother converted to evangelical Christianity in 1894. She took her son to Chicago Avenue Church. later Moody Church.He responded to the gospel preaching of R.A. Torrey and prayer and Bible study became his hallmark for life.
After he graduated from The Hill School, Pottstown, Pennsylvania aged 16 his parents gave him a gift of a chaperoned trip around the world. This developed a desire to become a missionary…
At a meeting In London, where R.A. Torrey was preaching, he surrendered his life for Christian service.
1905 he went to Yale University. Encouraged by classics tutor Henry Burt Wright he began daily prayer groups which within 2 years reached the entire university.
1906, at a Student Volunteer Movement convention, Samuel Marinus Zwemer impressed him with his emphasis on the open doors for evangelizing the Muslim world.
William had a charismatic personality, was sociable, athletic, fun loving but also an intense hardworking natural leader. He was elected president of Phi Beta Kappa.
With his own money he funded a New Haven rescue mission and worked there.
He graduated in 1909 and then attended Princeton Theological Seminary (1909-12).
His reputation was such that he became a board member of the National Bible Institute in New York City - at one point he was temporarily in charge of the whole ministry. He became a director of Moody Bible Institute. Aged 22 he was a member of the North American Council of the China Inland Mission ( until he applied to go to China!)
His intention was to become a missionary to Uyghur Muslims in Northwestern China. He decided to first study Islam and Arabic in Cairo. He boarded with a Syrian family so that he would hear Arabic spoken as much as possible. He also spent time distributing Christian sermons written in a Koranic style.
March 13th 1913 he contracted cerebral meningitis and died a few weeks later on April 9th 1913, aged 25.
His mother had just arrived from the USA. After a simple funeral he was buried in the American cemetery in Cairo. On his gravestone was written
Apart from faith in Christ, there is no explanation of such a life
(words suggested by Samuel M. Zwemer who attended the funeral)
Other services were also held back in the USA, Japan, Korea, India and South Africa.
Legacy
Borden Memorial Hospital (1918-1951) in Gansu, was founded by the China Inland Mission with money donated by the Borden family ($800,000) after the death of William. The hospital was handed over to the Chinese government in 1951.
( Read ‘Borden Memorial Hospital’)
David Brainerd (1718-1747) was an American missionary to the Native Americans. He had a fruitful ministry among the Delaware Indians of New Jersey. During his short life he was beset by many physical difficulties.
As a result his diary,Life and diary Of David Brainerd(1749) edited by Jonathan Edwards, he became a source of inspiration and encouragement to many Christians.
David was born on 20th April 1718 in Haddam, Connecticut.He was one of 9 siblings.He was orphaned at the age of 14 when his father died, his mother died 5 years later.
After his mother’s death he lived with Jerusha, one of his older sisters. in East Haddam. Aged 19 he inherited a farm in Durham but did not enjoy the experience. He returned to his sister’s. A year later he prepared to go to Yale University.
12th July, 1739, he had ‘inspeakable glory’ - a conversion experience…
September entered Yale. In his second year he was sent home after a serious illness.(now believed to be tuberculosis (TB))
When he returned to Yale in December 1740 there was tension between the college trustees and their students relating to the enthusiasm of the students In 1741 a decree was passed that anyone who called staff hypocrites after a second offence would be expelled.
Jonathan Edwards came to preach and David commented that one of his tutors - Chauncey Whittelsey ‘has no more grace then a chair’. He was also alleged to ask why the Rector ‘did not drop dead’. He was expelled. He apologized for the first comment but denied making the second.
A recent law had been passed that ministers could only be appointed in Connecticut if they had graduated from Harvard or Yale. He had to reconsider his plans.
In 1742 he was licensed to preach for a group called ‘New Lights’. Jonathan Dickinson noticed him and tried to get him reinstated at Yale but failed. it was suggested he worked as a missionary among Native Americans, supported by the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian knowledge (SSPSK). He was approved on 25th November 1742.
1st April 1743, after a brief time serving a church on Long Island, he began working with Native Americans He began working at Kaunameek, a Housatonic Indian settlement. He stayed there a year. He began a school and to translate the Psalms.
He then worked for a year with the Delaware Indians along the Rivernorthwest of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
He then moved to Crossweeksung in New Jersey where he established a Christian community of 130 members.
By November 1746 his health- a form of depression - 22 times- stopped him from working. He moved first to Jonathan Dickenson’s house. After a few months rest. he moved to Jonathan Edward’s house. 17 year old Jerusha Edwards nursed him… He managed a trip to Boston.
He suffered greatly and died of TB at Edward’s house on the 9th October 1747, aged just 29.
Life and Diary of David Brainerd is still in print (see Amazon flier)
Chuck Carson’s parents took him to Del Mar at the age of 12. They rented a surfboard for him and he learned to surf.
On a Sunday he would go surfing and then quickly throw his Sunday Best over his shorts and leave a trail of sand all the way to church. He went every Sunday to church.
He became an accomplished musician playing with the Christy Minstrels and Talk Five. He even played professional football with the L.A. Rams
His mother and step father had a horrific accident on an L.A. freeway. Sitting at his mother’s bedside he promised God to come back if she survived. Her condition did improve but she died 3 months later. While in a coma she asked God to ‘save her son’s soul’.
He went off to Hawaii to surf… While there a Roman Catholic woman shocked him by saying ‘God has something for you.’ She advised him to return home and get married.
On the beach one day he was so drunk he fell face first in the sand. He had a vision saying ‘Come to me Chuck.’
‘I’m not good enough,’ he replied
‘You’ll never be good enough. Come as you are.’
From that day forward life for chuck was never the same.
He met Melinad (Lin) in April 1972, they married in 1974. He returned to Hawaii where he took his first unorthodox preaching assignments as Director of the Walkiki Beach Chaplaincy. He played his guitar and preached ‘scared out of his wits’ as he learned to preach before an audience.
They returned to the mainland, started a family and he went to college. He was ordained and began series of commitments to preaching the Gospel ( and surfing). He served a number of churches.
In 1992 he was severely injured in a crash while leading a junior high church group in a waterpark. He spent 28 days in intensive care and a year in bed recovering at home.
They moved to Sacramento and for the next 14 years he was senior pastor.
By ‘divine appointments’ he ended up on the beach passing out flyers when he met Michael Pless on the beach.
For nearly a decade he earned his own beach walk of fame on the sands of seal Beach. *In every possible moment, he radiated love, grace and celebration.
He was so jolly, the best guy EVER Michael Pless, the owner of M & M Surf School, with whom Pastor Carlson founded Hope on the Beach church in 2009. He remembers praying for a pastor to minister the souls on the beach and how they literally ran into each other one Sunday morning. God answered both of their prayers.
When Chuck died in 2020 (?) surfers and beachgoers gathered on the shores of Seal Beach to give a final ’ wave’ to their beloved pastor. Nearly 100 surfers gathered on their surfboards for a @ Paddle Out’ on Sunday while other paid their respects on the beach. Michael spread his ashes into the wind and sea and Chuck was home for eternity. Lin, his wife, for 47 years, ina poignant blog thanked everyone 'I feel your love, and love you back.
Chuck surfed all of his life until he could surf no more.
Go in peace … and surf the Lord Chuck Carlson
Douglas Roger Scott (1900-1967) was an English Revival preacher and evangelist who devoted most of his ministry to France. He is considered to be one of the pioneers of the Pentecostal movement in France and the main founder of the Assemblies of God in France.
He was born in Essex.
Douglas experienced a conversion/new birth during an evangelistic meeting organised on Whitecross Street in London. From 1925 he devoted a large part of his time proclaiming the gospel in public meetings.He based hie message on the 4 pillars of Elim Pentecostalism - Jesus saves, heals, baptizes and will return. He became an itinerant preacher in Essex and founded an Elim Pentecostal church in London with another pastor.
He considers going to the Belgian Congo as an evangelist. William Burton advises him to go to France to learn French.
In 1927 he goes to Le Harve in France after receiving an invitation from Helene Biolley 1854-1947), of Swiss origin, who runs an non-alcoholic bar, the Ruban Bleu . Helene had been praying for 20 years that God would send missionaries to France. In her 70s her prayers were answered.
He prayed and preached with power and several people were miraculously healed.
Helena asked him to devote 6 months at her mission before going to the Congo. he agreed and returned to Le Havre in 1930. He ultimately devoted the rest of his life (37 years) to spreading the gospel across France. He sparked a significant pentecostal revival and helped bring cohesiveness to the movement through the organisaion of the Assembly of God of France in 1932.
Douglas, with his family, did get to the Belgian Congo in 1939. He preached in only French and Swahili. Returned to G.b in Autumn 1946.
Douglas also went to Algeria. he went for the second time in the early 1950s. He returned to France where he continue his work of evangelization and edification in the established Pentecostal churches. He also went overseas.
By 1965 he had heart problems but refused to retire. He continued to preach twice a day, every day. Douglas died in Chalon-sur-Saone on 15th April 1967, aged 66.
Sources
Assemblies of God
Douglas Scott (evangeliste)
Helene Biolley
Charles Grandison Finney (1792-1875) was an American Presbyterian minister and leader in the Second Great Awakening in the USA. He has been called the Father of Modern Revivalism.
Together with other evangelical leaders he promoted social reforms such as abolition of slavery and equal education for women and African Americans. He taught at Oberlin College, Ohio and became their second president form 1851 to 1866.
In V. Raymond Edman’s book They Found the Secret(still available on Amazon) there is chapter of over 10 pages given to how he found the secret. Edman’s begins by saying that Charles’ conversion was sudden, starling, dramatic and dynamic. Edman gives Charles’ own account of what happened around the date of 18th October 1821 - it started on the Sunday and continued through to the Thursday.
In the brief notes I have included from the book it says that Finney’s revival ministry in Rochester, New York, in one year 100,000 came to the saving knowledge of the Lord. Also that there was a falling off of crime and the jail was nearly empty for years afterwards.
Daniel Nash(1775-1831) worked behind the scenes for Charles. Daniel would precede Charles arrival in a city. He would check into a boarding house and begin to pray fervently for the release of the Holy Spirit onto the forthcoming meeting(s). He would pray sometimes for days, even weeks until he felt the spiritual atmosphere was prepared. He would then invite Charles to come. He rarely attended the meetings instead he would be on his knees in prayer.
4 months after Daniel’s death Charles left his itinerate revival meetings to pastor a church.
My other source is Wikipedia.
John (Jock) Troup (1896-1954) was a well known Christian evangelist fro Fochabers, Scotland. He was the son of Harry and Harriet Troup.
He spent his youth as a cooper and was part of the Territorial Forces Service.
He went to work in the fishing industry and then on to service in WWI. He was then converted.
According to a neighbour he had enormous hands - he could pick up a fully inflated football with one hand. He had 16 inch biceps, unexpanded and the neck like a prize bull. He did not look like a typical normal preacher.
Jock played a big part in the Fisherman’s Revival, also known as Jock Troup and the fisherman’s Revival. He preached all over Britain to bring people to Christ.
In 2001 Revival Man, The Jock Troup Story* by George Mitchell
was published followed by a film* Jock Troup and The Fisherman;s Revival.
Kenneth Nathaniel Taylor ( 1917-2005) was an American publisher and author. He is best known as the creator of The Living Bible and the founder of Tyndale House, a Christian publishing company and Living Bibles International.
He was born on 8th May in Portland Oregon. Having a pastor for a father a godly mother meant he developed a solid faith in Christ and a deep respect of the Bible from a very early age.
He graduated from Wheaton College, Illinois in 1938. He then attended Dallas Theological Seminary for 3 years… He received a Theology Masters (Th.M) from Northern Baptist Seminary in 1944.
During the course of his studies he was offered the position of editor for HIS Magazine, headquartered in Chicago. He was a long time member of College Church in Wheaton.
He worked briefly for Clyde Dennis, founder of Good News Publishers on translating Gospel tracts and distributing them overseas. In 1947 he moved to Moody Bible Institute as Director.of Moody Press and stayed until 1963.
In 1954, as rode the commuter train into Chicago ,he began paraphrasing the New Testament into modern English. This was originally to help his 10 children to understand the King James version of the Bible more easily. The children were responding to what they were hearing and Ken thought he was onto something.
He developed a series of books for his children to read. They were eventually published in a book called The Bible in Pictures for Little eyes.
After 7 years of writing and rewriting he submitted the manuscript, called Living Letters to several publishing houses. After having It rejected by ALL of them Ken, with his wife Margaret, decided to use their limited saving to publish it themselves.
Paul Benson, president of Lithocolor Press, offered to print 2,000 copies and allow the Taylors to pay for them when the books sold.
In the early days it was a kitchen table operation. The older daughters typed Ken’s manuscripts, Margaret typed invoices and mailing labels and the younger children filled envelopes and packed books ordered by the bookstores.
In 1962 he exhibited his self published* Living Letters* at the Christian booksellers Association convention. BIlly Graham saw the book the following spring and asked if he could print a special edition to use with his crusades - 500,000 were given away.
Tyndale House Publishers (THP)was born.
In 1967 the Living New Testament was published. In 1971 the complete Living Bible was released to an eager public. It was the best selling book in the USA 3 years in a row!
The profits were put into a charitable trust. All royalties were donated to the Tyndale House Foundation.
He stayed president of THP until 1984 when he handed over to his son Mark. He served as chairman of the board until his death.
Kenneth N. Taylor died 10th June 2005, aged 88, from heart failure.
Ken’s THP mission
minister to the spiritual needs of people, primarily through literature consistent with biblical principles
James the Less is a figure of early Christianity,possibly one of the 12 chosen by Jesus.
According to translation he is called ’ the minor’, the little’, ‘the lesser’ or ‘the younger’
Jesus chose his 12 apostles Matthew ch10 v 3-10,
Mark ch 4 v 13-19
Luke ch 6 v 12-16
*first Simon (also called Peter)
then Andrew (Peter’s brother)
James (son of Zebedee)
John (Jame’s brother)
Philip
Bartholomew
Matthew ( the tax collector)
James (son of Alphaeus)
Simon ( the zealot)
Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him)
*
We have the ‘sons of Zebedee’ - John and James- he is not that James. This James is recognised as James the Great ( although that designation does not appear in the New Testament)
The other James in the 12 is James the son of Alphaeus
James is mentioned 3 other times In the Gospels along with the phrase Mary the mother of James.
Matthew ch 27 v 56 * Mary (the mother of James and Joseph)
Mark ch 15 v 40, Mary (the mother of James the younger and of Joseph)
Luke ch 24 v 10 Mary the mother of James
At no point is this Mary actually referred to being the mother of Jesus.
In Matthew ch 13 v 55 and Mark ch 6 v 3 *he’s just the carpenter’s son, and we know Mary his mother and his brother’s - James, Joseph, Simon and Judas
This James is clearly a brother of Jesus.
The experts are divided as to whether James the Less was James, son of Alphaeus OR James the brother of Jesus.
Jerome concludes that James the Less, James, son of Alphaeus and James the brother of Jesus are one and the same person.
Read the thoughts of Jerome, Jacobus de Varagine and Papias of Hierapolis.
Modern scholars are divided,
Reach your own conclusion
Adelaide of Italy, also known as Adelaide of Burgundy, (931-999) was a Roman Empress by marriage to Emperor Otto the Great. She was crowned with him by Pope John XII on 2nd February 962. She was regent of the Holy Roman Empire as the guardian of her grandson from 1991-995.
Adelaide was born in Orbe Castle in modern day Switzerland. She was the daughter of Rudolf II of Burgundy.
She became involved in the beginning of the complicated fight to control Burgundy and Lombardy. In the battle between the two areas Berengar I died and Rudolf II became king.
When Rudolf 11 died in 937 Hugh of Provence succeeded him. His son Lothair II, the nominal king of Italy, married the 15 year old Adelaide In 947. Adelaide became queen of Western France. In 948 she gave birth to Emma.
On 22 November 950 Lothair was poisoned. by his successor Berengar II of Italy.
He attempted to cement his power by forcing the widowed Adelaide to marry his son Adalbert. She refused and fled to the castle of Como. She was tracked down and imprisoned at Garda for 4 months. She escaped and was rescued by a priest who probably took her to Canossa Castle near Reggio. While theer she sent an emissary to Otto I, the East Frankish king for his protection. They met at Pavia, the old Lombard capital, and were married on 23rd September 951.
Adelaide accompanied her husband on his second expedition to Italy. In Rome, on 2nd February 967, Pope John XII, crowned Otto the Great as Holy Roman Emperor and breaking from tradition Adelaide was named Holy Roman Empress.
4 years later they returned to Rome, with their son 11 year old Otto II, to restore the newly elected Pope John XIII to his throne and to execute some of the Roman rioters who had deposed him.
For the next 6 years they stayed in Rome, Otto ruled his German kingdom from there. 967 their son Otto II was crowned co-emperor and married Theophanu, a Byzantine princess, in April 972. This solved the conflict between the 2 Italian empires in southern Italy.
They returned to Germany and Otto I died in May 973. Adelaide return to Italy where she had a powerful influence at court. In 978 expelled from court - jealous daughter-in-law to blame. In exile for 5 years. Reconciled to son in 983 before he died. Grandson Otto III now emperor. On death of his mother in 990 Adelaide assumed regency for next 4 years. In 995 he was declared of ‘legal majority’,
Adelaide. now in her 60’s, devoted herself exclusively yo her works of charity -
foundation and restoration of religious houses - monasteries, churches and abbeys.
She retired to a nunnery she had founded in c.991 at Seiz in Alsace,
She died at the Seiz Abbey on 16th December 999, She was buried at the abbey and Pope Urban II canonized her in 1097.
Adelaide had devoted herself to the service of the church and peace, and to the empire as a guardian of both.
Gregory Thaumaturgus (c.213-270), also known as Gregory of Neocaesarea, was a Christian bishop of the 3rd century. He has been canonized as a saint in the Catholic and Orthodox Churches.
Gregory was born around 213 AD into a wealthy pagan family in Neocaesarea (modern Niksar).
He was originally known as Theodore ( gift of God). His immemorial title Thaumaturgus, the wonder worker. in Latinized Greek, casts an air of legend about him but the historical references to him permit a fairly detailed reconstruction of his work.
He was introduced to the Christian faith at the age of 14, after his father had died. He studied law and traditional Greek and Roman classics.
His brother-in-law was appointed legal counsel to the Roman Governor of Palestine. With his brother Athenodorus they acted as an escort to take their sister to Caesarea in Palestine. While there they learned that the celebrated scholar Origen resided there. Curiosity led them to hear and speak with Origen, the head of the Catechetical School of Alexandria. They gave themselves up to the great Christian leader who gradually won them over to Christianity
For 7 years he underwent the mental and moral discipline of Origen (231-9).Before leaving Palestine he delivered a public farewell oration to his illustrious master Origen to thank him.
Gregory returned to Pontus with the intention of practising law but he was soon consecrated bishop of Neocaesarea by Phoedimus, Bishop of Amasea and metropolitan of Pontus.
He was 40 when he became bishop and he ruled his diocese for 13 years. He started with 17 members but under his leadership most of the city of Pontus converted to Christianity. His skills were such that some his flock soon attributed miracles to him - he gained the nickname of The wonder Worker.
But during the persecutions ordered by Emperor Decius in 250 many deserted. He also fled into the surrounding mountains with many of his flock. By the time of his death his flock had dwindled back to 17.
Gregory was a great and conspicuous lamp, illuminating the church of God
Basil concludes Gregory was regarded as another Moses. Basil the Great
Sources used
Christianity Today
Wikipedia
Brief note included about Origen
Saint Aldhelm (c.639-7090 was Abbot of Malmesbury Abbey, Bishop of Sherborne, a writer and scholar of Latin Poetry.
He is said to have been the son of Kenten, who was of the royal house of Wessex.
Aldhelm was educated by an Irish hermit called Maildulf (also known as Maemaidub, Maidubh and Meldun), who had a small school near what is now Maimesbury (which was named after him). He remained with him for many years.
In 668 Pope Vitalian sent Theodore of Tarsus to be Archbishop of Canterbury. At the same time Hadrian, the North African scholar, became abbot of St. Augustine’s at Canterbury. Aldhelm, now aged about 30, went to Canterbury. There his studies included Roman law, astronomy, astrology, the art of reckoning and the difficulties of the calendar. He learned Latin and Greek, plus possibly Hebrew. He used Latinized Greek words in his works on poetry and prose.
Due to ill health he left Canterbury and returned to Malmesbury Abbey where he was a monk under Maildulf for 14 years, dating probably from 661. It was a small community that had grown from Maildulf 's pupils
On the death of Maildulf he was appointed as the first abbot of Malmesbury.He introduced Benedictine rule and secured the right of the election of the abbot to the monks he founded 2 other monasteries - Frome in Somerset and Bradford on Avon in Wiltshire. He also built a new church at Malmesbury and obtained grants of land for the monastery. He was the abbot there for 35 years
He was a learned man and also a poet, It is said if his hearers would not listen to his sermons he would sing his own songs to them. There is a story that his sermon at Bishopstrow in Wiltshire was so long that his staff, which he stuck into the ground when he began, had ash buds on it at the end!
His fame as a scholar spread to other countries. Artwil, the son of an Irish king, submitted his writings for Aldhelm’s approval As far as we know he was the first Anglo Saxon to write in Latin verse. ( For more detail go to Wikipedia entry)
HIs fame reached Rome. He was successfully involved in solving the controversy of the dating of Easter.
He reluctantly became the first bishop of Sherborne when the huge diocese of West Sussex was divided into Winchester and Sherborne. The monks at the abbey did not want to lose him so he was both abbot and bishop. His territory stretched right to Land’s End,
Aldhelm was now in his mid 60s but he was very active as a bishop. He built the cathedral church at Sherborne. He was known to sing hymns and passages from the Gospels, interspersed with entertaining tales, in public places, so he might draw attention from the crowds and then preach to them. He is known as the Apostle of Wessex.
He died on 25 May, 709 five years after he had become bishop. He was buried in the church of St. Michael at Malmesbury Abbey. HIs friend, St. Egwin, Bishop of Worcester, set up crosses at Aldhelm’s various stopping places.
His feast, on May 25th, is in the Sarum Missal.
I came across information about 10 Asian Christian Women during my research. I have set them up in alphabetically order and found extra information on 8 of them.
Angie Hong - a Korean-American worship leader, speaker and writer.
Dr Grace Ji-Sun Kim - a Korean American theologian and professor - best known for her work on the social and religious experiences of Korean women immigrants in N. America.
Dr. Havilah Dharamraj - she is passionate about South Asian Christian leaders to understand the Word of God within the Asian context.
HeeSun Lee is a Christian hip hop artist. She is vocal about her faith and uses her singles and albums to not only talk about Jesus but elevate her diverse experiences as a bicultural Korean American Christian
Hosanna Wong - she has a unique storytelling voice in which she explores faith and identity through first hand experiences of lose, hope and redemption.
Dr. Jayachitra Lalitha- she is an ordained minister of the Church of South India, She holds a number of roles at Tamilnadu Theological Seminary - associate professor, dean of the women’s studies dept. and coordinator of the women’s centre. Plus co-chair and coeditor of 2 organizations
Dr Sydney Park - she is Associate professor of Divinity at Beeson Divinity School.
Her courses and writings emphasis the need for reconciliation and justice initiatives, both within the church and society at large
Sherrene DeLong- she is an Indian American doctoral student - she challenges what cultures are considered normal and the way in which American evangelism can become more open to eastern values like open -door hospitality.
Tara VanderWounde - is a nationwide speaker at conferences and is passionate about equipping parents for experiences and conversations their children encounter.
Vivian Mabuni - is a Chinese American author, speaker ans cancer survivor. She is passionate about raising up up the next generation of Asian American leaders.
She is the founder of SIH -* Someday is Here Podcast. a place where Asian American women can explore their heritage.
Ten Asian Christian women determined to forward the Christian Gospel.
Bakht Singh Chabra , also known as Brother Bahkt Singh, was India’s foremost Christian evangelistic preacher and indigenous church planter. He founded and established the Hebron Ministries in India. This world wide indigenous church planting movement grew to more than 10, 000 local churches.
According to Indian traditions he is known as ‘Elijah of the 21st century’ in Christendom.
He was born into a religious Sikh family in the village of Joiya.
He studied at a Christian missionary school in India but Bakht at some stage ripped a Bible to pieces.
His parents were against him coming to England in 1926 to study Agricultural Engineering because they feared he would influenced by Christians. He promised he would not convert.
In 1929 he went to the University of Manitoba in Canada. He was befriend by 2 devout Christians -John and Edith Hayward. 4th February 1932 baptized in Vancouver, British Columbia
In 1933 returned to India having told his parents by letter of his conversion. Asked to keep it a secret he refused - they left him - he was homeless.
He started to preach in the streets of Bombay. He became a fiery itinerant preacher and revivalist gaining a large following throughout colonial India.
He was initially Anglican but became independent.
In 1937 the revival that swept through the Martinbur United Presbyterian church was one of the most notable movements in the history of the church of India. ( Jonathan Bonk in 1998 declared).
He started local assemblies based on New Testament principles after spending a night in prayer on a mountain top at Pallavaram, Chennai in 1941.
He held his first ‘Holy Convocation’ in Madras in 1941. These were held annually in Madras, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Kalimpong. Participants,in their 1000s, would eat and sleep in huge tents and meet under a large thatched pandal for hours long prayer, praise and teaching meetings that began at dawn and ended late at night. The care and feeding of guests was handled by volunteers. Expenses were given by voluntary offerings, no appeal was issued.
Read the 6 testimonies.
250,000 attended his funeral in Narayanguda’s Christian cemetery.
BPCA celebrated its 50 years in November 2019 (1969-2019).
Prior to 1967 the Chowdhry brothers- Mujeeb, Najeeb and Waheed had started a home church. The services at St. Mary’s were originally led by lay preacher Akhter Samuel
The pioneering Pak-Christian Church at St. Mary’s, London proliferated across the UK through traceable oral-history links. In 1994 the church moved to a new premise. Many of the BPCA leaders who attended the event were asked to speak and present trophies to the leading dignitaries within the Pakistani Christian community- see list.
The Revd. Daniel Singh, the first ordained Church of England Asian minister, who galvanised the church, was posthumously awarded a trophy for ‘Outstanding leadership for Pakistani Christians in the UK’. (In 1978 the Rt. Revd Trevor Huddleston, Bishop of Stepney, had paid for Singh to attend Oak Hill College.) The award was collected by Dishad, his son-in-law.
Two of the leaders present were Michael Nazir-Ali a former Anglican bishop and James Shera MBE , former mayor of Rugby. (See notes)
Some thing separate, but interesting, I found an article about the voices of foreign language speakers and multilingual congregations in the Church of England
*
Everytime I think I’ve forgotten
I thin I’ve lost the mother tongue,
it blossoms out of my mouth
Sujata Bhatt
Sources used
Evangelicals now
Church Times
Dr. Charles Stewart Thompson (1851-1900 was the first medical missionary to Kherwara Chhaoniin Rajputana, the Bhils region of Central India. His schools, famine relief centres and medical service transformed care in the region.
He was accepted as a missionary by the Church Missionary Society (CMS) and in June 1880 he was ordained a deacon, in October ordained as a priest
He was a doctor, reverend, translator and philanthropist who worked to treat cholera. leprosy, the Bubonic plague, ophthalmia, malaria rheumatism and fever.
It took him nearly 10 years to achieve his first convert. It was said that many of his Bhil students were Christian at heart but none had the courage to be baptized for fear of social ostracism. On 15th December 1889 Sukha Damor, his wife and their 4 children were baptized. Others followed. He eventually pioneered Christianity in 7 districts.
In 1896, after 15 years, he took a furlough. He had established primary schools, dispensaries, relief centres and orphanages. He had also translated and published the Gospel, the first grammar and vocabulary book and a prayer book into the Bhili language.
While in the UK he desperately attempted to persuade the CMS to send more doctors and nurses.
In 1899 he heard about the terrible Chappania Famine afflicting the Bhil region. and returned to India. The men had fled leaving only women and children who were starving. He took matters into his own hands -he set up 7 relief centres - feeding 700 Bhili children and some adults. He set up an orphanage. By April 1900 he had opened 15 relief centres and was feeding 5,500 children, twice daily who would have been either dead or starving.
In May 1900 he fell ill with cholera. The Bhil people tried to get him European Aid. He died on May 19th at noon, under a tree.
On his death he became a source of inspiration. He was acclaimed as the founding father who had laid down his life for the salvation of the Bhil. Many volunteers came forward to help with the Bhil mission. In Kherwara there is school named in his memory - The Thompson Memorial School.
Charles spent nearly 20 years living, working, and ultimately dedicating his life to the plight of the Bhils.