Isobel Selina Miller Kuhn - Belle - was a Canadian Christian missionary to the Lisu people of Yunnan Province, China and northern Thailand. She served with the China Inland Mission, along with her husband John , as a Bible translator, church planter, Bible teacher, evangelist and author of 9 books about her experiences. Rainy Seasons Bible Schools was opened by Isobel. During the dry season her ‘pupils’ worked hard on the land. When the floods came they were able to study. From 1930-1954 Isobel and John were missionaries in China. Their missionary work was put on hold from 1950-2 because of the Chinese communist revolution. In 1954 Isobel was diagnosed with cancer and she concentrated on writing her books. Her first book By Searching is an autobiography of her early life in a Christian home and her eventual conversion, aged 20, to being a born again Christian. ISBN 978-0853639111 Irene Howat in her book Gold from Dark Mines looks at Isobel 's searching and 5 other well known Christians and their build-up to their conversions. Isobel died on March 20th 1957 with her John at her side. Her funeral was held at Wheaton College Church. When I get to heaven they aren’t going to see much of me but my heels, for I’ll be hanging over the golden wall keeping an eye on the Lisu church! Isobel Kuhn (Note Her father was a roentgenologist - a person who uses x-rays in the diagnosis of illness an disease.) Sources Wikipedia 4 excellent pages of notes Gold From Dark Mines Irene Howat ch7 p173-p203 (ISBN 1 -85792-943-8)

Johann wrote several influential books on devotional Christianity. He is seen as a forerunner of Pietism (intensity of religious devotion) a movement within Lutherism that gained strength in the late 17th century. His fame rests on his writings. He wrote several influential books. His principal piece of work was *Wahres Christentum * -True Christianity His best known work is Paraadiesgartlein aller christlichen Tugenden(1612)* He was held in very high repute by German Pietists. The importance of Johann’s influence on the early Pietists is that some scholars even called him the true founder of the movement. In 2022 he was added to the Episcopal Church liturgical calendar. His feast day is 11th May which he shares with Jacob Boehme.

I have put together 10 New Testament profiles which I hope should prove of use. I have included all/many of the biblical references for all of them. Mary and Joseph the parents of Jesus, and Zechariah and John the Baptist are related. Zechariah's wife, Elizabeth, is a cousin of Mary and John the Baptist is their son. I have included a statement explaining what happened normally to illegitimate babies in Israel 2000 years ago. Andrew, Simon Peter and Matthew are three of the disciples of Jesus. Mary Magdalene, according to the gospels, only had seven demons removed by Jesus. There is actually nothing to say what she did before she became a follower of Jesus. Lazarus was raised from the dead and Stephen was the first Christian martyr.

I have put together some sheets about St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. There is a cover followed by two information sheets and two large font sheets detailing basic data. There are two ‘gap’ pieces of work (differentiated), a crossword which requires a picture answer, a word search, sheets about words found in Patrick, pictorial information how St. Patrick’s flag became part of the Union Jack, plus ideas for a diary and a ‘blank’ for the ‘best’ copy diary. David Woodroffe, a professional illustrator, created the art work I have used.

Saint Matthew or Levi was one of the twelve original disciples of Jesus. According to the Gospels Matthew was a 1st century Galilean. He is referred to as being a publican or tax collector in Capernaum before becoming one of the twelve apostles. He would have witnessed first hand Jesus carrying out his miracles and speaking parables. He would have witnessed much of Jesus’ last three years of his ministry including the crucifixion, resurrection and ascension. His ministry after Christ’s resurrection is vague. Christian fathers such as Irenaeus and Clement of Alexandria claim that Matthew preached th gospel to the Jewish community in Judea before going to other countries. The Catholic and Orthodox Churches each hold the tradition that he died a marytr. Did Matthew write the Saint Matthew’s gospel ? The author is not named within the text. Papias of Hierapolis (c60-163 AD) is cited by church historian Eusebius (260-340 AD as saying *Matthew collected the oracles, in the Hebrew language and each interpreted them as best he could. Sources used wlkipedia and The Church’s Year by Charles Alexander.

Joseph Prince is a televangelist, senior pastor and one of the founders (1983) of New Creation Church based in Singapore, plus being an author. Joseph is the son of a Sikh priest and Chinese mother. He was born on the 15th May 1953.His birth name was Xenonamandar Jegahusiee Singh. He adopted the name of Joseph Prince while serving as an IT consultant just before he was appointed senior pastor in 1990. He spent his primary school years in Perak, Malaysia. He studied at Commonwealth Secondary School and completed his ‘A’ levels at Our lady of Lourdes, a private school. Joseph prior to 1997 had preached at churches across the world - Europe, Canada and USA and Australia. In 1997, while on holiday in the Swiss Alps with his wife, Wendy, God spoke to him. He was told he had not been preaching grace. God gave him a mandate to preach grace- pure and unadulterated *If you don’t preach pure, unadulterated grace, people’s lives will never be gloriously blessed and gloriously transformed. Desiring to see his congregation liberated, empowered and blessed by the Lord, Joseph fully embraced the mandate and has not looked back. The Singapore church numbers in 1997 were 2,000. Today there are 30,000 members. Since 1997 he has spoken in Israel, Norway, Germany, Holland, the UK. the USA, Canada, Australia and Asia. Impacting on both believers and church leaders with practical and revelatory preaching that unveils to the person the grace of Jesus Christ In 2014 Grace Revolution Church was birthed in Dallas. Texas. There is now a vibrant community of grace believers living there. In 2017 the Joseph Prince Ministry launched Decibel - an online channel and digital magazine with bite sized videos, articles and other inspiring contents to reach young people with the Gospel. May it loudly ring. Over the last 13 years (2007-20) he has written Christian books. ( See publications) Reading the paragraph - Compensation - it seems he is well paid… His church - New Creation Church regard his net worth as ‘personal in nature’. Grace is so important . It is an anagram of Great Riches at Christ’s Expense. The world is so much richer for Joseph Prince following God’s mandate to preach pure, unadulterated grace. Sources used Joseph prince Ministries Wikipedia

captain Thomas Coram (c.1668-1751 was a philanthropist who created the London Foundling Hospital in Lamb’s Conduit Fields, Bloomsbury, to look after abandoned children. It is said to be the world’s first incorporated charity. Thomas Coram, while living in Rotherhithe , regularly travelled into London. He was frequently shocked by the sight of infants exposed in the streets, often in a dying . He agitated for the foundation of a foundling hospital. This institution was to be a children’s home for children and orphans who could not be properly cared for. He laboured for 17 years. He induced many ladies of rank to sign a memorial. King George 11, in 1739, finally signed a charter for the Foundling Hospital and considerable sums were subscribed. 20th November 1739 saw the first meeting of the guardians at Somerset House. Later a vote of thanks was given to Coram who requested thanks should also be given to the interested ladies. William Hogarth, a personal friend of Thomas, showed great interest in the undertaking. In May 1740 he presented his portrait of Coram to the hospital. He introduced a portrait of Coram into an engraved power of attorney for receiving subscriptions. He presented a picture of Moses with Pharaoh’s daughter. Finally he gave 157 tickets in the lottery for the ‘March to Finchley’ -one of the 157 tickets won the prize. Some houses were taken and the first children were admitted in 1741. A piece of land was bought for £7,000 in Bloomsbury. Lord Salisbury, the owner insisted that the whole of his ground as far as Gray’s inn lane should be taken. He also subscribed £500. Coram continued to invest in the hospital. Up until 1742 he continued to be elected to the General Committee. But at the May Day meeting in 1742 he did not receive enough votes. As a result he no longer had any say in the management of the hospital. Why? No clear reason is obvious but he is said to have spread defamatory rumours about 2 of the governors or he expressed criticism towards how the hospital was run. 16th September 1742 the foundation stone for the hospital was laid. October 1745 the west wing was finished. Children moved into the new building. Hogarth was among the first governors of the Foundling hospital. Handle gave performances at the hospital in 1749 and 1750. ( See ‘Legacy’) . Today the Foundling Hospital continues as the children’s charity Coram, with a mission to improve the lives of the UK’s most vulnerable children and young people. ( See ‘Coram’ for more info) In 2000Coram Boy - a children’s book about the hospital, by Jamila Gavin was published. Now a play. William Coram died on 29th March 1751, aged 81. He was buried in the chapel of the Foundling Hospital. A statue and inscription was erected in front of the building 100 years later. In 1935 the building was demolished. Today his exhumed remains are in the chapel of Ashlyns School.

Alfred the Great was the king of th e West Saxons from 871-886 and king of the Anglo-Saxons c.886-899. He is venerated as a saint by some Christian traditions. The Anglican community venerate him as a Christian hero with a feast day or commemoration on 26th October. He is often depicted in stained glass windows in C of E parish churches. Alfred was the youngest son of King AEthelwulf. Three of his brothers AEthelbald. AEtheberht and AEthelred, reigned in turn before him. After ascending the throne he spent several years fighting Viking invasions. In 878/9 he had a decisive victory at the Battle of Edington. (He did not win all the battles) With the Vikings he created Danelaw in the North of England. He saw the Viking leader. Guthrum converted to Christianity. He became the dominant ruler in England Alfred had a great love of the church. As a child he had made the difficult journey to Rome to be blessed by the Pope. As king he now turned to rebuilding of civilisation and religion among his people. The Danes had destroyed nearly all th churches and schools in the land. He restored communications with Rome and invited scholars and monks from the Europe and Ireland to come and help in the revival of learning in England. He encouraged the building of churches, monasteries and schools. Alfred studied and translated into Anglo-Saxon the Psalms. He also translated from Latin into Old English certain works that were regarded at the time as providing models of ideal Christian kingship and ‘most necessary for all men to know.’ From his followers he won the title ‘Protector of the Poor’. Bishop Asser of Wales was set the task of writing the king’s biography - he emphasised Alfred’s positive aspects. He presented Alfred as the embodiment of the ideal, but practical, Christian ruler. By the time of the Reformation Alfred was seen as a pious Christian who promoted the use of English rather then the Latin He was given the epithet as ‘the Great’ by writers in the 16th century not by his contemporaries. He reigned for 30 years. He died aged just 50.King Alfred was never canonised (although HenryV1 asked Pope EugeneIV in 1441 to canonise him). History Today published an article The Most Perfect Man in History- I have enclosed most of the article. I desire to live worthily as long as I lived, and to leave after my life, to the men who should come after me, the memory of me in good works Alfred’s translation of passage from* Consolation of Philosophy* by Boethius Source used Wikipedia

Epiphany means ‘revelation’, ‘manifestation’ or ‘showing forth’ - it was the revealing of Jesus to those who were not Jewish - the magi, 3 kings, or 3 wise men were Gentiles. January 6th is the feast day January 6th originally was used to celebrate the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. When Jesus received the Holy Ghost it was manifested to the people. The 3 kings are part of the Nativity plays, along with the shepherds, which are part of the birth story of Jesus. Tradition suggests that they arrived days following Halley’s Comet, maybe weeks after, the birth of the baby Jesus. Tradition has named them as Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar and they brought gifts of gold (kingship), frankincense (godship0 and myrrh (for burial0. In orthodox churches Epiphany is also known as The Feast of the Holy Theophany and is important as Christmas. Special cakes are eaten in Spain, France and Mexico. This is also the time that some children from Spain and Italy receive their Christmas presents from the 3 Magic Kings. (Read Epiphany, the Feast of The Three Kings) ( Winter swimming is even mentioned!!) January 6th is also Twelfth Night when the Christmas decorations normally are taken down. Sources used Wikipedia Church Dates for Children by Tony Batchelor

Lent looks at the 40 days leading up to Easter. We think of Jesus spending 40 days fasting in the wilderness before he began his earthly ministry. The word ‘lent’ is the shortened form of the Old English word ‘lencten’ which means spring season. It starts on Ash Wednesday. The day before Ash Wednesday is Shrove Tuesday which is celebrated as Pancake day or Mardi Gras. On this day, the day before fasting begins, the rich, fatty food are eaten up - the last day of ‘fat eating’ or ‘gorging’, in readiness to start fasting. Pancakes are tossed then eaten. On Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, the palm crosses distributed the previous year at the Palm service, are burnt and the ashes places on people’s foreheads during the service. Lent is a penitential season and many people fast - they cut out/cut down or abstain from eating. It could also include abstaining from drinking alcohol or smoking. it could include praying more, reading more Bible studies instead of watching a favourite television programmes. (Read ‘Fasting and abstinence’) I have included list of other 40 days mentioned in the Bible. Source Wikipedia See also Pancake day & Shrove Tuesday Easter

Robert was a Scottish Quaker and was one of the most eminent writers belonging to the Religious Society of Friends (RSF) and a a member of the Clan Barclay. He was born at Gordonstoun in Moray, Scotland. He finished his education at the Scots College in Paris where his uncle was rector. In 1667 he followed his father and joined the recently formed RSF. In 1670 he married Christian Mollison, a fellow quaker, and they had 7 children. Soon afterwards he began to write in defence of the movement.*** Truth cleared of Calumnies (1670), a Catechism and Confession of Faith (1673) and Theses Theologiae (1676) *** His greatest work wasAn Apology for the True Christian Divinity (1676)originally published in Latin in Amsterdam, translated to English in 1678. It is claimed to be one of the most impressive theological writings of the century. (See '*Works 1670-1682 for full list) He was an ardent theological student who maintained* that all people can be illuminated by the Inward light of Christ… He was a strong supporter of George Fox in the controversies that beset the Quakers in the 1670s. Robert died aged just 41 His descendants include David Barclay, his great grand son, who became one of the founders of Barclays Bank.

Antoine was a French philosopher, mathematician and a leading theologian of the Jansenist movement ( See notes). He studied law and theology at Sorbonne. In 1641 he was ordained as a priest and deeply associated himself with the Jansenist movement at the convent at Port-Royal. His book De la frequente communion (1641) caused a storm - it attracted controversy by being against frequent communion. For 20 years he was forced to withdraw from public life and the faculty at the Sorbonne. He spent a lot of his time writing. He died, aged 82, in Brussels. His complete works -37 volumes in 42 parts was published between 1775-81. Boilrau wrote a famous epitaph The most learned man who ever wrote. Antoine was also regarded as being one of the most important mathematicians of his time His sister Marie Angelique Arnauld became abbess at Port-Royal.( See note) Source Wikipedia

Michael, born a Jew, became the first Anglican bishop in Jerusalem. He was born into a Jewish family in Prussia and emigrated to England in about 1820. His education in the Talmud began when he was a child. From 16-20 he was a teacher in the community teaching the Talmud and the German language. In Norwich he became a rabbi. While there he came into contact with William Marsh a stalwart of the London Society for Promoting Christianity Among the Jews.- (now known as Church’s Ministry Among Jewish People (CMJ)) He attempted to escape the Christian influence by moving to Plymouth to teach. In 1825 he converted to Christianity. In 1827 he moved with his wife, Deborah, to Dublin. In the same year he was ordained into the Anglican church. From 1827-30 he worked for CMJ in Danzig and from 1827-41 in London. In 1841 a unique agreement was reached between the British and Prussian governments - the establishment of a Protestant Bishopric in Jerusalem. Michael - the Jewish born Christian -was appointed bishop in 1842. His position was always controversial - the Jews called him an apostate. He died just 3 years later but by that time he had set up a School of Industry, an Enquirers house, a Hebrew College and the first Hospital in Palestine. Note The Christ Church - a simple Gothic building- was completed in 1849, 4 years after Michael’s unexpected death. Outside it differs very little from many Anglican churches but inside the building has more similarity to a synagogue, Source Wikipedia

The Act of Uniformity prescribed the form of public prayers, administration of sacraments and other rites of the Established Church of England according to the 1662 Book of Common Prayer. The Great Ejection meant ministers, who refused to follow the act, were forced out of their position. 2000+ Puritan ministers were ejected out of the C OF E and were now called nonconformists. The Act of Uniformity is one of 4 crucial pieces of legislation known as the Clarendon Code. Source Wikipedia

Isaac was an English Puritan divine. He was born one year after James VI of Scotland became James 1 of Scotland and England(1603-25). He was brought up in a well known Roman Catholic family. Aged 17 he entered Brasenose College Oxford. He graduated in 1624 with a B.A. and ordained. He became one of Charles 1 's itinerant preachers in Lancashire. He spent time in Garstang before he was selected by Lady Margaret Hoghton as vicar of Preston. In 1641 he became a Presbyterian minister and was on the celebrated committee for the ejection of 'scandalous and ignorant ministers and schoolmasters during the Commonwealth. ’ He became caught up in the Civil War - Royalist v Parliamentarians (Charles II v Oliver Cromwell). Twice he was imprisoned by the Royalists. He tried to evade the political controversies of the time. . In 1654, as a result of the Civil War, he left his great church in Preston and moved to Garstang. The 1662 Act of Uniformity saw him ejected, along with 2,000+ ministers, because he refused to conform ( See* Act of Uniformity and Great Ejection*) His gentleness of character and earnest presentation of the gospel attached him to his congregation . As a religious writer he had a vividness and freshness of imagination possessed by few of the puritan Nonconformist. His Looking unto Jesus held its own popular appreciation with the writings of John Bunyan. Source Wikipedia See also sheet House of Stuart and First Interregnum

Lancelot was an English bishop and scholar who held high positions in the Church of England during the reigns of Elizabeth I and James 1. During the reign of James I he served successively as Bishop of Chichester (1605-9), Ely (1609-19) and Winchester ( 1619- 1626). In 1571 he entered Pembroke College, Cambridge. He earned a BA and a MA. In 1576 elected fellow at Pemborke. 11th June 1580 he was ordained. He was incorporated MA at Oxford. He oversaw the translation of the King James version of the Bible .His name is the first on the list of divines appointed to compile the authorized version commissioned in 1604 and published in 1611. His elder brother Roger also served as a translator. Once a year he would spend a vacation of a month with his parents. He would use this time to study European languages- eventually he acquired most of the modern languages of Europe. He sought to defend and advance Anglican doctrine, criticising both Puritan and Roman Catholic teaching. He was renown his preaching. His most famous book was * Preces Privatae* (1648) - a collection of prayers. Following the discovery of the Gunpowder Plot - November 5th 1605 - he was asked to prepare a sermon to be presented to the king in 1606. In the sermon he justified the need to commemorate the deliverance and defined the nature of celebrations. Read* During Elizabeth’s reign and During the reign of James I* Lancelot’s feast day is 25th September Source Wikipedia

Aphrahat was a Syriac Christian author of the third century. His ancestors were from the Persian /Sasanian Empire. All of his known works, the *Demonstrations * come from later in his life - 336-344. Aphrahat is the Syriac version of the Persian name Frahat, which today would be Farhad. The author, known as the Persian sage, also took the name Jacob at his baptism. There is a suggestion that he became a bishop Read about order and subjects of the 23 Demonstrations.

This is the last great festival of the church’s year. The Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Ghost/Spirit is celebrated. There is a straight forward information sheet. On Google it is possible to get b/w pictures for the children to colour. I have created a ‘How many words can you find in Trinity Sunday’ sheet. When they have found a few words they can create a simple crossword - example of crossword shown. I have included a Word Maker for TrinitySunday if they have a problem finding words.

St Anthony of Kiev or Anthony of the Caves was a monk and founder of the monastic tradition in Kievan Rus’. Together with Theodosius of Kiev he founded the Kiev Pechersk Lavra (Kiev Monastery of the Caves). He was born in Lyubech (present day Liubech). H e was baptized with the name Antipas. At an early age he was drawn to the spiritual life and joined the Greek Orthodox Esphigmenou Monastery on Mount Athos to live as a hermit. He lived in a secluded cave overlooking the sea - which is open to this day for visitors to see. In about 1011 the abbot set Anthony the task of expanding monasticism in his native Kiev. He returned to Kiev to find several monasteries had been established by local princes. They were not as austere as those on Mount Athos so he lived in a small cave which had been dug near the presbyter Hilarion. In 1015 Vladimir I of Kiev died and war broke out between his two sons. During the conflict Anthony returned to Athos. Once the conflict had finished he returned to Kiev. He had a very strict asceticism ( austere diet ) - he ate rye bread every other day and drank only a little water. The abbot prophesied that many monks would join him. His fame spread beyond Kiev… !2 others joined him including Nikon the priest and Theodosius of Kiev Read Establishment of Kyiv Pechersk Lavra He continued to live a seclusion in a cave. The cave became the first of what would later be known as the Far Caves. Iziaslav sends him into exile: his brother, Sviatoslav secretly invites him to Chernigov. Iziaslav reconciled with Anthony.A large stone church is built to accommodate the increased number of monk. A large stone church was under construction to accommodate the increased number of monks during his life time. He died before it was completed. Anthony died aged 90. He requested that his remains were hidden - they have never been found.

Claudio was an Italian Jesuit priest. In 1581 he was elected as the fifth Superior General of the Society of Jesus.He has been referred to as the second founder of the Jesuit order After initial studies of humanities (Greek, Hebrew and Latin) and Mathematics.he studied Jurisprudence in Perugia. In 1567 he joined the the Society of Jesus. With the blessing of Pius V he asked the Superior General, Francis Borgia,if he could be admitted to the noviceship . Soon after completing his studies he was given important responsibilities- his administrative gifts marking him out for the higher posts.He became the Provincial superior first in Naples then in Rome. In 1580 he joined the Jesuit mission to England He was responsible for *Ratio atque institutio studiorum * (1586). It was the summing up of years of experience in the field of education and marshalling them int the Jesuit system of education Parts were withdrawn in 1591 but under Clement VIII and Paul V he was able to save his party from a condemnation that at one time seemed probable. Read ‘Achievements as General.’ By the time he died in Rome the Society had tripled in size with 13,000 numbers in 550 houses and 15 provinces.** Claudio was undoubtedly one of the greatest Superior Generals to have govern the Society,