Looking for interesting missionaries and evangelists to write about I came across this lady. Incredible, as it might seem, Amanda Berry Smith started life as a slave but ended up becoming an evangelist going to both India and then to Africa. Later in life she ended up funding and opening up a children's orphanage.

James Hudson Taylor was the founder of the interdenominational China Inland Mission. He dreamed as a child of going to China as a missionary. He fulfilled his dream but he had to set up his own mission to make it successful. He was frustrated the first time he went out because he had little support from the mission which sent him out. He did such a good job setting up his own mission for China that other faith missions followed his methods. His chief emphases were to identify with the local people by dressing 'native', direction to come from the mission field not home, efficient administration and wanting a deepening of Christian life in the home churches to encourage more to go into the mission field. He was happily married twice and both his wives Maria and Jane supported him in his endeavours to evangelise China. He spent 50 years as a missionary and went 11 times to China. Through a lifetime of ministry he fulfilled his calling.

Caroline Chisholm is a woman spent a great deal of her time trying to help others get on in life -especially other women. With her husband Archibald she spent time in both India and Australia. In India where she opened a school. In Australia she wanted to help emigrants settle successfully there- she set up the Female Immigration Home and also helped set up a safe route for the gold pioneers to follow. She also helped migrants wanting to go to Australia from the UK. It has been suggested that Charles Dickens, in his book Hard Times, wrote his character Mrs. Jellyby as a criticism of female activists like Caroline Chisholm.

Albert Schweitzer was undoubtedly one of the most gifted men of his generation. His strong faith took him to Africa. His 1931 autobiography, 'Out of My Life and Thought' described much of his work in Africa. His musical talent as an organist, giving benefit concerts, paid largely for the founding and running of the hospital. He wrote many books in his lifetime on different themes - theological, the organ works of J.S. Bach, how an organ works and anti nuclear. Unfortunately, in today's culture, the comments he made then about those he treated are seen as racist and having a colonialistic view of Africans. In the 50 years he worked there he positively influenced the lives of those he cared for as a doctor, surgeon and pastor. The hospital continues to be the primary source of healthcare for the surrounding region and in 2011 an African, for the first time, leads the hospital..

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.

Classes often have a 'starter' for the day. This can be How many words can you find in _________ On a special Christian festival why not take the name(s) as the starter. This could be looked at 4 ways:- 1. Creating a list. 2. Placing the words in a 3x3 or 4x4 square. 3. Creating a simple crossword with clues. 4. The teacher/parent creating a crossword for the children to solve using the answers given. The starter would be a combining of R.E. with an English spelling exercise.

John Newton loved to go to sea. He had a very eventful early life. He went to sea with his father aged only 11. Aged 18 he was press ganged by the Royal Navy. He became the ‘slave’ of Princess Peye. He eventually became a captain of three slave ships. Whilst a slave trader, on 10th March, 1745, following a very sever storm where his boat nearly sank ,he had a spiritual conversion.He started to read his Bible. He left the slave trade behind in 1755 and became the tide surveyor (tax collector) for the Port of Liverpool. He began to study to become a clergyman. Persistence paid off and eventually in 1764 to become a deacon. William Cowper, the poet, attended his church and together they wrote many hymns - Amazing Grace was one of them. He encouraged the young William Wilberforce to stay in politics. He waited 34 years before he wrote a pamphlet ‘Thoughts Upon the Slave Trade’. He sent a copy to every MP He died in 1807 knowing the British Passage of the Slave Trade act had been passed by parliament. I have included a copy of Amazing Grace, a list of the books he wrote and a word search (answers provided) . The slave trader who became the slave abolitionist and hymn writer. He was also the author of many Christian books.

William Wilberforce, although small in stature (5ft. 3 in,) and suffering from poor health, was the GIANT against the Slave Trade and Slavery. Whilst still a student at Cambridge he paid the 'customary ’ amount of £8,000 ( a fortune in those days) to become the member of Parliament for Kingston on Hull, his home town. Early on he became an evangelical Christian and wondered whether to stay a MP. John Newman, his mentor, persuaded him to ‘serve God where he was’. In his late 30’s he married Barbara Spooner and they had 6 children over a 10 year period. Barbara nursed William after he resigned from his parliamentary seat, in 1824 . For 50 years he fought,supported by his friends, for the banning of the slave trade and slavery. Persistence finally paid off. His bills originally were turned down or ‘watered down’ so they were of little effect. It was only on his death bed did he succeed. In 1833 he wrote his last petition. The Abolition of Slavery Bill had its third and final reading, on 26th July 1833, after three months of debate. William was immediately told and he died three days later. I have included two brief history, some gap work and a word search (answers given).

We celebrate St. Luke, the evangelist, on October 18th. I have found a picture and written a a brief history of St. Luke. I have included the collect for the day. There is also a short crossword and word search -answers provided.

Saint Frithuswith is remembered on October 19th. Saint Frithuswith is known under 6 different names. She is the patron saint of both Oxford and Oxford University. I have used the Wikipedia notes. I found in my research, using Google, The Legend of Fridewide of Oxford. It gives the full story of her life but I was unable to download the story. Saint Frithuswith has been depicted in a stained glass window, by Edward Burne-Jones, In Christ Church Catherdral, In Oxford, where her shrine can alsobe located.

St.Crispin and St. Crispinian’s Feast Day is October 25th. I have some pictures and information about these twin brothers who were martyred towards the end on the third century. I have included a short word search.

St. Hilda’s day is November 17th. She was the abbess at Whitby monastery in the seventh century. She is remember for a wisdom. She was so wise that even kings sought her opinion. She came from a Royal family. Her father, Hereric, was the great nephew of King Edwin of Northumberland. She never married and became a nun. For over 30 years she was the Abbess of Whitby. I have included two brief histories, a piece of gap work and a crossword and word search - answers included.

A short information sheet about St. Elizabeth of Hungary. St.Elizabeth lived in the thirteenth century. She was of noble birth but wanted to help the poor. Her husband, king Ludwig, only cared about himself. She set up two hospitals and was willing to work with lepers. There is a fact sheet and a gap sheet. She is he patron saint of bakers.

Hugh Cook Faringdon’s feast day is November 15th . Hugh Cook Farington was the last abbot of Reading Monastery. He was found guilty of high treason because he did not accept that HenryVIII was the supreme head of religious matters. He believed the Pope was the supreme head of religious matters. Because he was found guilty of treason he suffered the indignity of being hung, drawn and quartered in front of Reading’s Abbey Gate on November 14th 1539. I have put together several pieces of information about H.C.F. The first piece is like a time-line. The second sheet briefly explains about how the dissolution of the monasteries cam about. The third sheet is Wikipedia . The fourth sheet is a painting depicting H.C.F. being prepared for execution - the painting is in Reading’s Abbey gate. I have also included a word search with answers.

Saint Caedmon is an example of someone who late in life discovers he has a gift. He was a humble cowherd, of the seventh century, who after a dream found not only could he sing in tune but put Biblical stories to music. I have written a short piece about the dream. I have included the detailed information created by Brittannia.com. There is a copy of his only remaining hymn. According to the Venerable Bede Saint Caedmon’ could not compose any trivia’ . I have attempted to write couplets using his end words.

George Muller is remembered for the tremendous work he did with orphans in the nineteenth century in Bristol. He, with his first wife Mary, were responsible for looking after over 10,000 orphans. If he needed anything he took it to the Lord in prayer. He never solicited for donations but money or food or drink, or what ever was needed ‘happened’ following prayer. He was also responsible for 117 Christian schools and the educating of 120,00 children. Aged 70 he began a 17 year period of missionary travel with his new wife, Susannah, which took him across the five continents. This was in pre-aviation times and he covered some 200,000 miles. Incredible He returned to England in 1892. He died on 10th March 1898 in New Orphan House no.3. George Muller had originally came over to England in 1825 to work for the London Society for Promoting Christianity Amongst the Jews but due to ill health early on they went their separate ways. Their loss was Bristol orphans gain.

I have put together some information about Saint Mark, the evangelist and writer of the Gospel of Mark. I have included all the scripture passages where he is named either as Mark or John Mark. He wrote the first of the three Synoptic gospels. He was the first bishop of Alexandria. He died a martyr 's death.

Saint Joseph of Arimathea feast day falls on the same day as Saint Patrick in some countries. Joseph was the one who went to Pontious Pilate, the Roman governor, to ask for the body of Jesus after his crucifixion. He with Nicodmus placed His body in a new tomb. I have typed out in full all the passages where Joseph is mentioned in each of the four Gospels He is mentioned in the Apocryphal (hidden) Gospels saying he went on a preaching mission to Gaul which lasted nearly thirt years. Legends about Joseph and Glastonbury were written in the Middle Ages…

John Wycliffe was the first to translate, or inspire, the Bible being translated into English. He, with his associates, John Purvey and Nicholas Hereford, set about the task between 1381-1384. At the time it was regarded as heresy. The Roman Catholic church in the UK did not want it translated into the common vernacular so that the general public could read it - it would have meant the church losing some of its power and influence. John Wycliffe escaped being burnt at the stake during his life time but in 1428 his body was disinterred and burned. I have included most of the article from Visionmedia - it covers all I wanted to write. I found on Utube that there are useful clips to use about his life under the title Church History in 3 minutes. There is also a lot of information on Wikipedia

William Cameron Townsend became known as Uncle Cam. He spent 60 years in Latin America working in many countries. His contribution to the academic community and his encouragement to members of small ethnic groups to understand their personal worth cannot be measured. He had a dream that he wanted the whole world to be able to read the Bible in their native language. This he set out to do by founding the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL). He was a very humble man. A local man, from an Aztec village said Uncle Cam would leave his dinner not only for the president but also to talk with him. His gravestone reads,** Dear Ones: By love serve on another. Finish the task. translate the Scripture into every language. Uncle Cam. The SIL continues to fulfill his dream. I have used several web sites for my information including Wikipedia, wycliffe org. and tshaonline.org plus Ambassadors for Christ,