Keith Gordon Green (1953-1982) was an American contemporary Christian music pianist, singer and songwriter. He is best known for his strong devotion to Christ and challenging others to do the same. Several of his compositions became standards. He unfortunately died in a plane crash in 1982. !! in total died, 2 were children Josiah and Bethany. Keith took to music at a very early age -age 3 ukulele, age 5 guitar. age 7 piano. Aged 8 he was noted by a major newspaper… Aged 10 he played the role of Kurt von Trapp in ‘The Sound of Music’. In 1964, aged 10, he was youngest person to sign with the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. In 1965 he signed a 5 year contract with Decca records. Keith had Jewish heritage and was raised in Christian Science. He grew up reading the New Testament. As a teenager he experimented in drugs but aged 19 he met a fellow seeker -Melody Steiner. They were inseparable and married in 1973. In 1975 he renounced Christian Science and became a Jewish believer in Jesus, the Messiah. A week later Melody also became a believer. They bought a small house in Los Angeles which became ‘The Greenhouse’ - the place where people grew. They were both staff songwriters for CBS Records in Hollywood and were able to support whoever came to their houses -they bought bought 1 and rented 5 more! This non-profit ministry becameLast Days Ministries.(LDM) During his concerts he would often exhort his listeners to repent and commit themselves more wholly to follow Jesus. When his music was in Christian book shops a second cassette was included free of charge to help spread the Gospel His recording took off. ( Read ‘Recording’) In 1978 LDM started to published Last Days Newsletter - in mid 1985 renamed Last Days Magazine and sent to 500,000 worldwide. The crash on 28th July 1982 happened according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) because the pilot Don Alan Burmeister unfortunately overloaded the plane beyond its operating limitations. (Read ‘Death in plane crash’). Melody continued to lead LDM from Texas until 1996 when she moved to California. She launched LDM on line where all of Keith’s writings are free and his music can be found. The free LDM Newsletter is also sent by request. She maintains his facebook page in honour of Keith and shares her opinions on her page where she interacts with Green’s fans and LDM fans. Sources Wikipedia Have also included Keith’s thought about * So You Wanna Be A Rock Star* He finishes with these words Amen. Let us die graciously together and endure to the end like brave soldiers who give their lives, without hesitation, for our noble and glorious King of Light.

Thomas Ball Barratt (1862-1949) was a British born Norwegian pastor and one of the founding figures of the Pentecostal movement in Europe. Thomas was born in Cornwall but his parents emigrated to Norway when he was only 4 - he was bilingual. He began to preach at the age of 17. He pastored several churches in the Methodist Episcopal Church (MEC) in Norway. In 1905 he travelled to the USA with the aim of raising funds to build a new premises in Kristiania. The Azasa Street Revival had happened in Los Angles on 9th April that year which resulted in the forming of the Pentecostal movement. Several ministers who were baptized in the Spirit at the Azusa Street Mission and who were passionate about helping others encounter God in this way, intersected with Barratt in New York when he was on his way home. He asked for prayer to receive the same blessing they had received. He was baptised in the Spirit on 15th November 1906 ( or 7th October if dif. source used) and thereafter spoke and even sang in tongues ( Read ‘T.B. Barratt and Revival in Norway’ which includes his personal, powerful, inspiring testimony, by Jan Miskov - her testimony - which follows, can be found on Wikipedia, is also worth reading!) He returned to Norway in December without funds or support. Instead in 1907 he held revival meetings in Oslo at his newly formed Filadelfia assembly. This attracted international attention and he became one of the prime movers of the Pentecostal movement in Europe. Thomas went to Kristiania in December 1906. On 23rd he told of his spiritual baptism, he stood and wept. Although he did not utter a word, it was of great importance, the spirit was present. On the 2nd Christmas Day more people experienced similar things. By New Year 1907 ten people had been baptised spiritually. This is considered the beginning of the Pentecostal movement in Norway. Alexander Boddy went to Norway and invited Thomas to visit his All Saints Church in Monkwearmouth in Sunderland. On 13th September 1907 Thomas wrote the eyes of the religious millions in Great Britain are now fixed on Sunderland. Alexander went onto become one of the founders of Pentecostalism in Britain. Thomas continued to travel abroad visiting Sweden, Finland, Poland Estonia, Iceland and Denmark. 1909 the M E C terminated his membership. He travelled to the UK to preach in Sion College, London and then to Sunderland for what became an annual Pentecostal celebration known as Whitsuntide Convention. He then went to Bournemouth to stay with Stanley Frodsham - another Pentecostal pioneer. Thomas emigrated to the USA . He continued to travel overseas to Palestine and India. 1939 he was elected, unanimously, to be President of the Great European Pentecostal Conference in Stockholm. On 29th January 1940 , aged 77, he died and was buried in Oslo. Up to 20,000 people lined the streets for his funeral. Oslo Christina 1624 Kristiania 1877 Oslo 1925

The Azusa Street Revival was a historic revival meeting place that took place in Los Angeles, California. The Holy Spirit came in waves in April 9th, 1906. William J. Seymour, the one eyed 34 year old son of a free slave led the meeting at 216 North Bonnie Brae Street. On April 9th, 1906, after 5 weeks of William’s preaching and praying, and 3 days into an intended 10 day fast, Edward S. Lee spoke in tongues for the first time. At the next meeting William shared Edward’s testimony and preached a sermon on Acts ch 2 v 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. and soon 6 others began to speak in tongues, including Jennie Moor- William’s future wife. After praying all night William spoke in tongues for the first time on 12 th April . The news spread quickly and crowds gathered. They held their first meeting on April 14th, 1906. Services were held outside to accommodate the crowds, People were baptized in the Holy Spirit, the sick were healed and sinners received salvation. To further accommodate the crowd an old dilapidated two storey frame building at 312 Azusa Street, in the industrial section of the city, was secured. In this humble Azusa Street Mission, originally built for an African Methodist Episcopal church, which had been turned into a livery stable, storage building and tenement house, and referred by a newspaper as a tumble down shack the Pentecostal church was born. (Read Azusa Street ‘Conditions’) The revival was characterised by spiritual experiences accompanied with testimonies of physical healing miracles, worship services and speaking in tongues. Proud, well dressed preachers came to ‘investigate’. Soon their high looks replaced with wonder, then conviction comes, and very often you find them in a short time wallowing on the dirty floor, asking God to forgive them and make them little children. Apostolic Faith All sorts of people came in their 100s ( 300-1500 would attempt to fit into the building) to worship from a diversity of backgrounds and different ages. Some came with both skepticism and a desire to participate. By the end of 1906 most leaders from Azusa Street had spun off to form other congregations. By the end of 1913 the revival at Azusa Street had lost its momentum. There is so much more to read about -background, Azusa -Services and worship criticism , and Legacy The revival is considered by historians to be the primary catalyst for the spread of Pentecostalism in the 20th century. Today there are more than 500 million Pentecostal and charismatic believers across the globe. it is the fastest growing form of Christianity. We continue to need more revival PENTECOSTS. ( Acts ch 2 v1-4)

Howell Harris (1714-1773 was a Calvinistic Methodist evangelist. He was one of the main leaders of the Welsh Methodist revival in the 18th century along with Daniel Rowland and William Williams Pantyselyn. Howell was born on the 23rd January 1714 at Trefeca, naer Talgarth, Wales. He underwent religious conversion in May 1735 having heard Rev. Pryce Davies preach on palm Sunday on the necessity to take Holy Communion. After several weeks of self examination it reached a climax on Whit Sunday, May 1735, He felt convinced that he had received mercy through the blood of Christ. He began immediately to tell others. He held meetings in his house to encourage others to seek the same assurance. The Church of England were unwilling to accept him for ordination because of his ‘Methodist’ views so he became an itinerant preacher and travelled far and wide in Wales and England. He was tirelessly determined to spread the Word especially in Wales. His preaching led him into personal danger, persecution and hardship before he gained support. From 1738 Marmaduke Gwynne, a local squire and early convert, supported him. Howell became friends with Daniel Rowlands in about 1737. In 1750 he retreated to Trefeca after becoming the subject of a public scandal for his close friendship with ‘Madam’ Sidney Griffith. In 1752 he founded a religious community known as Teula Trefeca - The Trefeca family with himself as ‘Father’. His friendship with Daniel broke down when Howell became involved with Motavian errors. In 1763, 13 years later, friendship with Daniel renewed after reconciliation. They resumed their former activities. Howell died 10 years later on 21st July 1773. 20,000 are said to have attended his funeral. he was buried close to his birthplace in Talgarth. Howell Harris was effectively the founder of the Presbyterian Church of Wales, also known as the Calvinistic Methodist Church. In 1811 - not without much heart searching- the Welsh Calvinist Methodists broke away from the Church of England. He kept a detailed diary and filed letters sent and received. For years they gathered dust! These papers, some in Latin, offer a first hand account of the Welsh Methodist revival. In 2000 Howell Harris: From Conversion to Separation 1735-50 was published. ( Read ‘The papers of Howell Harris’)

Daniel Rowland(s) (c.1711/3 - 1790) was an Anglican curate who became a Methodist evangelist. He was one of the foremost figures in the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist revival. along with Howell Harris and hymnist William Williams Pantycrlyn. For 55 years Daniel was one of the leading evangelists in Wales. Daniel was born early in the 18th century in Pantybeudy, Wales. He was ordained into the ministry aged 20. He was inducted as curate in the parishes of Natewnile and Llangeitho where his older brother was rector (he left the preaching and the work to Daniel). When his brother died he expected to be named rector but the bishop of St. David’s , to his surprise, named Daniel’s own son as the new rector. He was now curate to his son! Aged 20 he had no idea of the evangelical gospel. After a service he would enter with gusto into games and sports and end the day in a state of drunkenness. Daniel, in 1935, came under the influence of Griffith Jones who preached at Llandewibrefi and was converted. He was now 22 and married to Elinor(nee Davies). In February 1938 he met his counterpart Howell Harris, together they worked as leaders of the Methodist revival but in 1952 they fell out.(Howell had become involved with Moravian errors - they made up 10 years later). By 1742 a complete change had happened and he became one of the outstanding preachers of the evangelical awakening. Llangeitho memorably became a centre for Calvinistic Methodism in Wales. On Sundays the locals played sports and games.He went to them - he interrupted a cock-fight. He addressed them powerfully. No one opposed him and the Sabbath desecration stopped. From then on he never hesitated to preach in the open air. In 1760 the Methodist built a chapel in the village. The Anglican church in about 1763 deprived him of his Nantewnile curacy. In 1764 a new chapel was built. By 1770 he was attracting congregations of up to 10,000. His preaching now emphasised the saving work of Jesus on the cross, originally he had paid attention to God’s judgement,in his sermons. For nearly 55 years Daniel expound the Word of God in the village of Llangeitho and towns and villages close by. He would start with a verse from a hymn, read out his text and then in a calm and deliberate manner deliver his sermon. He would finish with a short prayer and give the benediction One morning he prayed 1935 ? *By Thine agony and bloody sweat, by Thy Cross and passion,by Thy precious death and burial, by Thy glorious resurrection and ascension, and by the coming of the Holy Ghost, good Lord deliver us. The minister and congregation were overcome by the presence of the Lord. The Holy Spirit had visited Llangeitho and soon the whole of the country would know He continued his weekly ministry for the next 55 years. On 16th October 1790, aged 77, he died. All agreed his ministry had been blessed In 1811, not without much heart searching, the Welsh Calvinistic Methodists broke away from the Church of England

Jeanne- Marie Bouvier de la Motte- Guyon (1648-1717) ( commonly known as Madame Guyon was a French mystic and was accused of advocating Quietism, although she never called herself a Quiestist. Madame Guyon, born on the 13th April 1648, was the daughter of Claude Bouvier, a procurator of the tribunal of Montargis , in France. She was sickly as a child and her education neglected. Her childhood was spent between the convent and the home of of wealthy parents - moving 9 times in 10 years. Her parents were very religious and gave her a pious training. In 1664, aged 15, she was forced into an arranged marriage to Jacques Guyon, aged 38. She was in an unhappy marriage being treated badly by the mother-in-law and maidservant. Relatives died -half sister, mother and father. She had 5 children, 2 of those died. Her husband died leaving her a widow at the age of 28. During the marriage she was introduced to and instructed in mysticism by Fr. Francois La Combe. a Barnabite. (Mysticism -popularly know as becoming one with God or the Absolute. ( See 'Mysticism) Barnabite - religious order of clerics founded in 1530 (See Barnabites) ) After the death of her husband she lived quietly as a wealthy widower in Montargis. In 1679 re-established contact with Francois. In 1680 felt need to go to Geneva. The bishop encouraged her to set up a house for ‘new catholics’ in Gex, Savoy. There were problems with the sisters and Francois sent to intervene. She became ill and asked her mother-in-law to look after her 2 sons. She left her personal possessions but kept an annuity for herself. The bishop asked her to leave because of her ideas of mysticism. He expelled Francois. They moved to Turin and then onto Grenoble in France. January 1685 she published Moyen court et facile de faire oraison - A Short and Very Easy Method of Prayer. Quietism - the elevating of contemplation over mediation was regarded as a heresy. (Read Quietism ‘Christian philosophy’) The Bishop of Grenoble was perturbed- she left the city at his request. Francois was shut up in the Bastille. The arrest of Madam Guyon followed. She was released 7 months later. Theologians examined her book and she made a retraction of the propositions. Her book resulted in secret conferences being held at Issy. The 34 articles of Issy followed and she signed submission to them and returned secretly to Paris. On 24th December 1695 she was arrested again. She was imprisoned at Vincennes, then a convent at Vaugirard and then the Bastille. She signed another retraction on 23rd August 1699. After 7 years she was finally released on 21st March 1703. She retired to live with one of her children in Blois. Many pilgrims visited her. She enjoyed writing. She died, aged 69, on 9th June 1717. She never called herself a Quietist. Her book is still available ( See ‘Amazon’)

Ernest Gordon (1916-2002) was a soldier, a Japanese prisoner of War (POW) at the River Kwai Bridge, an ordained minister of the Church of Scotland, a former Presbyterian dean of the chapel at Princeton University and an author. Ernest was born on 31st May 1916 in Greenock, Scotland. His parents were James Gordon and Sarah R. MacMillan. He became a company commanding officer in the 2nd Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. He fought in the Malayan Campaign and the battle of Singapore. He was captured in 1942. He was captured when trying to escape to Java. He spent 3 years in a Japanese POW - he helped build the Kwai bridge. He became seriously ill following torturous events and was placed in the ‘Death Ward’ - left to die. But thanks to 2 soldiers- a Methodist named 'Dusty Miller and ‘Dinty’ Moore, and their 24 hour care, he recovered. They would boil rags and clean and massage his diseased legs every day. On recovering he started a university in the camp in order to add purpose and direction the lives of the men. Ernest had arrived an agnostic but thanks to their care left a Christian. What happened to the 2 men who saved his life? Dusty Miller was crucified by a Japanese guard who was frustrated by his calm in the face of hardship. Dinty Moore died when the Allies sank his unmarked prisoner transport ship. Ernest returned to Scotland and became an ordained minister of the Church of Scotland at Paisley Abbey in 1950. He moved to the USA where he preached in Amagansett and Montauk. He then became the Presbyterian chaplain at Princeton, N.J. in 1954 and in 1955 he became dean (1955-81). In 1962 Through the Valley of the Kwai was published which gave a first hand account of the story of the ‘railway of death’. This inspired the movie *To End All Wars. * During his 27 year tenure at Princeton he was a frequent lecturer and author of articles on religion and morality on college campuses for theological journals and magazines. He was the first President of the Church Service Society of America. He served as trustee of the Purcell School and chaired the New Jersey Mental Health Research and Development Fund. On retirement in 1981 he moved to Washington D.C. to be the president of the Christian Rescue Effort for the Emancipation of Dissidents (CREED). He helped 100s of dissidents get out of prison in the Eastern Bloc. He travelled the world as a visiting lecturer. He later moved back to Princeton. Ernest died on 16th January 2002 aged 85. Thanks to the care of his two friends he lived another 60 years - years spent actively in the Lord’s service. Source used Wikipedia

Edward McKendree Bounds (1835-1913) known as E. M. Bounds was an American author, attorney and member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South clergy. He wrote 11 books, 9 on prayer, but only 2 were published before his death. Edward was born on 15th August 1835. His parents were Thomas and Hester Bounds. It is surmised he got his middle name from the evangelist William McKendree. He was the fifth of 6 children, 3 boys, 3 girls. His father was the first Justice of the Peace in Shelby County. As County Commissioner in 1940 he advanced the building of the First Methodist Church. He died in 1849 of tuberculosis Edward, now aged 14, joined relatives in a trek to Mesquite Canyon in California following the discovery of gold. After 4 unsuccessful years they return to Missouri. He studied law at Hannibal Missouri. Aged 19 he became the youngest practicing lawyer in the area. Although apprenticed as an attorney he felt a call to the ministry during the Third Great Awakening. Following a brush outside revival meeting by evangelist Smith Thomas he closed his office and moved to Palmyra to enroll in the Centenary Seminary. 1859, aged 24, he was ordained and named pastor of Moticello, MIssouri Methodist Church. 12th April 1861-9th May 1865 the American Civil War. Edward lived in the north, but did not support slavery so he was held with other non-combatants in a Federal prison in St. Louis for 18 months. He was then transferred to Memphis and released in a prison exchange. On his release he became chaplain in the Confederate States Army. During the second battle of Franklin he suffered a sever forehead injury and taken prisoner. On28th June 1865 he was released upon taking the oath of loyalty to the United States. He felt compelled to return to war torn Franklin where he became the pastor of Franklin Methodist Episcopal Church. He was regionally celebrated for leading spiritual revival in Franklin. He eventually began an itinerant preaching ministry across the USA. He served served important churches in St. Louis. He became editor of the St. Louis Christian Advocate for 8 years. Then assistant editor of *The Nashville Christian Advocate * for 4 years. The trial of his faith came to him while in Nashville, and he quietly retired to his home without taking a pension. His principal work in Washington was rising and praying from 4 am to 7 am. He filled a few engagements as an evangelist during the remaining 18 years. While on speaking engagements he did not neglect his early morning time in prayer. No man could have made more melting appeals for lost souls and backslidden ministers then did Bounds. Tears ran down his face as he pleaded for us all in that room.Not a foolish word did we ever hear him utter. The Rev. Claudius Lysias Chilton Jr., an admirer of Bounds, worked on preserving and preparing his collection of manuscripts for publication. By 1921 Homer W. Hodge completed additional editorial work. ( see ‘Published works’)

William Grimshaw (1708-1763) is a name frequently missed when the 18th century revival is mentioned. William Romaine described him as the most indefatigable preacher that ever was in England. He was educated in Blackburn before going to Cambridge University as a sizar. (Sizars were given their education and keep free at the university in return for duties as servants to wealthy students, When they graduated they were ordained into the C. of E. and placed in outlying poor parishes.) He began his ministry as a curate in Todmorden, Yorkshire in 1731. There he indulged in very earthly pursuits- card playing, fox hunting, shooting etc. He changed when his young wife died, saw a parishioner suffering from post-natal depression and having a mystical experience. He under went a profound spiritual change and became an ardent evangelical. He had been a curate for 10 years before his converted. After his conversion in 1741 he moved to Haworth in 1742. When he arrived there was barely a dozen regular communicants, a year later there was nearly a 1000. Visiting preachers included the Wesley brothers and John Newton. In 1758 he built a Methodist chapel. 6,000 attended these meetings, William was a very powerful preacher and often used broad dialect. He mixed authority with humour, bluntness with tenderness, condemnation with compassion. Being healthy and strong he preached alternative weeks on 2 circuits. He was also a very good pastor. He regularly visited the housebound, elderly and sick and over seeing the education of the young. On one occasion he was so angry with his congregation’s response to his sermon he put a donkey in the pulpit! He imposed a rigorously imposed Sabbath observance on the whole village. By the time he died, 2i years later, there had been a major transformation in that bleak Yorkshire village.and the surrounding area. Drunkards had become sober, wasters had been changed into industrious family men and the Gospel flame spread far an wide. Faith Cook - William Grimshaw remembered William stayed until 1763 when he caught Typhus from a parishioner he went to visit. Realising he was about to die he asked his friend Henry Venn to preach at his funeral on For me to live is Christ and to die is gain - his personal beacon since his conversion. William, aged 55, died on 7th April 1763. Hie final whispered words were *I have nothing to do but step out of bed into heaven. I have my foot upon the threshold already. William Grimshaw of Haworth was a remarkable character and a leading figure in the evangelical revival of the 18th Century. Sources used William Grimshaw remembered The Revd. Willaim Grimshaw of Haworth (1708-17630 .

Christmas Evans (1766-1838) was born on Christmas day, December 25th 1766. He was Welsh nonconformist minister who has been described as ‘the greatest preacher that the Baptists have ever had in Great Britain’ known by D.M. Lloyd-Jones. Christmas was born near the village of Llandysul, Cardiganshire. His father, a shoemaker, died when his son was 9 years of age. He grew up as an illiterate farm labourer. He stood about 7 feet tall and lost an eye during a youthful brawl. Aged 17 he became the servant of David Davies, a Presbyterian minister, who taught him to read and write in English and Welsh. Visiting Calvinistic Methodist preachers and members of the Baptist church in Llandysul influenced him, so he joined the Baptists. Career In 1789 he settled for 2 years on the remote Llyn Peninsula in Caernarfonshire. He then moved to Llangeful in Anglesey. here on a stipend of £17 a year,he built up a strong Baptist community. Many new chapels were built, the money being collected on preaching tours which he undertook in South Wales. In 1826 he moved to Caerphilly, where he stayed for 2 years. In 1828 he moved to Cardiff. In 1832, responding to an urgent call, He settled in Caernarfon and again took undertook the old work of building and collecting. Style of preaching Christmas was a remarkably powerful preacher. With a natural aptitude for his calling he united a nimble mind and an inquiring spirit. His chief characteristic was a vivid and affluent imagination, which absorbed and controlled his other abilities, he earned the name ‘The Bunyan of Wales’. His sermons enlightened the understanding and warmed the heart. His piety humble and his faith fervently evangelical. His famous ‘The Graveyard Sermon’ was included in Grenville Kleiser’s 1909, 9 volume The World’s Great Sermons. . In 1838 he was taken ill, in the house of Daniel David,while on another tour of South Wales. He died in Swansea on 19th July 1838. His funeral was one of the largest ever attended in the country. He is buried in the grounds of Swansea’s Bethesda Chapel. His works were edited by Owen Davies in 3 volumes and published in Caernarvon between 1895-7. Christmas evans came on the scene in the late 18th century and became one of the greatest preachers in the national history of powerful Gospel preaching in Wales (It is believed to bring good luck to kiss his headstone - making it the Swansea version of the Barney Stone.) Source Wikipedia

Demos Shakarian Jr. (1913-1993) was an American businessman of Armenian origin from Los Angeles. He founded the Full Gospel Business men’s Fellowship International (FGBMFI). The Happiest People on Earth (1975) is his story and the story of FGBMFI. A large group of Pryguny (Christian Sect in Russia), including the Shakarian family, began to arrive in Los Angeles in 1905. They settled within a mile of the Azusa Street Revival and were delighted to meet spiritual faiths in America similar to theirs. Demos was born 8 years later. When he grew up he entered the family business of dairy farming. Their milk herd grew to become the largest in the world at that time. He used organizational abilities to facilitate Evangelistic campaigns with Charles S. Price and others. He spent most of his adult life building the FGNFI (started 1952) for free. Honorariums and monies from speaking engagements he deposited back into the ministry. Every year he would resign his position as president, step into the hall, and allow the 200 board to vote for the next president! He noted from his tent campaigns that they mainly attracted women. He wanted FGNFI to establish and encourage more participation by men by providing a platform for businessmen to give religious testimonies. The fellowship grew to 190 countries. He also played a key role in working with Paul Crouch to help launch Trinity broadcasting network (TBN), working to fund Joel Olsteen’s father John Olsteen’s ministry and played a key role in helping grow the Voice of Healing Revival. (Read ‘Healing Revival’) For the full story of Demos Shakarian and FGNFI the book need to be read. (See Amazon advert) The FGB today, has 6,000 chapters in around 160 countries worldwide. The FGB allows for men and women an opportunity to come together, from any church or non-church background to hear something of the reality of the presence of God and His power at work within our lives. (Read ‘About FGB’) Source used Wikipedia

John Frith (1503-1533 was an English protestant priest, writer and martyr. As his ministry progressed he took greater risks with his stance against the Roman Catholic teachings of Purgatory ( a temporary place or condition of suffering or torment) and Transubstantiation ( that bread and wine at Communion change to Christ’s body and blood). John was born in 1503 in Westerham, Kent. The font where he was baptised is still in use today. He went to Sevenoaks Grammar School. He then went to Eton (1520-20and Queen’s College, Cambridge. He received his degree from King’s in 1525. He became proficient in Latin, Greek and mathematics After graduating he was called out of Cambridge to attend Oxford University by Thomas Wolsey who personally gathered young men who excelled in learning and knowledge (1525-8). Met influential William Tyndale. Married in 1528 Oxford was the first place in which John was apprehended and committed to prison under the suspicion of being in favour of Martin Luther’s doctrine and had books in his possession considered ’ heretical’. He was released roughly 6 months later and fled to Antwerp. From Antwerp he travelled to Marburg where he translatedPlaces by Patrick Hamilton. In 1529 he translated other pieces. He also had *A Dispotacion of Purgatoryr, *published. (See ‘Residence in continental Europe’) The second place he was imprisoned was on a visit to Reading. in Berkshire. He went to see the Prior at Reading because he had run out of money. He was imprisoned as a vagabond and rogue, arrested and put in the stocks He was released with the help of Leonard Coxe, a local schoolmaster. On His return to England, Thomas More, the Lord Chancellor, issued warrants for his arrest. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London for about 8 months.While there he wrote his final book The Bulwark - his thoughts on the Communion. John was tried before many examiners and bishops. He produced his own writing as evidence for his views but they were deemed as heresy. He was asked whether he believed in purgatory or transubstantiation he answered that neither could be proved by Holy Scripture. 23rd June sentenced to death as a heretic and moved to Newgate Prison. 4th July, 1533 publicly burned at the stake in Smithfield, London Master Frith was a young man noted for his godliness, intelligence and knowledge. In the secular world he could have risen to any height he wished, but he chose, instead, to serve the church and work for the benefit of others and not himself. Harold Chadwick John’s works were posthumously published in 1573 by John Foxe John Frith played an influential role in the Protestant Reformation

Charles Fox Parham (1873-1929) was an independent holiness evangelist who believed strongly in divine healing. Charles was the first to associate glossolalia (speaking in tongues) with the baptism in the Holy Spirit. He was the first to articulate Pentecostalism’s distinctive doctrine of evidential tongues. In 1900 he founded the Bethel Bible School, Charles was born in Muscatine, Iowa on 4th June 1873. In 1878 his family moved by covered wagon to Cheney, Kansas. As a child he had very severe rheumatic fever. The next year his father married Harriet Miller, the daughter of a Methodist circuit rider. The Parham’s opened their home for religious activities. Aged 15 he began conducting hie first religious services. In 1890 he enrolled at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas, a Methodist affiliated school. He left in 1893 when he came to believe education would prevent him from ministering effectively. He worked in a Methodist Episcopal church as a supply pastor ( he was never ordained). He left in 1895 because he disagreed with its hierarchy. He established his own itinerant evangelistic ministry which preached the ideas of the holiness movement and was well received by the people of Kansas. On 31st December 1896 Charles married Sarah Thistlewaite, a daughter of a Quaker, in a Friends’ ceremony. In 1897 Charles and his baby son Claude fell ill. Recovery was attributed to divine intervention so he committed to preaching divine healing and prayer for the sick. 1898 moved to Topeka. Kansas where he established the Bethel Healing Home and published the Apostolic Faith magazine. 1900 he took a sabbatical. Most of his time was spent with Frank Sandford in Maine. He picked up Frank’s Bible school model and other ideas. In his absence others had taken charge of the healing home. He decided to start Bethel Bible College at Topeka in October 1900. There he taught that speaking in tongues was the scriptural evidence for the reception of the baptism with the Holy Spirit. It happened! On 1st January 1901, after a New Year’s Eve watch night. His students had prayed for and received the baptism with the the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues. Charles, away at the time, later received the same experience. He then began to preach it at all his services. With his controversial beliefs and aggressive style he found funding difficult. In 1903 his fortunes changed. Mary Arthur, a prominent citizen of Galena, Kansas, claimed she had been healed. He was invited that winter to preach in a warehouse seating 100s. News Heraldreported 1,000 healed, 800 converted. He developed a strong following which would form the backbone of his movement for the rest of his life. He preached for a further 26 years but his heart, weaken by rheumatic fever as a child, took his life on 29th January 1929. Charles originated the doctrine of initial evidence. It was this doctrine which made Pentecostalism distinct from other holiness Christian groups.

James Clerk Maxwell (1831-1879) was undoubtedly one of the greatest physicists - Einstein had Jame’s portrait on the wall to inspire him. James insights into the principles of electromagnetism laid the foundation for our modern world; radio, television, smart phones and the internet. James was born on the 13th June 1831 in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was an extraordinarily curious child, he would investigate everything he could find. He grew up in a deeply Christian home and by the age of 8 could recite all 176 verses of Psalm 119. He went to Cambridge University and subjected his Christian beliefs to a thorough analysis.* After a conversion experience he took hold of a mature and confident faith that would endure throughout his life* J. John. He applied his intellect and his mathematical skills to many subjects. His greatest achievement was that he able to unite what had been considered 3 separate phenomena- electricity, magnetism and light. Albert Einstein said one scientific epoch ended and another began with James Clerk Maxwell. At his Cavendish Laboratory he had inscribed on the doors Great are the works of the Lord; they ponder by all who delight in them. Psalm 111 v 2 His faith satisfied, stimulated and supported him. He was committed to his Christian faith. He believed because God had created the universe we should try to understand it. He may have lost his mother when he was only 8, his father when he was in his twenties, and his wife in her forties but he confidently quoted the Bible and was grateful that he knew God in Christ. He belonged to an evangelical Presbyterian church and in his later years became a church elder. He died, aged 48, on 5th November 1879. The minister who visited him in his last few weeks that he spent his last days with a faith that was confident ‘in the gospel of the Saviour.’ He was one of the greatest physicists who ever lived but he also openly declared his Christian beliefs. James* sat at the feet of Christ and so should we J.John

James Fraser McLuskey (1914-2005) is known as Parachute Padre because he was awarded the Military Cross, during WWII, while with Special Air Services (SAS). He was a British Church of England minister who served as a military chaplain with the SAS during WWII. He later went on to become the minister of St. Columba’s, (1960-86) the larger of the Church of Scotland’s two congregations in London. He also served for one year as Moderator of the General Assembly (1983-4). He was born in Edinburgh on 19th September 1914. His family moved to Aberdeen where his father ran a laundry business. He attended Aberdeen Grammar School (1920-31), He returned to Edinburgh to take degrees in divinity and art. Fraser McLuskey, as he was known, spent several months on a travel scholarship where he became interested in the Confessional Church in Germany - church opposed to Hitler and the Nazis. Here he met his first wife, Irene Calaminus, the pastor’s daughter. Ordained in 1938 to be the Scottish secretary of the Student Christian Movement. In 1939 he became chaplain to the University of Glasgow (1939-47). In 1942/3 he took leave of absence to become an Army Chaplain. After parachute training he was posted to the SAS. He served in France, Germany and Norway and was awarded the Military Cross. ( See Independent for ‘citation’) His war time experiences can be read in Parachute Padre; Behind German Lines with the SAS: France 1944 ( See AbeBooks) Back in Britain he travelled throughout the country visiting families of men lost in action with the SAS, explaining the circumstances of their death. 1947-50 he was sub-warden at the Royal Army Chaplains’ Training Centre. He then returned to Scotland. He went first to Broughty Ferry East. In 1955 to New Kilpatrick on the outskirts of Glasgow where he had a congregation of 2,0000, While there his first wife, Irene, died of breast cancer. leaving him had 2 teenage boys to look after. In 1960 he moved to St. Columbia’s, Pont Street, London where he was involved in many Scots church and ecumenical activities. His first priorities were in preaching the pastoral work. . He believed in having Church of Scotland outposts in London so he united with the kirk in Dulwich. He also had a link with St. Andrew’s, Newcastle upon Tyne. In 1966 he married a divorced widow. Ruth Briant As moderator of the General Assembly 1983/4 he received the Queen at the centenary service of his church. He represented the Kirk at the reunion assembly in Atlanta of the Northern and Southern American Presbyterian churches. After 25 years at St. Columbia’s he retired to Edinburgh in 1986. After his retirement he remained influential in the Kirk. a moderating force in political matters and a supporter of a more evangelical approach. He spent his free time traveling the countryside where he had been with the SAS in WWII. Fraser McLuskey, the Parachute Padre, took his last jump: he died on the 24th July, 2005, aged 90.

Not a great deal is known about Daniel Nash (1775-1831) but he was the key to Charles Finney’s ministry- he served as Charles’s personnel intercessor. A great deal has been written about Charles but Daniel, his associate, is *the most famous guy the world has never known. Daniel was Charles Grandison Finney’s prayer warrior. He was a pastor himself but he had been hurt by some church leaders who fired him for being too old. He was 46 at the time. Daniel would precede Charles’s arrive in a city. He would check into a boarding house and pray for the meetings. He would slip quietly into a town and seek to get 2 or 3 people to enter into a covenant of prayer with him. Sometimes people would hearing weeping and groaning from his room as they prayed for the Holy Spirit’s power to be released for a mighty harvest from Charles’s preaching. He prayed for days, sometimes even weeks, until he felt the atmosphere had been prepared. Once he felt it was released he would call Charles to come. Daniel, quiet by nature, did not attend many of the revival meetings, instead he continued to pray. I did the preaching and brother Nash gave himself up almost continually to prayer. Charles Finney While Charles preached Daniel would be in some adjoining house, face in agony of prayer. God answered them in the marvels of his grace. While Charles preached those praying ’ held the ropes’. In the notes I have included it is pointed out that only 4 months after Daniel died, in 1831, that Charles left his itinerate revival ministry to pastor a church. For Charles Grandson Finney’s conversion see separate TES entry.

Saint Agatha of Sicily (c.231-251 AD) is a Christine saint. She was born in Catania or Palermo in Sicily. According tot the 13th century Golden Legend by Jacbus de Voragine, Agatha, aged 15, from a rich and noble family made a vow of virginity. She rejected the amorous advances and persistent proposals of marriage to the Roman prefect Quintianus. This was during the persecutions of emperor Decius so he reported her to the authorities for being a Christian. In the first place, to force her to change her mind, He imprisoned her in a brothel but Agatha never lost her confidence in God. He tried again. On being rejected he had her imprisoned and tortured - this included cutting off her breasts with pincers. He then sentenced her to be burnt at the stake but an earthquake saved her from that fate. Although her martyrdom is authenticated there is no reliable information concerning her death. She may have died in prison aged just 20. She is buried at the Badia di Sant’Agata, Catania. Her patronage is wide -these are examples. She is the patron saint of breast cancer patients and earthquakes She is the patron saint of Catania, Malta, Molise, San Marino, Gallipoli and Zamarramala. The tradition of making shaped pastry on the feast of St Agatha-5th February, such as Agatha breads or buns Breasts of St. Agatha is found in many countries. Saint Agatha of Sicily is one of the most highly venerated virgin martyrs of Christian history. She is one of several martyrs who are commemorated in the Canon of the Mass.

14 Holy Helpers is a group of venerated saints in Roman Catholicism. In my research for well known saints this group has been regularly mentioned so rather than add them as an appendage I have given them separate recognition. Saints Blaise, Cyriacus, Eramus, George, Giles, Panteleon and Vitus the rest may only be legends. See separate information on the 6 given. Apparently this group of * helpers in need* originated in the 14th century as a result of epidemic which became known as the Black death.

Sylvester 1 was the 33rd Pope of the Catholic church. he was bishop of Rome from 314 until his death on 31st December 335. What little we know about him is a mixture of truth and legend written in the Liber Pontificalis in the 7th or 8th century. He filled the see of Rome at an important era in the history of the Western Church. Emperor Constantine was the first Roman emperor to become a Christian and it is said Sylvester baptised him (legend). In reality Eusebuis, of Nicomedia, an Arian bishop of Constantinople, baptised Constantine in May 337 shortly before he died Accounts of his pontificate preserved in the 7th or 8th century ‘records’ tell us very little about him except for a record of gifts conferred on the church by Constantine known as the Donations of Constantine (legend/forgery). Also that he was the son of a Roman called Rufinus. Large churches were founded and built during his pontificate - basilica of St. John Lateran, Basilica of the Holy Cross of Jerusalem, Old St. Peter’s Basilica and several churches built over the graves of martyrs. In 325 the First Council of Nicaea was held where the Nicene Creed was formulated. Sylvester was invited to attend but sent two legates. In the fictional/legendary accounts of Sylvester’s relationship with the emperor, which made him famous, he is said to have cured Constantine of leprosy by baptismal waters. In another legend the emperor walked before Sylvester’s horse holding the Pope’s bridle. as the papal groom. The suggestion being the Pope is supreme over all rulers even the Roman emperor. Pope Saint Sylvester 1 was Pope in Rome at the beginning of the Christian Roman Empire under emperor Constantine. Extra information include - Bishops of Rome under Constantine the Great Did Constantine currupt the Bible? Sources wikipedia Britannica Online Encyclopedia The Church’s Year by Charles Alexander

According to Apocryphal tradition Saints Anna and Joachim were the parents of Mary, and therefore the grandparents of Jesus. Anna is the a version of the Hebrew name Hanna. Anna means grace. According to tradition Joachin went to the temple to pray but was not allowed in because he did not have a child. Anna heard, prayed and sacrificed. She promise God she would bring up a child in in God’s name. An angel came to them and were told they would be granted a baby. When the baby was born they named the child Mary Anna became the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Source Saint Anne Facts for Kids