Elaine Storkey is an English philosopher, theologian and sociologist. She is known for her lecturing, writing, broadcasting and charity work. Elaine, born in 1944, grew up in Ossett, West Yorkshire and was head girl at Ossett grammar School (now Ossett Academy), Elaine studied at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth and doing postgraduate work in philosophy at McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and York University, England. In 1968 she married Alan Storkey, an economist, writer and lecturer. After research on Ludwig Wittgenstein’s work her first academic post was in philosophy in Oxford University, as a tutor at Manchester College, Oxford. With her husband she then joined the faculty of the University of Stirling. They then did a period of lecturing at Calvin College, Michigan and Covenant College in Tennessee, USA. In 1986 she began broadcasting documentaries, arts, news and current affairs programmes with the BBC. For more than 20 years she was presenter on Radio 4’s Thought for The Day. She currently broadcasts on BBC Radio Ulster Sunday Sequence (See notes on both programme) Elaine has been a member of the General Synod of the Church of England (1987-2016) (See notes) Currently she is president of Fulcrum ( See notes On Fulcrum ‘Anglican think tank’) For many years she spent time teaching and writing with the Open University and presenting radio and television documentaries on gender, race and ethnicity As a result In 1991 she became the Executive Director of the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity (LICC) (1991-9). ( See notes About LICC) In 1997 Elaine became president of Tearfund, a Christian relief and development charity and as a result has been monitoring aid, relif and advocacy work in countries of the Global South. ( See notes of ‘Tearfund’) In 2010, with her husband Alan, they founded Restored an organization committed to advocating against violence to women. (See notes) She has taught at King’s College, London. She has been a lecturer with the Montgomery Trust since 2001. She has lectured across the world- Haiti, India, Nepal, Turkey and Ethiopia and is a prominent feminist evangelical. She continues to teach on the Christian Mind course at Oxford University. Elaine for many years wrote for The Independent, Dagen and the Church Times. Her writings have brought a biblical perspective to the feminist movement. Scars Across humanity; Understanding and overcoming Violence Against Women (2015) was widely acclaimed. The 2nd edition in 2019 won the Christianity Today Book of the Year award for Politics and public Life in the USA Her work has been recognized by Aberystwyth and Cambridge colleges where she has been given fellowships, From Princeton Theological Seminary in 2016 she was awarded the Abraham Kuyper prize for her work as a scholar, writer and journalist. A faithful servant of Christ

Nicholas Paul Wolterstorff, born 21st January 1932, is an American philosopher and theologian. He is currently Noah Porter Professor Emeritus Philosophical Theology (NPPEPT) at Yale University. In his career he has been an instructor, assistant/associate/ professor, or visiting professor, at many of the most prestigious universities in the world -from Yale to Cambridge. He is a prolific writer with wide ranging philosophical and theological interests. He helped establish the Society of Christian Philosophers and their journal Faith and Philosophy,. With Alvin Plantings and William Alston he developed Reformed Epistemology - the theory of knowledge, especially the critical study of the validity, methods and scope as it applies in religious beliefs… Degrees B.A Philosophy Calvin College, Michigan 1953 M.A. Philosophy Harvard University 1954 Ph.D. Philosophy ‘’ ‘’ 1957 He then spent a year at Cambridge University, England He has been involved in teaching/lecturing for nearly 50 years. He retired in 2002. He is now Noah Porter Emeritus professor of P&T at Yale. (See ‘Encyclopedia.com’ notes for the many universities he worked in) He has written a ‘library’ of books. ( see Bibliography) Faith an Rationality was co-authored with Plantings and Alston -this is where they expanded on Reformed epistemology. (See note) In 1987 he wroteLament of a son which recounts how he drew on his Christian faith when his 25 year old son Eric died in a mountain accident. He helped to establish the Society of Christian Philosophers (SCP) which was founded in 1978. The society is open to anyone who is interested in philosophy who considers themselves to be a Christian. The committee voted in 1982 to launch Faith and Philosophy; it appeared for the first time in January 1984. The aim of the journal is to foster the philosophical examination of religion and the Christian faith. It is supported by contributions from patrons both within and outside the society. ( See notes on ‘Faith and Philosophy’) He is a former president of the American Philosophical Association (Central District) and serves on its publication and executive committees. During his lifetime he earned a number of of Professional distinctions ( 7) and Endowed lectureships (8). (See both lists) Nicholas Wolterstorff lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan with his wife Claire. Sources used Amazon Dictionary Wikipedia Yale University

Andreas Johannes Kostenberger is an evangelical scholar, author and founder of Biblical Foundations. He is the Research Professor of New Testament and Biblical Theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MBTS). He is founding director of the Center for Biblical Studies (CBS) . He is also the editor of Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society. (JETS) Andreas was born in Vienna, Austria on 2nd November 1957. He has the following degrees:- M.A. and Dr, from the Vienna University of Economics and Business 1980, 1982 M.D. at Columbia International University 1988 Dr. at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School 1993 On completion of his doctorate he became Professor of Biblical studies and Theology at Briercrest College and Seminary (1993-5). In 1996 he took a teaching post at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS) as Senior Research Professor of New Testament and Biblical Theology. Stayed at SBTS to served as director of Ph.D. studies for next 12 years . In 2007 elected to a 5 year term as Visiting Fellow at St. Edmund’s College, Cambridge. April 2018 MBTS elected him to faculty as Research Professor of New Testament and Biblical Theology (2018-present. Since 2000 he has been editor of JETS a refereed theological journal published by the Evangelical Theological Society. (See notes on JETS). He has also edited other Christian commentaries and guides. Together wife his wife,Dr. Margaret, they founded in 2006 *Biblical Foundations. The mission is to help restore the biblical foundations for the family, the church and society. ( See notes for 'Biblical Foundations In 2006 he joined a round table to discuss Dan Brown’s book* The Da Vinci Code.* He has appeared on numerous radio and television programs 2010 he lectured across Europe presenting scholarly papers on various themes concerning the theology of John the apostle. He has worked as a consultant on John’s Gospel for 4 English Bible translations. He has also be consulted on the epistle John 1-3 and Revelation for* Today’s English Version* (TEV) He has authored, edited or translated close to 50 books. He has 93 works in 310 publications translated into 5 languages such as German. Korean, Portuguese, Spanish and Russian. He is founding director of the Center for Biblical Studies at MBTS. The center *exists to engage in biblical scholarship for the church * ( See notes for CBS). Andreas met his wife Margaret in 1988 when finishing his M.A. at Columbia University. They married in December 1989. They have 4 children and currently live in Kansas City. May Andreas continue to deliver Holy Spirit inspired plenary addresses at the annual meetings of the Evangelical Theological Society and regional meetings for many years to come. Sources used Biblical foundations MBTS The Center for Biblical Studies Wikipedia

Stephen Howe Webb was a theologian and philosopher of religion best known for his work on animal rights… He is recognized for being a leader of the animal theological movement and in the field of religious rhetoric in the late20th/early 21st century. He was born on the 13th March 1961 in Indianapolis, Indiana. His local church was Eaglewood Christian Church, an evangelical church in the Restoration Movement. He wrote about his experiences there in Taking Religion to Schooland an essay *Recalling: A Theologian Remembers his Church. He changed churches several times. At college he joined the Disciples of Christ. Foe a brief time he was a Lutherian. On Easter Sunday 2007 he officially came into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church. Stephen graduated form Wabash College in 1983 and earned his Ph.D. at the University of Chicago. He taught at Wabash College as Professor of Religion and Philosophy from 1988 to 2012 ( 24 years). Besides theology he also taught on Bob dylan, men and masculinity and existentialism. He also delivered lectures all over the USA (See ‘Lectures’). He was on leave from the college 2012/13 and retired early to pursue writing opportunities full-time. He was known for his scholarship and journalism on animals, vegetarianism and diet. He wrote the book On God and Dogs; A Christian Theology of compassion for Animals(1998) and has been listed as one of the leaders of the animal theological movement. (See ‘Oh God and Dog’) He co-founded the Christian Vegetarian Association (CVA) in 1999 with Nathan Braun. (See notes on CVA). Stephen also contributed to The Other Journal founded in 2003 which was to provide space for Christian graduate students to share their work in a spirit of dialogue and mutual criticism. (See notes ‘The Other Journal’) He was also known for what he called theo-acoustics or theology of sound. The Divine Voice: Christian proclamation and the Theology of Sound (2004) was named Christianity Today Top 10 Book for 2004, and the Religious Communication Association’s Book of the Year 2005. Stephen wrote about C.S. Lewis in The Chronicles of Narnia and Philosophy (2005). Dylan Redeemed: From Highwat 61 to Saved (2006) focused on Dylan’s mid-life conversion to Christianity. He also wrote many essay on the intersection of rhetoric and religion. In 2008 Andrea Lunsford lists him as a leader in the field of religious rhetoric ( the study of using language effectively). ( See ‘Bibliography’ for a list books) After a long struggle with depression Stephen committed suicide on 5th March 2016 just before his 55th birthday. He left behind the love of his life, Diane Timmerman, who he had married on 16th July 1988 and their five children. A very sad lose to his family and the Christian community. Sources used Amazon Google knygos The Indianapolis Star The Other Journal Wikipedia

Jupiter Hammon is known as the founder of African - American literature. His poem An Evening Thought;Salvation by Christ, with Penitential Cries (EVSCPC), published in 1761, was the first by an African-American in North America. (Read copy of poem) Born into slavery he became a devoted Christian evangelist preacher. He was also a commercial clerk on long island. New York. He was a slave of the Lloyd family. He was born at the Lloyd Manor (now Lloyd Harbor). He served 4 generations of the Lloyd family for his entire life Like the Lloyds family Jupiter was a fervent Christian. Aged 22 he bought a bible from his master for 7 shillings and 6 pence. His writings reflected his spirituality. I Jupiter received rudimentary education through the Anglican Church’s Society of the Gospel in Foreign parts system. His ability to read and write aided the Lloyds in their commercial businesses and helped him exhibit a level of intellectual awareness through literature. EVSCPC was his first published poem. Composed on 25th December, Christmas day 1760 it appeared as a 'broadside in 1761. An Address to Miss Phillis Wheatley, 18 years later, was his second work to appear in print. The dedicated poem, to a fellow black slave, contained 21 rhyming quatrains (4 lines) , each accompanied by a Biblical verse -thinking it would help her Christian journey. On 24th September 1786, aged 76, and still a slave, Jupiter said this famous quote during his speech at the inaugural meeting of the African Society in New York City , If we should get to heaven, we shall find nobody to reproach us for being black, or for being slaves. He knew that slavery was deeply entrenched in American society and that immediate emancipation of all slaves would be difficult to achieve, The exact year of Jupiter Hammon’s death is unknown but it is believed he died in 1806. He ranked 327 in the top 500 poets. Sources All poetry Wikipedia

Harriet Jacobs was convinced, by friends, to write an autobiography of her life as a slave. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl(1861) was the book and it is one of the first open discussions about the sexual harassment and abuse endured by a slave woman - a topic that even made abolitionists feel uncomfortable. The story tells of how, eventually after many years as a slave, Harriet was able to escape the continual sexual harassment of her slave owner and become a free woman. In her autobiography Harriet’s says her childhood was a happy one. Though we were slaves, I was fondly shielded that I never dreamed that I was a piece of merchandise. But on the death of her benevolent mistress, when she was 12, everything changed. Her ownership transfered to her mistress’s niece who was only 3 years old. Harriet’s actual new master was the niece’s father - Dr James Norcom. He would cause her a great deal of pain. When she was 15 Norcom began his relentless efforts to bend the slave girl’s will. He would whisper ‘foul words’ in her ear. His wife became suspicious so he built Harriet a cottage 4 miles from town. She asked if she could marry a free black man, Norcom violently refused. She had a plan. She became friendly with a caring white, unmarried lawyer. They had a child, She expected the infuriated Norcom to sell her and her child.- he didn’t. She bore the lawyer a second child. She heard Norcom was preparing to get the children to work as plantation slaves. In June 1835, after 7 rears of mistreatment, she ’ escaped’ and stayed with neighbours, black and white. The lawyer had bought her grandmother and uncle’s house. She found a tiny crawl space above the porch just big enough to hid in (9x7x3 feet). This tiny hiding place is where she stayed for the next 7 years- she could see her children through a peep hole. At night she would briefly exercise. In 1842 she escaped to freedom. She sailed to Philadelphia and then to New York by train. She was reunited with her children Joseph and Louisa Matilda and eventually her brother, John J. Jacobs… She fled to Massachusetts to again escape from Norcom. She found work as a nanny for the Children of Nathaniel Parker Willis. Harriet eventually became legally free when Mrs Willis, arranged her purchase. She made contact with abolitionists and feminist reformers. She was actively involved with the abolition movement before the launch of the Civil War. During the war she helped raise money for black refugees. After the war she worked to improve the conditions of th e recently freed slaves. She went with her daughter to the Union occupied parts of the South to help organize and found 2 schools for fugitives and freed slaves. She died in 7th March 1897, aged 84, a free woman. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl is now considered an ‘American classic’ Sources Africans in America Amazon National Archives Penquin Classics

John Warwick Montgomery is a lawyer, professor, Lutherian theologian and author. He is chiefly noted for his major contributions as a writer, lecturer and public debater in the field of Christian apologetics -the branch of theology concerned with the defence and rational justification of Christianity. He is director of the International Academy of Apologetics, Evangelism & Human Rights in Strasbourg, France. He is also editor of the online *Journal Global Journal of Classical Theology. * He was born in Warsaw, New York, USA on 18th October 1931. John became a Christian in 1949 as an undergraduate majoring in the classics and philosophy at Cornell University. He earned 10 degrees in multiple disciplines including philosophy, librarianship , theology and law. Ph.D, Th.D and LLD,. ( See ‘Education’ for detail) In 1959/60 he served as principle librarian in the Divinity school’s library at the University of Chicago He then served as Chairman of the Department of History at Wifrid Laurier University in Canada In 1964 having completed his Th.D. he became Professor of church history at Trinity Evangelical School in Deerfield, Illinois ( 1964-74). While there he became a regular columnist with *Christianity Today * (1965-83). He became involved within theological controversies with his denomination, the Lutheran church concerning Biblical inerrancy and higher criticism. He wrote 3 books opposing Liberal Christianity and radical theologies. Since 1965 he has been an ordained minister in the Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod His role as an apologist for Christianity extended to debates with atheists, ethicists and humanists. In th e 1970s he began training in law with the twin aims of reintegrating Christian foundations into jurisprudence and to integrate insights from legal theory and doctrines of proof relevant to furthering Christian evidential apologetics In 1970, after 2 years research, he wrote The Quest for Noah’s Ark In 1980 he established the Simon Greenleaf School of Law in California (now Trinity Law School. He was dean and professor there from 1980-89. He resigned under a cloud of controversy In 1991 became a Barrister-at- law in London. In 2009 passed the French bar examinations. From 1995 to 2007 he was Professor in Law and Humanities at the University of Bedfordshire, . From 2007 to 2014 he was Research Professor of Philosophy and Christian Thought at Patrick Henry College in Virginia USA. He remains Emeritus professor at the University of Bedfordshire. He now lives in France, England and the USA with his second wife Lanalee de Kant, a professional harpist. He is considered to be one of the foremost living apologists for classical biblical Christianity. Prof. J, W. Montgomery Apologetics

Miroslav Volf is a Croatian Protestant theologian and Henry B. Wright Professor of Theology at Yale University. He is the founder and director of the Yale Center for Faith and Culture at Yale Divinity School (YCFC) (2003-2020). He previously taught at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in his native Osijek, Croatia (1979-80), (1983-90) where he served as Professor of Systematic Theology. At Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California (1990-1998) he was an Associate Professor of Systematic Theology. He had an outstanding university education. He received 2 advanced degrees under the German theologian Jurgen Moltmann. (Read Early influences and education) Family and early life (read notes) Miroslave began preaching before he was 18. While living in Croatia he taught in church and for a short time was an interim pastor of a church in Zagreb. In the USA he continued to preach and teach in churches as well as appearing on Christian radio and TV programs. While in Croatia he worked for the Christian monthlyIvori He was the magazine’s co-editor (1979-84) and editor (1984-89). He re-designed/branded the magazine his father published. He regularly wrote editorials and feature articles. In the USA he also wrote for church audiences. He has been described as a ‘theological bridge builder’. The main thrust of the theology of this incredibly learned/decorated man ( See list of honors) is to bring Christian theology to bear on various realms of public life, such as culture, politics and economics. He often explores the dialogues between groups in the world. The systematic contours of his theology are most clearly noticeable in his book Free of Charge. The immediate themes are giving and forgiving as 2 chief modes of grace Miroslav is probably best known for Exclusion and Embrace(1996). His task was to reflect theologically about the Yugoslav Wars, marked by ethnic cleansing that was raging in his home country of Croatia at the time. It won the prestigious Grawemeyer Award for religion in 2002 Christianity Today included it in the top 100 most influential books of the 20th century. In 2003 he founded YCFC at Yale Divinity School. The goal of the center, which he still directs, is to promote the practice of faith in all spheres through theological research and leadership development. He has served as an advisor for the White House Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. He is a frequent commentator on the media talking about religious and cultural issues. In his teens he had a quiet conversion. In high school in Croatia he was the only openly Christian student. He had to explain why and how the Christian faith makes sense intellectually and is a salutary way of life. This was the beginning of his journey as a theologian. Miroslav Volf has to be one of the most outstanding Christian theologians of the late 20th/early 21st century. Sources Wikipedia -only some of the notes

Moises Siva is a Cuban born American biblical scholar, minister, author, translator and editor. He is an ordained minister of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. He has served as a translator of several Bibles. He is also a past president of the Evangelical Theological Society (1997) Moises was born in Havana, Cuba on 4th September 1925 and has lived in the USA since 1960. He earned the following degrees BA Bob Jones University 1966 BD Westminster Theological Seminary 1969 ThM ‘’ ‘’ ‘’ 1971 Phd University of Manchester 1972 He taught Biblical Studies at Westminster College (1972-1981), Westminster Theological Seminary (1981-1996), and Godon Conewll Theological Seminary (1996-2000) where he was Mary French Rockerfeller Distinguished Professor of New Testament until he retired. He has been involved as a translator in the New American Standard Bible the *New Living Translation and the recent English Standard Version. He has also been consultant for Eugene Peterson’s The Message . Moises is the editor of the New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology and Exegesis . He was also editor of both the Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, and the Westminster Journal. Moises’ Biblical Words and Their Meaning (1983, 2nd ed.1994) challenged many common linguistic fallacies in biblical interpretation. He has also found time to author or co-author several books and articles. His commentary on Philippians was highly acclalmed. (See list of ‘Works’) Moises Siva currently lives in Litchfield, Michigan where he continues to work as an author and editor. Sources Wikipedia

Nancey Murphy (born 12th June 1951) is an American philosopher and theologian who is Senior Professor of Christian Philosophy at Fuller Theological Seminary (FTS), Pasadena, CA . She is a member( and former chair) of the Board of Directors of the Center for Theology and National Science (CTNS) . She is also a member of the American Philosophical Association (APA) and the Society of Christian Philosophers (SCP). She was an advisor to the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and serves on the planning committee of the Vatican Observatory. (See notes on all 5) Nancey is an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren. Her first book *Theology in the Age of Scientific Reasoning * (1990) won the American Academy of Religion award for excellence. Degrees B.A. Philosophy and Psychology from Creighton University (CU) in 1973 Ph.D. Philosophy and Science from University of California in 1980 Th.D. Theology from Graduate Theology Union (GTU) in 1987 Recognition 1998 Alumnus of the year for C U 1999 J.K. Russel Fellow at the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences 2006 Alumnus of the year for GTU Nancey joined the faculty at FTS in 1989. She is still there over 30 years later. ( See notes on FTS) Nancey’s research interests focus on the role of modern and postmodern philosophy in shaping Christian Theology on relations between theology and science, and relations among neuroscience, philosophy of mind and Christian anthropology. She is a prolific writer. She has written 10 books and co-authored 11 volumes. She has written chapters for books and articles for Journals and magazines. ( See ‘Among her many publication are’, ‘Bio’, ‘Career’ and ‘Books’ plus Amazon) Nancey also serves as an editorial advisor for numerous publishers and journals. Nancey is highly sought after as a speaker at inter/national conferences on philosophy and the relationship between theology and science. In 2007 the * Los Angeles Magazine* include her in the list of *100 most influential people. Sources AAAS Amazon Center for Theology and the natural Science Fuller seminary Wikipedia

William Wells Brown was a prominent African- American abolitionist lecturer, novelist, playwright and historian. His novel Clotel; or the President’s Daughter (1853) considered to be the first novel written by an African- American - published in London, England. In 1867 he published the first history by an African- American *The Negro in the American Revolution . * George Higgins,his father, was a white plantation owner; his mother was a black slave named Elizabeth. She had 7 children all by different men. His father treated him like a house slave: his mother was a field slave. Together they were hired out to Major Freeland- a drunkard who kept a public house. William complained back to his father who was only interested in the money he was paid for his slaves - so after 6 months he escaped only to be caught. He was whipped and smoked (twice) and sent back to work. ( Read first set of notes ) He was also hired out to work on steamboats on the Missouri River. His work allowed to him to travel to see many new places. In 1833 he and his mother escaped across the river but were captured in Illinois. In 1834 they successfully slipped away from a steamboat when it docked in Cincinnati, Ohio They escaped to Dayton. The elderly Quaker, Wells Brown, helped him recover from a fever. When asked if he had another name than William he decided to adopt this kind gentleman’s name - William Wells Brown. He learned to read and write and eagerly sought more education. In 1834 he married Elizabeth Schooner. They had 2 daughters Clarissa and Josephine. ( Later they became estranged she died in 1851) He was hired by Elijah P. Lovejoy, the famed abolitionist and publisher of the St. Louis Times. He enjoyed working for him. From 1836- 1845? he made his home in Buffalo new York. He became a conductor on the Underground Railroad and worked on a Lake Erie steamer ferrying slaves to freedom in Canada. He became active in the abolitionist movement by joining several anti-slavery societies which included public speaking and music. He traveled with a slavery -themed traveling panorama He also organized a Temperance society. In 1947 published his memoir. -The Narrative of WWB , a Fugitive Slave, Written by Himself. ( See ‘Literary Works’) In 1949 he traveled to the U.K. to lecture on slavery. Represents US at the International Peace Congress in Paris. 1950 Fugitive Slave Act in the US - decided to stay in Europe. 1853Clotel published in London 1854 Richardson family buy his freedom. Returns to US to rejoin the anti-slavery lecture circuit. 1861-5 American Civil War- recruits blacks for the Union. 1880 last book published 6th November, 1884 William dies , aged 70, in Chelsea, Massachusetts . In 2013 he was among the first writers inducted to the Kentucky Writers Hall of Fame He was the first African- American novelist & historian.

Sarah Jane Woodson Early, nee Sarah Jane Woodson, was an American educator, black nationalist, temperance activist and author. In 1858 she became the first black woman college instructor. She was also the first black African- American (A-A) to teach at a university-Historically Black College or University (HBCU) before the Civil War (1861-5) Sarah was the fifth and youngest daughter of 11. Her parents were Thomas Woodson and Jemima (nee Riddle) . She was born FREE in Chillicothe, Ohio on 15th November 1825 (In 1820 her father had paid $900 for the family’s freedom whilst living in Greenbrier County, Virginia. There were only 1 of 2 free black families in the entire county so they moved to the free state of Ohio. ) The Woodsons founded the first black methodist church west of the Alleghenies mountain range. In 1830 they were among the founders of a separate black farming community called Berlin Crossroad which became a prominent spot on the ’ Underground Rail Road’- an escape route for slaves. By 1840 nearly 2 dozen families had established a school, stores and churches. Her father and some of her brothers became black nationalists. Sarah showed an interest in education at a very early age. By the age of 3 should memorize hymns sung by her family. By the age of 5 she was able to memorize lengthy passages of the Bible. In 1839 she joined the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) where 2 of her brothers were ministers. In 1852 along with her sister, Hannah, she enrolled at the Oberin College. In 1856 she was one of the first African-American (A-A) women to graduate with a degree in Classical Studies. After graduation she taught in the black community schools in Ohio for several years. She was the first principal at a public school in Xenia, Ohio. In 1858 she joined Wilberforce University and became the first A-A woman college instructor She taught at HBCU where her brother Rev. Lewis Woodson was the founder and a trustee . HBCU closed during the war. In 1863 bought by AME and re-opened as first A-A college to be owned and operated. In 1868 she began teaching in a new school for black girls established by the Freedmen’s Bureau in Hillsboro. North Carolina. On 24th September, aged 42, she married Rev. Jordan Winston Early - an AME minister and former slave. They moved to Tennessee where she became principal of schools in 4 cities. From 1868-88) - 20 years, she helped her husband with his ministries until he retired. She taught school for nearly 40 years. She believed education was critical for the advancement of the race. 1888-92 she was national superintendent of the black division of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) and gave 100 lectures across 5 states. Sarah wrote her husband’s biography and his rise from slavery - it is included among postwar narratives. Sarah’s career ended with her death. She died on 15th August 1907, aged 82. Sources PRO WCofRW WCTU Wikipedia

Cathay Williams was an African-American (A-A) soldier who enlisted in the US Army under the pseudonym William Cathay. She was the first black woman to enlist, and the only documented woman to serve in the US Army posing as a man. Despite the fact that it was prohibited for a woman to join the army she managed to enlist under the name William Cathay. Only her cousin and a friend, who were fellow soldiers in her regiment, knew the truth about the deception… She, some how, managed to pass a medical examination - very cursory- and she was registered to the 38th United States Infantry Regiment. Cathay was the child of a free man and a woman in slavery which made her legal status to be a slave. Shortly after her enlistment she caught smallpox and was hospitalized. She rejoined her unit which was posted to new Mexico. After years of marching and the after effects of smallpox she was often hospitalized. The post surgeon discovered she was a woman. Her commanding officer, Captain Charles E. Clarke discharged her on 14th the October 1868. 20 plus years later (1889) she applied for a disability pension based on her military service . Following a medical examination in September 1893 her application was rejected although she suffered from neuralgia and diabetes, all her toes had been amputated and she walked with a crutch. The actual date of her death -probably late 1893 and her place of burial, are unknown. In 2016 a small bust of Cathay Williams, with a small rose garden, was unveiled outside the Richard Allen Cultural Center in Leavenworth, Kansas. in 2018 a Private Cathay Williams monument bench was unveiled on the Walk of Honor at the National Infantry Museum. Sources Remembering Remarkable Firsts During Black History Month Wikipedia

Mary Jane Patterson was the first African-American (A-A) to receive a B.A. degree in 1862. Mary was the oldest child of Henry and Emime Patterson’ s children. Henry worked as a brick layer and plasterer who gained his freedom after Mary was born in 1852. He then moved the family to Oberlin, Ohio. In 1856 Oberlin had a a large community of black families - some free, some fugitive slaves. It had and integrated co-ed college. Father now worked as a master mason. For many years the family boarded large numbers of black students in their home. In 1857 she completed a year of preparatory course work. She enrolled in Oberlin College’s ‘gentlemen’s course’ - a 4 year program of classical studies which included Latin, Greek and Mathematics, this led to a B.A. degree with high honors. (Not the 2 year ladies course which did not earn a degree). After graduating from Oberlin College in 1862 she began teaching in Chillicothe, Ohio. On 21st of September 1864 she applied for a position in Norfolk, Virginia, at a school for black children. In 1865 she became assistant to Fanny Jackson Coppin at the Philadelphia Institute for Colored Youth (now Cheyney University). In 1869 she began to teach at the preparatory High School for Colored Youth ((later known as the M Street School, now known, after 1919, as the Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, Washington D.C.). From 1871 -2 she became the school 's first black principal. In 1872 she was demoted to assistant principle when Richard Theodore Greener - the first black Harvard University graduate, arrived. On his departure in 1873 she was reappointed principal (1873-84). Over the next 11 years the school grew from 50 to 172 students. Under her leadership the school gained strong intellectual standards.- high school commencements were initiated. She continued to teach at the school after her tenure as principal had finished. Outside of teaching she was interested in women’s rights and helped to found the Colored Women’s League of Washington D.C. The group focused on kindergarten teaching training , rescue work and classes fro industrial schools and homemaking. While in Washington she lived with her sisters, Emma and Chanie, and her brother John. In the late 1880’s their parents came to live with them due to the parents financial difficulties. Mary died on 24th September, 1894, aged only 54. Mary is remembered as as a pioneer in black education by paving the way for other black female educators. She was the first black African-American woman to receive a college degree -the year 1862 Sources Dunbar High school Past Wikipedia See also my notes on Dunbar High School (Washington D,C,) and Dunbar Firsts -information, on 6 black African-American firsts from the school

Alexander Lucius Twilight was an African-American (A-A) educator, minister and politician. He was the first male A-A to earn a degree from an American college or university graduating from Middlebury College in 1823. He was also the only A-A ever elected to the state legislature (1836), serving in the Vermont House of Representatives, before the Civil War (1861-5). He was born on 23rd September, 1795, in Bradford, Vermont. In 1798 they moved to Corinth. Alexander’s father, Ichabod was black, his mother Mary was described as ‘white’ or ‘light skinned’ implying she was of partial African descent. It is believed they were free and mixed race of African and English descent.They are both listed in the Corinth, Vermont town history as *the first negroes to settle in Corinth where they bought property, moving from Bradforf on November 28,1798 * From the age of 8 he worked on a neighbour’s farm. For the next 12 years he read, studied and learned mathematics while working in various labour positions. In 1815, aged of 20, he enrolled at Randolph’s Orange County Grammar School. Between 1815-21 he completed the secondary school courses and the first two years of college level curriculum. In 1821 enrolled at Middlebury College and left in 1823 with an Arts degree. The first A-A to be awarded a degree from an American institution of higher learning. Nobody realized it at the time. In 1826 Edward Jones claimed that honor which resulted in Middlebury publishing Alexander’s earlier graduation. His first job was in Peru, New York, where he stayed for 4 years. In 1828 he moved to Vergennes, Vermont to teach during the week and hold week-end services in Waltham and Ferrisburg. In 1829 he was hired as principal of the Orleans County, Vermont, Grammar school. in Brownington. He was ordained a minister of the Congregational Church. He built a house for his family (now the headquarters of the Orleans County Historical Society) . Alexander wanted to build a residence dormitory to accommodate borders. Built between 1834-6 the result was Athenian Hall - a massive, 4 storey, granite building. ( See ‘Old Stone House Museum’) In 1836 elected first A-A to the Vermont House of representatives. Unsuccessful in bid not to share school funding with the new Craftsbury school. In 1847, after 18 years, left headship having fallen out with Brownington trustees. He taught at Shipton and Hatley, Quebec. Without him his old school closed in 1852. He resumed duties as principal and pastor. Resigned as pastor in 1853. In October 1855 he suffered a stroke, which left him partially paralyzed.- retired from teaching. Alexander died on 19th June 1857, aged 61. His house and the Athenian Hall are included in the Brownington Village Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Sources Old Stone House Museum Timelines from Black History

A great deal has been written about Barack Hussain Obama 11, the first African-American president of the United States. I have selected just a few Wikipedia pages. Barack was the 44th president of the US from 2009-17. He was born in Honolulu, Hawaii to an American mother of European descent and an African father from Kenya. Recalling his childhood he said - *That my father looked nothing like the people around me - that he was pitch black, my mother white as milk - barely registered in my mind . His parents, Ann Dunham and Barack Obama Sr. had met in 1960 in a Russian language class at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. They married on 2nd February1961. Barack was born on 4th August 1961. They divorced in March 1964. His father returned to Kenya where he married for the third time. He only saw his son once-Christmas 1971. He died in a car crash in 1982. His mother Ann married Lolo Soetoro, an Indonesian, on March 15th 1965.When his J-1 visa expired he returned to Indonesia. Mother and son followed. From 1970 they lived in the wealthier neighbourhood in the Menteng sub district of Central Jakarta. Obama went to local Indonesian language schools (6-10) where learned to speak Indonesian fluently. In 1971 he returned to Honolulu to live with his mother’s parents - Madelyn and Stanley Dunham. He attended Punahou - a private college preparatory school - aided by scholarship from 5th grade. He graduated from high school in 1979. He moved to Los Angles to attend Occidental College on a full scholarship. In 1981 he transfered to Columbia University in New York City as a junior. There he majored in political science with a specialty in international relations and English Literature. He graduated in 1983 with a BA degree and a 3-7 GPA. After graduating he worked for about a year at Business International Corporation, then as a project coordinator for the New York Public Interest Group. In 1988 he enrolled in Harvard Law School. He was the first black person to be president of the Harvard Law Review. In June 1989 he met Michelle Robinson, they married on 3rd October 1992. After graduation he became a civil rights attorney and an academic, teaching constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School (1992-2004). He became involved with politics - he is a Democrat. Elected to represent the 13th district (!997-2004) in Illinois. He then ran for the US senate. He was the US Senator for Illinois from January 5th 2005-November 16th 2008 . In 2008 nominated for president after close primary campaign against Hillary Clinton. He chose Joe Biden as his Vice President. He became the 44 President of the US on 20th January, 2009. He was president for 2 terms of 4 years. Donald Trump, a Republican, replaced him on January20th 2017. I have included notes on his early life and career, education, family and personal life, legislative career, presidential campaigns the White House and his legacy. Ranked US’s 8th greatest president

Eric John Hewison ‘Bash’ Nash (1898-1982) was an evangelical Church of England cleric. His work with Christian evangelism with Scripture Union (1932- 65) was with the camp ministry in the top 30 public schools in the UK. From 1932 onwards he was highly influential in the post-war British evangelical resurgence. Over 7,000 boys attended camp under his leadership. Eric was born on 22nd April 1898. He was educated at Maidenhead College, an independent school for boys. On leaving school he worked for an insurance company In 1917, now aged 19, on a train journey back to Maidenhead, he finally faced and responded to the claims of Christ upon his life He *had a vision in a railway carriage that he was to win Britain for Christ. One or two years later he fully acknowledged Christ as Master and Lord. In 1922 encouraged and supported by Arthur Winnington-Ingram, Bishop of London he went to Trinity College, Cambridge and then Ridley Hall. 1927 made deacon and served 2 curacies - Ealing and Wimbledon 1929 applies to work for Scripture Union - rejected. He spent a period as a chaplain at Wrekin College 1932 reapplies to Scripture Union - accepted (1932-65) Eric made it his business to preach the Christian Gospel at the top 30 British public school. John Stott describes the meeting at Rugby as strictly off the record and conducted with a good deal of secrecy. His message was not necessarily welcomed by everyone. He began a camp ministry. By 1940 it was based at Clayesmore School in the village of Iwerne Attendance was only by invitation. He used military terms. He used Christian staff from the schools. He used the ABC formula Admit your need of Christ Believe that Christ died for you Come to Him His influence stretched to University Christian Unions in the Inter-Varsity Fellowship (IVC) Between 1935-9 all CICCU’s presidents were ‘Bash’ campers. His camps influenced many peoples lives. (See ‘Associated with his work’) In 1969 it could be said that much of the leadership of the British Evangelical church had been ‘Bash campers.’ Called ‘Bash’ for his forthrightness. Nash was always courteous. When Eric retired from the Scripture Union in 1965 he continued to have a fruitful ministry until he was 80. His health began to fail. Eric died, aged 83, peacefully in his own home on 4th April 1982. *Bash’… was a quiet, unassuming clergyman who never sought the limelight, hit the headlines or wanted preferment; and yet whose influence within the Church of England…was greater than any of his contemporaries … Those who knew him well, and those who worked with him, never expect to see his like again, for rarely can anyone have meant so much to so many, as this quietly spoken, modest and deeply spiritual man * John Eddison if it were not for him and i might have made shipwreck of my life Source used Wikipdeia

William Williams Pantycelyn (1717-1791) is generally seen as Wale’s premier hymnist. In religion he was among the leaders of the 18th century Welsh Methodist revival along with the evangelists Howell Harris and Duncan Rowland. He is also rated as one of the great literary figures of Wales, as a writer of poetry and prose. He was born on 11th February 1717 in the parish of Llanfair-ar-y-bryn, Wales. His parents were John and Dorothy Williams. When John died in 1742 Dorothy moved to a farm called Pantycelyn ( William was often referred to by that name). His family were nonconformists. He was educated locally at the nonconformist academy in Talgarth, He had intended to study medicine but following conversion in 1937/8, after the preaching of the evangelical Methodist revivalist Howell Harris, he choose to preach. In 1740 he took deacon’s orders in the established Anglican Church ( now called Church in Wales). His first appointment was as curate to Theophilus Evans in Llanddewi Abergwesyn. By this time he had become involved with the Methodist movement and in June 1742 his disapproving parishioners reported him to the Archdeacon’s court at Brecon. In 1743, when he applied for ordination, he was refused. He became a Methodist minister instead. He travelled through Wales preaching the doctrine of Calvinistic Methodism. he needed to be not only a theologian and an advocate for the new era but also an organiser and administrator. His reward was seeing the community grow and thrive over the years. Runnng parallel to what was happening in Wales we have the Wesley brothers , John and Charles and George Whitefield. William wrote over 900 hymns in his lifetime, the majority in Welsh. He started publishing in 1744. The best known undoubtedly is *Guide me ,O Thou Great redeemer ** written originally in Welsh. ( See’Hymns’) His poetry included 2 long poems on theological and religious themes (See ‘Poetry) His prose include his writing about the 1762 revival. He never wrote either a diary or autobiography. A short 12 page biography ’ The Spiritual Treasury’ was written by Thomas Charles In 1867 J.R. Kilsby Jones wrote *All the poetic and Prose work of William Williams *-846 pages ! He is acknowledged as one of the leaders of the Methodist revival in Wales during the 18th century, For much of his life William stayed in Llanfair-at-y-brn. He died on the 11th January 1791, aged 74. He was buried in the local parish churchyard In 1811 The Welsh Calvinistic Methodists broke away from the Anglican Church. See separate TES entries for Daniel Rowland and Howell harris Source used Wikipdeia

George Beverly Shea (1909-2013) was often called America’s beloved singer He lived to be 104 and spent nearly 60 years of those years singing and working with Bill Graham. He was born on 1st February 1909 in Winchester, Ontario, Canada. His first singing was in the choir of his father’s Wesleyan Methodist Church. He later sang with the Houghton (N.Y.) College Glee Club. He was educated at Annesley College in Ottawa (1926-8). and Houghton College. Houghton, N.Y. (1928-9). For the next 9 years he worked in a minor way in radio broadcasting (singing on WMCA and WHN), while working as a clerk of Mutual of New York insurance(1929-38). From 1938-44 he was an announcer and staff soloist at WMBI radio Chicago.He met Bllly Graham there in 1943. When Billy Graham took over the radio program Songs in the Night he remembered George and enlisted him to help with the broadcast. This was the beginning of a long association. In 1947 George went to sing at Charlotte, N.C., Billy’s hometown, at one of Billy’s first city wide Crusades. I have sometimes said that I would feel lost getting up to preach if Bev were not there to prepare the way through an appropriate song. Billy Graham. The famous 1949 Los Angeles tent meeting catapulted Billy and his associates to national attention. The team went onto share the Gospel on every continent. Bev with Cliff Barrows were the nucleus of the Crusade musical team. He was one of the busiest members of the team and he sung at hundreds of concerts. He was part of the team up until 2013. He was soloist on the Hour of Decision from 1950-2013. Singing weekly on this program for over 60 years his bass-baritone voice is recognised across the world. He used utilized all available media to share the ‘Good News’ of Jesus Christ. He was prolific recording artist and composer for over 50 years (1951-2013)and had 70 albums of hymns and 9 CDs. He was the recipient of 10 Grammy awards. He is on 3 lists of Hall of Fame- Gospel Music Association (1978), Religious Broadcasting (1996) and Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists (2008). He received many other awards and honours over the years. (See list of awards and honors). He never retired - all the dates go up to 2013 - the year he died. He died on Tuesday April 16th 2013 after a brief illness. Every hymn he sang was a testimony to the saving power of Jesus Christ. Source Wikipedia

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.