Advocating for social change from the view of the pulpit is certainly nothing new but Henry Ward Beecher understood the influence well. As a Congregationalist minister, Beecher was a major abolitionist (his sister was Harriet Beecher Stowe of Uncle Tom’s Cabin fame – see June 5th) and Abraham Lincoln sent him to Europe to stir up the cause of abolishing …
One of my favorite hymns is “When we all get to Heaven” and we sing about what a day of rejoicing that will be (that will be). The lyrics were written by Philadelphia, PA native Eliza Hewitt who wrote over 1700 hymns but the music was written by Emily Divine Wilson who died a childless widow on June 23, 1942. …
If we were to rank theological intellect on a scale of 1 to 10, Jonathan Edwards would be a 57 at least. He was a major earthly-reason for the Great Awakening of the 1730/40’s but on June 22, 1750 he was dismissed from his Northampton Congregational Church because he would not agree to give communion to members unless they had …
When was the first time a Prayer Book was read in English in the New World? No one can know for certain but the first time it was recorded as taking place was June 21, 1579, when Sir Francis Drake was circumnavigating the globe. He stopped somewhere in modern-day California and read the Book of Common Prayer to Native Americans.
One of the most prolific writers and theologians of the early church, John Chrysostom, was exiled from yet another church (this time in Constantinople) on June 20, 404. Chrysostom (pronounced chris-ahs-oh-tum) often railed against the upper class who were more concerned with being social Christians instead of humble ones – and it typically meant his services were no longer needed …
David Brainerd is best known and loved because of what we left behind – not just what he accomplished during his lifetime. He was a missionary to Native Americans who lived primarily in New Jersey and his diary has inspired an untold number of Christians. His missionary journey began on June 19, 1745. He died at age 29 from tuberculosis …
Not only is the Severns Valley Baptist Church the oldest in Kentucky, but it also became the oldest evangelical church west of the Alleghenies when it was founded on June 18, 1781. Severns Valley is no longer a town (it’s now Elizabethtown, KY) but the church still survives today (pictured here). It’s a long way from a couple of people …
The legacy of Jerry Falwell’s ministries can be seen across the United States – such as Liberty University. The founding of the Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, VA on June 17, 1956, would prove to be the “home base” for the many facets of the work he’d accomplish.
One of the original “power couples” in Christian history was William and Catherine Booth who together formed the Salvation Army. After they were married on June 16, 1855, their desire to win souls turned to the very practical meeting of needs by teaching women to sew, providing food for the hungry and establishing schools. After William was kicked out of …
Under the category of “be careful what you wish for” when the Roman co-emperors Constantine and Licinius issued the Edict of Milan on June 15, 313, they immediately made it legal to practice Christianity in the Roman Empire. This was very welcomed news on the heels of the Edict Against the Christians issued by Emperor Diocletian 10 years before. Diocletian’s …
