History Maker – serie

Explore the life of America’s first foreign missionary, Adoniram Judson (1788–1850), who was devoted to serving God for over 38 years in Burma, no matter the cost. The son of a congregational minister, Judson was a precocious young man who aspired to gain exceptional worldly fame through some prominent secular career. But following a crisis of faith and a stunning turn of events that exposed the vanity of mere temporal pursuits, he went on to study for the Christian ministry and to dedicate his life to missionary service. With unshakable faith in God and His Word, Judson persevered through staggering difficulties. His unremitting labor and devotion were used of the Lord to spread the Gospel and to establish healthy Christian congregations throughout Burma. Judson’s example was an inspiration to untold thousands in his own day and still has the power to encourage and instruct believers today.

Mary Slessor was no ordinary woman, indeed she was no ordinary missionary. Brought up in Dundee, one of eleven children, Mary was called to mission. Setting sail for West Africa on the 5th August 1876, Mary arrived one month later. Bruce McLennan examines this remarkable story of a woman who shared the Gospel, stood up against inequality and impacted all areas of life in Calabar with boldness and conviction. McLennan also considers the debt owed to the work of previous missionaries who had established the work and looks at the legacy of Slessor after her death.

Charles George Gordon gained universal respect and affection in the slums of urban Victorian Britain fighting on spiritual battlegrounds.Later, he obtained the same reputation as he commanded in battle Chinese, Egyptian, and African (but never British) troops, to become a British military hero. General Gordon died while trying to save Khartoum from fire and sword in 1885, the mourning from a grateful nation was only surpassed by the death's of Henry Havelock at Lucknow and Nelson at Trafalgar.Gladstone, Britain's Prime Minister at the time feared it would bring down his government. He is now known as one of Britain's greatest military heroes in the line of Wellington, Nelson, Havelock, Harris and Montgomery.There are 4 parts to this well researched and exciting biography: Part One: 'Yellow Jacket', 1833-1864.Part Two: 'The Liberator' 1865-1879.Part Three: 'The Pillar of Cloud' 1880-1883.Part Four: 'Too Late' 1884-1885.John Pollock, author of other highly praised biographies (including Havelock's), draws on extensive, but little used, manuscript sources to vividly retell a fascinating and colourful true story of an extraordinary figure.

Harold Schofield, a brilliant Oxford doctor who had laboured as a missionary in China for many years, was on his knees praying, ‘Lord, give me missionaries from British Universities to help in China’.The day he died, D. E. Hoste applied to Hudson Taylor for mission work in the China Inland Mission (Now Overseas Missionary Fellowship). Schofield’s prayer was answered as seven Cambridge students volunteered to leave behind cosy lives of wealth and privilege to serve God in whatever way they were led.These seven inspired thousands of others to think seriously of missionary service. Included among them was C.T. Studd, captain of England and the finest cricketer of his day – if he could give all that up, then so could anyone!The story of these seven are an inspiration that God can take people and use them in incredible ways – if they are willing to serve.As Pollock says in his book ‘Theirs is the story of ordinary men, and thus may be repeated’. Will it be repeated in your life?

“The fateful day began with deceptive normalcy at John and Betty Stam’s missionary residence in Tsingteh, China. Both the wood–burning stoves had been lit and were starting to heat up nicely, helping to lessen the chill that gripped the large old house that cold, early December morning. The Stams, along with the six Chinese who lived with them in the house, had already eaten breakfast.“John hoped to study and get some correspondence done that morning. Betty was preparing to give their three–month old baby, Helen Priscilla, a bath, with some assistance from the amah Mei Tsong–fuh. The cook, Li Ming–chin, busied himself in the kitchen. His wife, mother, and two children similarly had begun their various daily activities.“John and Betty had been in Tsingteh for just two weeks. They had come there under the auspices of the China Inland Mission (CIM) to oversee the infant Christian work that had been established in the southern portion of Anhwei Province. There were very few Christians in the area, but the Stams were thrilled at the prospect of carrying out pioneer evangelistic work to help bring the Gospel to that needy part of China.” So begins this gripping story of missionary endeavour in China. The early church leader, Tertullian, said that ‘the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church’. This is just one story of the people whose witness is the cause of the spectacular growth of the church in China today.

Superb story of a spiritual leader with a gentle heart! John Charles Ryle was born into a comfortable English family background - his father was a politician and businessman. Ryle was intelligent, a great sportsman (captain of cricket at Eton and Oxford) and was set for a career in his father's business, and then politics - a typical, well to do, 19th century family.Then - disaster. The family awoke to find that their father's bank had failed, taking all the other businesses with it. Ryle had lost his job and his place in society. He resigned his commission in the local yeomanry and went to comfort his parents, brother and sisters. One moment a popular man with good prospects, the next the son of a bankrupt with no trade or profession. Almost as a last resort, he was ordained into the ministry of the church.Ryle's reputation as a pastor and leader grew until he was appointed the first Bishop of Liverpool, a post he held for 20 years. He was an author who is still in print today (he put aside royalties to pay his father's debts) and a man once described by his successor as 'that man of granite with the heart of a child.' He changed the face of the English church.Ryle stands as a colossus at the junction of two centuries - a hundred years after his death he still stands as an example to church leaders today of how to combine leadership, a firm faith and compassion.