by Peter James | Jun 10, 2024 | Henry Martyn
Henry Martyn (1781-1812) was a stellar student at Cambridge University in England, well on his way to becoming a professor or lawyer. Yet he suspected something was missing, “I obtained my highest wishes but was surprised to find that I had grasped only a...
by Peter James | Jun 9, 2024 | William of St. Thierry
Christian mystic is a term used to describe William of St. Thierry (ca. 1075-1148). Mystic is a slippery, vacuous word. For the record, it’s not a synonym for people who do weird things in the name of God. Christian mystics are people who seek direct...
by Peter James | Jun 8, 2024 | Hudson Taylor
They called him the “black devil” for wearing an English black overcoat on the streets of Shanghai. The trappings of his Western European culture had become a barrier to the Chinese people, communicating that Christianity was a foreign religion. Early...
by Peter James | Jun 7, 2024 | John Angell Jones
It was the annual meeting of the London Missionary Society. I know it doesn’t sound like much, but the meeting was a big deal in those days. You needed to arrive two hours before the service if you wanted a seat. What attracted so many people to Surrey Chapel in...
by Peter James | Jun 6, 2024 | Barnabas
Some people are best known for their nicknames. Honest Abe is one that comes immediately to mind. Joseph, a Levite from Cyprian, was given the nickname Barnabas by early Christians, meaning “son of encouragement.” Most every time he is mentioned in...
