Archive for April 2025
Milton Hershey
Milton S. Hershey was born on September 13, 1857, in Derry Township, Pennsylvania. Milton Hershey was the only surviving child of Veronica “Fanny” and Henry Hershey. Hershey’s mother was a practical influence in his life. She raised Hershey in the discipline of Mennonite faith, which taught him perseverance and success. His father was a dream-chaser…
Read MoreCharles H. Gabriel
Charles Hutchinson Gabriel (August 18, 1856 – September 14, 1932) was a writer of gospel songs and composer of gospel tunes. He is said to have written and/or composed between 7,000 and 8,000 songs, many of which are available in 21st century hymnals. He used several pseudonyms, including Charlotte G. Homer, H. A. Henry, and S. B. Jackson.…
Read MoreAnnie Armstrong
In the late 1800’s women were not expected to be leaders, to speak up, to be visionaries…Annie Armstrong was never concerned with what the world expected. “When I get hold of an idea that seems to me to be a good one, I somehow do not feel comfortable until I see it carried out.” Annie’s…
Read MoreMary Slessor
Mary Slessor was a hard working Scottish mill girl and an unorthodox Sunday School teacher, who, inspired by David Livingstone, became a missionary in Calabar, Nigeria, an area where no European had set foot before. Despite several bouts of illness and constant danger, she lived with the tribes, learned their language, and traditions, earning their…
Read MoreLottie Moon
It is said that Charlotte Digges Moon (Lottie, for short), born December 12th, 1840, was a precocious child, somewhat unruly, and irreverent. Many prayed for her salvation, but she was a scoffer. Later, after a series of revival meetings, she decided to seriously consider Christianity. Shortly after her 18th birthday, she received Jesus as her Savior…
Read MoreD.L. Moody
Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899), evangelist and Christian educator, was born in Northfield, Massachusetts. Leaving home at a young age Moody travelled to Boston where he became a successful shoe salesman. While in Boston he was converted by a Congregationalist Sunday-school teacher named Edward Kimball and soon afterward directed much of his efforts towards preaching the…
Read MoreChristina Rossetti
The Victorian poet Christina Rossetti (1830–1894) is most celebrated for her popular Christmas carols, but her most prolific liturgical season was Lent. A fervent Anglican, Rossetti expressed in her poems a deeper understanding of suffering than pieces like “Love Came Down At Christmas” might lead you to suspect. In her Lenten poetry, she focuses not only on…
Read MoreHoratio Spafford
Horatio Spafford’s name may not be widely known, but the hymn he composed in the depths of personal grief has resonated across generations. Born in Troy, New York, in 1828, Spafford built a successful life in Chicago as a lawyer and real estate investor. Yet his true legacy was not in wealth or profession but…
Read MoreAndrew Murray
Andrew Murray was born on May 9th, 1828 in Graaff Reinet, South Africa. Murray had an incredible Christian heritage growing up. His father was a Dutch Reformed minister who weekly read revival accounts to his family, and prayed regularly for revival to come to South Africa. Missionaries traveled through constantly, including David Livingston. In 1838,…
Read MoreFyodor Dostoevsky
“Life is in ourselves and not in the external,” writes Fyodor Dostoevsky in a letter to his brother dated December 22, 1849. “To be a human being among human beings, and remain one forever, no matter what misfortunes befall, not to become depressed, and not to falter–this is what life is, herein lies its task.”…
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