December 26

Adoniram Judson (1788–1850) was a pioneer American Missionary to Burma; Translator, Prisoner, and Voice in the Darkness. He was America’s first foreign missionary — a scholar-turned-servant who gave his life to bring the gospel to Burma. A brilliant linguist and theologian, Judson exchanged comfort and acclaim for jungles, prison cells, and spiritual warfare. For nearly four decades, he toiled in a hostile land, buried children and two wives, suffered torture, and endured years of fruitless labor before harvest came. Yet through it all, Judson remained faithful to his calling — translating the Bible into Burmese and leaving behind a living church where there had been none.

Judson’s Life Motto:

“The future is as bright as the promises of God.”

Selected Anecdotes:

Departure and Cost
In 1812, Judson and his wife Ann set sail from Salem, Massachusetts. Within days, they knew: there would be no return. He once wrote,
“We have come to a land of death to speak of life.”

Theological Shift at Sea
En route to India, Judson became convinced of Baptist principles through Bible study. Upon arrival, he and Ann were baptized — sacrificing all denominational support to stand on 

biblical conviction.

Prison in Ava
Judson spent 21 months in a Burmese death prison — starved, chained, and hung by his feet. His wife Ann snuck in food and comforted him. He later wrote,
“The door of hope is never shut to faith.”

Loss and Loneliness
Judson buried Ann and all their children during his ministry. Grieving, he dug his own grave in the jungle to contemplate eternity. Yet he emerged with renewed purpose:
“If I had not felt certain that every trial was ordered by infinite love, I could not have survived.”

The Burmese Bible
Judson’s greatest achievement was translating the entire Bible into Burmese — a labor that took decades. That version is still used today by Burmese Christians.

The First Convert
It took six years before the first Burmese soul came to Christ. By Judson’s death, there were 100 churches and over 8,000 baptized believers.

Famous Quotes by Adoniram Judson:

“There is no success without suffering.”
“How great are my obligations to spend and be spent for Christ.”
“The motto of every missionary: 'Devoted for life.'”
“I will not leave Burma until the cross is planted here forever.”
“In joy or pain, our course is onward still.”
“The love of Christ is a bottomless, shoreless, boundless ocean.”

Legacy:
Adoniram Judson stands among the giants of missionary history. He proved that gospel fruit grows slowly, painfully, and often invisibly — but grows still. He gave his life for a people not his own, sowing in tears what others would reap in joy. Today, the Burmese church traces its roots to Judson’s sacrifice, his Scriptures, and his unshakable faith. He was not just a missionary — he was a seed that fell into the ground and died… and bore much fruit.

Jim Elliot (1927–1956) was an American Christian Missionary; Martyred While Reaching the Unreached in Ecuador. Jim Elliot was a young man utterly consumed with the glory of God and the call to reach those who had never heard the name of Jesus. Brilliant, athletic, and deeply devoted, he left behind the comforts of American life to bring the gospel to the Huaorani (then known as Auca) tribe in the jungles of Ecuador — a people known for their violence and isolation. With four other missionaries, Jim made peaceful contact, prayed, and planned — only to be speared to death in 1956. His death shocked the world, but his life — and words — continue to ignite missionary passion across generations.

Jim Elliot’s Life Motto:

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

Selected Anecdotes:

A Journal on Fire
From his college days at Wheaton, Jim filled his journals with passionate prayers and Scripture-saturated reflections. He wrote,
“God, I pray Thee, light these idle sticks of my life, and may I burn for Thee.”

Single-Minded Courtship
Jim delayed proposing to Elisabeth until he was sure that God was calling them both to missions. His conviction: marriage must be secondary to obedience.

Jungle Landing
Jim and four teammates — Nate Saint, Ed McCully, Roger Youderian, and Pete Fleming — landed on a sandbar they named “Palm Beach.” After weeks of contact, they were speared by tribesmen they came to serve.

Forgiveness and Fruit
Though Jim never saw a single Huaorani convert, his wife Elisabeth and Nate Saint’s sister Rachel later moved into the tribe — and many came to Christ, including some of the very men who killed Jim.

Elisabeth’s Witness
Elisabeth Elliot later wrote Through Gates of Splendor and Shadow of the Almighty, preserving Jim’s writings and life for future generations. His journal became a blueprint for fearless obedience.

Famous Quotes by Jim Elliot:

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
“Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.”
“I seek not a long life, but a full one, like You, Lord Jesus.”
“Father, make me a crisis man — bring those I contact to decision.”
“Saturate me with the oil of the Spirit that I may be a flame.”
“God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him.”

Legacy:
Jim Elliot’s life was brief — but burning. He was 28 years old when he laid it down, but his passion, writings, and martyrdom gave birth to thousands of new missionaries. He modeled what it means to lose one’s life for Christ’s sake and the gospel’s, not with regret, but with joy. Today, the story of Jim and his four companions still echoes through mission halls, youth groups, and pulpits. His death wasn’t the end — it was the seed. And it bore fruit across continents.

John Nelson Darby (1800–1882) was an Irish Bible Teacher, Dispensational Pioneer, and Shepherd of the Brethren Movement. John Darby was a profound and controversial Bible teacher whose influence reshaped modern evangelical thought. Once a promising lawyer in Ireland, Darby turned from courts to Christ — becoming a priest in the Church of Ireland before ultimately breaking from denominationalism to pursue New Testament simplicity. He became a leading voice in the Plymouth Brethren movement and a foundational figure in dispensational theology. Through tireless preaching, writing, and global travel, Darby helped stir revival in Europe and North America, and his emphasis on Christ’s return and the centrality of Scripture inspired a generation of Bible students and missionaries.

Darby’s Life Motto:

“The more we are nothing, the more Christ is everything.”

Selected Anecdotes:

From Courtroom to Kingdom
Darby gave up a promising legal career in Dublin after sensing God’s higher calling. He said,
“Earth’s applause dies quickly. I want only Christ’s ‘Well done.’”

Broken Leg, Open Eyes
While recovering from a riding accident, Darby immersed himself in Scripture — leading to his theological convictions about grace, church unity, and Christ’s imminent return.

Brethren Fellowship
Darby became a leader among the Plymouth Brethren, advocating for a return to the early church pattern — weekly communion, plurality of elders, and the priesthood of all believers.

Dispensational Insights
He systematized what became known as dispensationalism: a framework dividing God’s dealings with humanity into eras or "dispensations." His teaching on the rapture, Israel, and prophetic fulfillment later influenced the Scofield Reference Bible and modern evangelical eschatology.

Missionary to Many
Darby traveled extensively — to Switzerland, France, Germany, Canada, and the U.S. — planting churches and writing prolifically in multiple languages. He translated the Bible into French and German and wrote 40+ volumes of commentary, letters, and exposition.

Fierce and Tender
Though known for theological rigidity, Darby was deeply pastoral. One disciple wrote,
“He spoke with thunder in the pulpit and tears in the prayer meeting.”

Famous Quotes by John Darby:

“Christ is the center — not doctrines, not systems, but Christ alone.”
“God’s purpose will not fail — for His will is as unchanging as His love.”
“The Christian is not of this world, but of heaven — though sent to walk in grace below.”
“Truth that humbles is better than error that exalts.”
“I am not occupied with evil, but with Christ.”
“A heavenly people must set their affections on heavenly things.”

Legacy:
John Darby’s impact is both vast and debated. He championed a return to biblical simplicity, holiness, and hope in a distracted age. Though many criticize his theological rigidity, few deny his passion for Christ’s supremacy and his longing for the Church to be pure, watchful, and united. Through his writings, Bible translations, and missionary travels, Darby left a theological legacy that endures in Bible schools, churches, and prophetic conferences worldwide. His life was marked not by popularity — but by consistency, conviction, and Christ-centered clarity.

Clement of Rome (35–99 AD) was one of the earliest leaders of the Christian Church after the apostles and is traditionally considered the third Bishop of Rome, following Peter and Linus. A disciple of the apostles — likely Paul and Peter — Clement became a vital voice for unity, humility, and holiness during a time of persecution and division. He is best known for his letter to the Corinthians, a pastoral epistle urging peace and order within the early Church.

He proclaimed the gospel with apostolic authority and fatherly care, appealing not to novelty, but to the teachings handed down directly from the apostles. Clement believed the Church must be marked by obedience, love, and reverence for God’s order. His writings reflect a deep devotion to Scripture, an early grasp of Trinitarian faith, and a burning desire to preserve the unity of Christ’s body.

Clement’s Final Words (by tradition):

“I am a servant of Christ, and to Him alone I give my life.”
Though not recorded in Scripture, early accounts tell of Clement’s exile and martyrdom under Emperor Trajan, during which he faithfully confessed Christ until death.

Selected Anecdotes:

A Voice from the Apostolic Age
Clement likely knew the apostles personally and refers to their sufferings in his letter to Corinth. His epistle is saturated with Old Testament references and echoes the language of Paul — possibly the one who led him to Christ.

The First Post-Apostolic Letter
When the Corinthian church fell into division, Clement wrote what is now called 1 Clement, one of the earliest Christian writings outside the New Testament. He called the believers back to humility, peace, and respect for godly leadership.

A Pastor in Exile
Under Emperor Domitian and later Trajan, Clement was banished to the Crimea, where he ministered among prisoners and built up the faith of exiles. Tradition holds that he was tied to an anchor and thrown into the sea for his witness.

A Martyr Shepherd
Though details vary, most early sources agree that Clement died a martyr’s death. His courage in exile, and his refusal to deny Christ, made him one of the first post-apostolic heroes of the faith.

Legacy in Liturgy
Clement's writings were read in churches for centuries alongside Scripture. His clarity, order, and reverence for apostolic teaching shaped early Christian thought — especially in Rome and the East.

Famous Quotes by Clement of Rome:

“Let us fix our gaze on the blood of Christ and understand how precious it is to His Father.”
“Love unites us to God; love covers a multitude of sins.”
“Let us give up empty and vain concerns, and conform ourselves to the glorious and holy rule of our tradition.”
“Let us walk worthily of His name, so that we may be glorified in Him.”
“Why do we tear apart the body of Christ with factions and pride?”
“Charity bears all things, is long-suffering in all things. There is nothing mean in charity.”
“Let us strive to be found in the number of those who wait for Him in love and holiness.”
“Through envy and jealousy, the greatest and most righteous pillars of the Church have been persecuted.”

Legacy:
Clement of Rome stands as a bridge between the apostles and the next generation — a man who carried their words, their authority, and their spirit into the Church’s unfolding history. His writings reflect a Church still burning with apostolic truth, yet already wrestling with disunity and persecution. Clement’s faithfulness, humility, and love for order continue to inspire pastors, scholars, and peacemakers. He reminds the Church that fidelity to Christ means enduring suffering, promoting unity, and clinging to the Word handed down by those who walked with Jesus.

C.S. Lewis (1898–1963), Oxford Scholar, and Author of Mere Christianity, was one of the most influential Christian thinkers of the 20th century. Once an atheist and skeptic, Lewis experienced a profound conversion to Christ in midlife, describing himself as the most "reluctant convert in all England." He went on to defend the Christian faith with clarity, imagination, and logic, writing works that still shape hearts and minds today — from The Screwtape Letters to Mere Christianity, from The Problem of Pain to The Chronicles of Narnia. Lewis’s words offered rational faith in an age of doubt, and holy wonder in an age of cynicism.

C.S. Lewis’s Life Motto:

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen — not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”

Selected Anecdotes:

From Atheism to Christ
Lewis’s path to faith was long and reluctant. Influenced by friends like J.R.R. Tolkien, he surrendered to God on a quiet evening ride to the zoo, writing,

“I gave in, and admitted that God was God.”

The Broadcast That Shaped a Nation
During WWII, Lewis’s radio talks explained Christian doctrine simply to a weary nation. These became the basis for Mere Christianity, a book that continues to disciple believers around the world.

A Different Kind of Apologist
Rather than argue, Lewis invited. He made the Christian worldview beautiful, logical, and necessary — using fiction, reason, and longing to point souls toward Christ.

Suffering and Shadowlands
Lewis’s grief over the death of his wife Joy is recorded in A Grief Observed. His honest wrestling with sorrow deepened his writings and made him a guide for the brokenhearted.

He Died the Same Day as a President
Lewis died quietly at home on November 22, 1963 — the same day John F. Kennedy was assassinated. The world barely noticed at first, but heaven surely did.

Famous Quotes by C.S. Lewis:

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”
“There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal.”
“Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.”
“God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains.”
“The heart never takes the place of the head; but it can, and should, obey it.”
“Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point.”

Legacy:
C.S. Lewis baptized the imagination of millions. He showed that Christian truth could be defended with logic, clothed in beauty, and felt with wonder. He wrote for both the child and the philosopher, for skeptics and saints alike. His works remain on nightstands, college shelves, and children’s bookcases — still shaping hearts to know the living Christ. Lewis didn’t claim to be a theologian. But through his words, many met the One behind all truth, goodness, and beauty.

Duncan Campbell (1898–1972) was a Scottish evangelist best known for his role in the Hebrides Revival of 1949–1952. A former soldier turned preacher, Campbell brought a message of repentance and holiness that shook remote island communities and drew crowds into barns, fields, and churches under deep conviction. He believed in the sovereignty of God in revival — and lived his life waiting upon God to move in power.

He proclaimed the gospel with rugged simplicity and burning urgency, carrying a burden for lost souls and a reverence for the Spirit’s timing. Campbell often turned down large platforms, preferring quiet villages and unknown prayer meetings. He believed revival could not be manufactured — only birthed through brokenness, prayer, and obedience.

Duncan Campbell’s Last Words:

“Let God have His way.”
These humble words captured Campbell’s life-long message: surrender fully to God, and He will do what no man can.

Selected Anecdotes:

From Soldier to Preacher
Campbell served in World War I and later entered Christian ministry. Early in his work, he confessed to compromising his call for popularity. After repentance, he resolved to never again preach without divine authority.

The Hebrides Revival Begins
In 1949, two praying sisters in their 80s — Peggy and Christine Smith — cried out for revival on the Isle of Lewis. God sent Duncan Campbell, and within days, the Holy Spirit fell with power. People wept in homes and fields before ever reaching a church.

No Announcement Needed
Campbell often arrived in towns unannounced, yet crowds gathered as conviction swept through the streets. One night, 600 people walked miles to a church at midnight under a burden of sin — without knowing Campbell had just arrived.

Obedience Over Agenda
He once left a major conference in England midweek because he sensed God calling him back to the Hebrides. He said, “When God speaks, I go — even if it ruins my reputation.”

The Barn Meetings
Many revival meetings began not in churches but barns, where young people cried for mercy and elders stood speechless. Campbell said, “When the church is alive, the barn is holy ground.”

Waiting on God
He rejected emotionalism and manipulation. If the Spirit did not move, he waited — sometimes in silence. “God is not in the noise,” he once said. “He is in the broken heart.”

Famous Quotes by Duncan Campbell:

“Revival is a community saturated with God.”
“The Kingdom of God is not going to be advanced by our churches becoming filled with men, but by men in our churches becoming filled with God.”
“You never have to advertise a fire.”
“We do not pray for revival — we pray until revival comes.”
“The secret of power is the joy of full surrender.”
“God is not looking for better methods, but for better men.”
“Revival begins when men are willing to pay the price.”
“The greatest hindrance to revival is pride in the church.”

Legacy:
Duncan Campbell’s life proved that revival is not a program, but a Person — the living God invading lives with holy fire. He stood as a bridge between old-time holiness and 20th-century hunger for spiritual awakening. His obedience helped birth one of the most remarkable moves of God in modern Scotland. And through his testimony, sermons, and quiet faithfulness, he continues to challenge the church to humble itself and pray — until God comes down.