Trial and Triumph: Stories from Church History (Richard Hannula)

Trial and Triumph

Stories from Church History

Christianity is a faith in love with history. God took on human flesh and dwelt among us. The Spirit carried that divine work over the centuries, providing courage and maturity even amid our imperfections. Christians find their true family line not through tribes and ethnic blood but in the bond of faithfulness.  Their shed blood in trial and triumph has united our Christian family for millennia.

Let us never view church history as the story of obscure, distant names, but rather as the lives of our brothers and sisters, our mothers and fathers.

In this collection of 46 brief biographies, Hannula sketches the stirring trials and triumphs of many famous and some lesser known figures in our family of faith. These include Augustine, Charlemagne, Anselm, Anne Askew, Gustavus Adolphus, Bernard of Clairvaux, and more. Through them we can begin to enjoy the old paths and find rest for our souls.

Contents

Early Church: Facing Persecution, Fighting Heresy

• 1) Polycarp: Witness in the Arena (69-155)
• 2) Blandina: Martyr of Lyons (155-177)
• 3) Constantine: Defender of the Church (272-337)
• 4) Athanasius: Against the World (296-373)
• 5) Ambrose: Bishop of Milan (339-397)
• 6) Monica and Augustine: Christian Mother and Son (354-430)
• 7) Patrick: Missionary to the Irish (389-461)

Middle Ages: Light from Darkness

• 8) Pope Gregory I: Servant of the Servant of God (540-604)
• 9) Boniface: Missionary to the Germans (680-754)
• 10) Charlemagne: Protector of the Church (742-814)
• 11) Alfred the Great: Christian King (847-899)
• 12) Anselm: Theologian, Monk, Archbishop (1033-1109)
• 13)Bernard of Clairvaux: Lover of Christ (1090-1153)
• 14) Peter Waldo and the Waldensians (1130-1217)
• 15) Francis of Assisi: The Lesser Brother (1181-1226)
• 16) Elizabeth of Hungary: Servant of the Poor (1207-1231)
• 17) John Wyclif: Morning Star of the Reformation (1330-1384)
• 18) John Huss: Forerunner of the Reformation (1369-1415)

Reformation: The Gospel Clarified

• 19) Martin Luther: Father of the Reformation (1483-1546)
• 20) William Tyndale: Translator of the English Bible (1485-1536)
• 21) John Calvin: Theologian of the Reformation (1509-1563)
• 22) Anne Askew: The Lord’s Bold Witness: (1521-1546)
• 23) Latimer, Ridley, and Cranmer: The Bishop Martyrs (1485-1556)
• 24) John Knox: Scottish Reformer (1514-1572)
• 25) Jeanne d’Albret: Reformation Queen (1528-1572)
• 26) Renee: Duchess of Ferrara (1510-1575)

Post-Reformation: Great Courage and Great Awakening

• 27) Gustavus Adolphus: Warrior King (1594-1632)
• 28) Richard Cameron: Lion of the Covenant (1644-1680)
• 29) The Two Margarets: The Solway Martyrs (1622-1685)
• 30) John Bunyan: Happy Pilgrim (1628-1688)
• 31) Jonathan Edwards: Great Awakening Theologian (1703-1758)
• 32) George Whitefield: Great Awakening Preacher (1714-1770)
• 33) John Wesley: The World His Parish (1703-1791)
• 34) John Newton: Slave Trader Saved by Grace (1725-1807)

Modern Missions: The Gospel to the Ends of the Earth

• 35) David Brainerd: Preacher to the North American Indians (1718-1747)
• 36) William Carey: Father of Modern Missions (1761-1814)
• 37) David Livingstone: Missionary Explorer (1813-1873)
• 38) John Paton: Witness to the Cannibals (1824-1907)
• 39) Hudson Taylor: The China Inland Mission (18320–1905)
• 40) Amy Carmichael: Mother to Outcast Children (1867-1951)

Recent Times: Standing for Christ

• 41) Charles Spurgeon: Prince of Preachers (1834-1892)
• 42) Chinese  Christians: In the Boxer Rebellion (1900-1901)
• 43) Abraham Kuyper: Theologian and Statesman (1837-1920)
• 44) J. Gresham Machen: Valiant for Truth (1881-1937)
• 45) C. S. Lewis: Chronicler of Narnia (1898-1963)
• 46) Richard Wurmbrand: Tortured for Christ (1908-2001)

Further Reading for Parents, Teachers, and Older Children