First Baptist Calgary

On this day in 2011, nothing happened.

More specifically, the Judgment Day guaranteed by Harold Camping based on fanciful Scriptural interpretation did not happen. So, he moved his prediction to October 21. When no apocalypse occurred, he quietly resigned.

Today in 1097, the Siege of Nicea begins.

1st win of the First Crusade, Étienne Henri of Blois ⚜️ (Stephen Henry, dad of English king 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿) writes they will make Jerusalem in 5 wks.

Étienne won't make it (2 yrs later), but dies defending Jerusalem in 1102.

Today in 1848, Tiyo Soga is baptised while studying in Scotland. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Legendary preacher & 1st ordained black South African, he'll translate the Bible & Pilgrim's Progress into Xhosa, which S.A.'s president will dub their 2 most influential 19th C. works. 🇿🇦

Today in 1882, Mantantu Dundulu converts to Christ, later taking the name "Nlemvo".

He would help Baptist missionary W.H. Bentley build a school, complete a "Dictionary and Grammar of the Kongo Language", and translate the New Testament into Kikongo. 🇨🇩

Today in 685, a new church is dedicated at Jarrow - one of the 1st stone buildings built on the (then-backwater) British Isles since the 300s.

It would become famous for the Venerable Bede who first popularized the A.D. calendar & "English" as an identity.

Today in 1521, Martin Luther arrives at the Diet of Worms to defend his writings - 95 Theses, On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church, On the Freedom of a Christian, etc.

"My conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant."

Today in 1933, Johanna Veenstra dies of appendicitis after just 12 years of missions, education, & medical work in Nigeria. 🇳🇬

Today, the Christian Reformed Church of Nigeria has more souls than the church that birthed them & a school - Veenstra Seminary.

This day in 307, it was Easter, and 17-year-old Theodosia of Tyre congratulated Christians chained in the square for their suffering for Christ.

Arrested and ordered to sacrifice to Rome's gods, she refused, was hideously tortured, and thrown into the sea.

Today in 1663, François de Laval founds the Grand Séminaire de Québec-Canada's oldest (& N. America's oldest French) higher ed institution. It will be a centre of power in church-state conflicts and send missionaries everywhere French is spoken worldwide.

Today in 1711, Thomas Ken died - Wiltshire, England. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Known:

🚔 then, as 1 of Seven Bishops held for "seditious libel" in the Tower of London by King James II, sparking Glorious Revolution

🎵 now, for a hymn, "Praise God from whom all blessings flow"