First Baptist Calgary

Today in 1972, Ivan "Vanya" Moiseyev is ordered to chauffeur KGB.

His body returns to his Baptist parents in a sealed coffin - unsealing reveals torture & drowning.

His crime: evangelizing his unit, which is disbanded & spread throughout the Red Army.

This day 1896, William Cameron Townsend is born in Eastvale, California. Founding Wycliffe Bible Translators, his life will be summed by him, "'Dear Ones: by love serve one another. Finish the task. Translate the Scriptures into every language.' —Uncle Cam"

This day in 1636, missionary Isaac Jogues arrives in what we now call Quebec City.

A Jesuit priest, he aids and is aided by Anglican & Reformed churchmen.

Despite comforting and baptizing even some of his captors, he was martyred by the Mohawks in 1646.

This day in 1865, Hudson Taylor founds the China Inland Mission on a beach in Brighton, England. 🇬🇧

Reaching deep into the Chinese interior, past coastal business interests, adopting local customs, never asking for funds, they will baptize 200,000 by 1939.

Today in 1588, puritan pastor & printer Robert Crowley dies in London. 🇬🇧

A prolific publisher of poetry, polemics, & psalms, he is most known for the "first puritan manifesto" against obligatory vestments or "vain toys", "monumentes of idolatry", & "superstitious rags of Rome"

This day in 888, Rimbert dies in Bremen. 🇩🇪

Most likely Danish 🇩🇰, he evangelized Scandinavia 🇸🇪 without papal support.

He wrote the Vita Ansgari, reviving medieval missionary efforts & support, and after long droughts, ending the "Viking Age".

This day in 1940, even the most secular Britons 🇬🇧 declare a miracle as their army are rescued from nearing N**i troops at Dunkirk, on the northeasternmost coast of France. 🇫🇷

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. 🇿🇦