Great Men & Women of God

  • Welcome to Christian Forums, a Christian Forum that recognizes that all Christians are a work in progress.

    You will need to register to be able to join in fellowship with Christians all over the world.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Josho

Millennial Christian
Staff member
Jul 19, 2015
5,814
5,754
113
28
The Land of Aus
Faith
Christian
Country
Australia
Lets see how this thread goes, I hope it's not a divisive one, but one that we can learn things from one and another, about the great men and women of God throughout history & today, so lets put the differences aside, it could be Kenneth Copeland, Peter or Mother Teresa, share about whoever you want past or present.

I would like to learn more about Saint Francis of Assisi, I don't know much about him, he is said to be one of the Saints that levitated while preaching, he was kind towards nature, and he tried to spread the gospel outside of Italy, but I'm sure other people on this forum would know a lot more than just that, so what can you guys tell me? Why is he such a well recognized saint by many? What was he mainly known for? What did he do during his time on earth?
 

Stranger

Well-Known Member
Oct 5, 2016
8,826
3,157
113
Texas
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
The Christian men of the Southern States who fought and died for their country.

The Christian women of the South who supported them and died with them also.

A devoted Christian people.

Stranger
 
  • Like
Reactions: amadeus and Josho

Josho

Millennial Christian
Staff member
Jul 19, 2015
5,814
5,754
113
28
The Land of Aus
Faith
Christian
Country
Australia
Stranger said:
John G. Patton. Missionary to the New Hebrides Islands.

Read his autobiography.

Stranger
Amazing stuff, looked him up, he left for the New Hebrides with the desire to spread the gospel, the New Hebrides turned from cannibalism to Christianity, he was a brave missionary who was able to lead 100% of the population to Jesus, amazing, he and his wife even learnt the native language, and was able to translate the gospel into the native language for the New Hebrides people, and that itself is amazing, ya know we got all these online language courses these days, and even that is hard enough for some people, i have given it a shot and it's not easy to stick with learning another language, it takes dedication and skill, all too often, people hit a speed bump and give up. New Hebrides is now known as Vanuatu, and is still largely Christian today. Thanks for sharing mate.
 

Josho

Millennial Christian
Staff member
Jul 19, 2015
5,814
5,754
113
28
The Land of Aus
Faith
Christian
Country
Australia
Stranger said:
The Christian men of the Southern States who fought and died for their country.

The Christian women of the South who supported them and died with them also.

A devoted Christian people.

Stranger
You may have heard of Olympian Louis Zamperini who served in WW2, survived as a prisoner of war, and later on became a preacher, another great story, I watched a true movie about him a few weeks ago, he was bullied when he was a young boy, and he started to get into fights, he got good at them, his older brother then encouraged him to take up athletics, to stay out of trouble, he trained hard and became one of the best track runners, he competed in the Olympics was it? or it might have been a qualifier for the Olympics, and while he was running to qualify for the Olympics, his opponents would kick him in his shins, and he still managed to win, he then later went on to compete in the Berlin Olympics, he didn't do so great there, but his final lap was very fast, i believe it was record breaking, he was well recognized for his last lap, then WW2 came, he went to serve with the American Armed Forces, he was on a war mission somewhere out in the pacific, flying in one of those troop carrier warplanes, he and his fellow soldiers onboard then crashed into the ocean, only he and 2 other members of the American army survived the crash into the ocean, they spent many many days out on the ocean on a life raft, and lived of birds and fish and rainwater, they were battling for survival, trying to find land, Louis Zamperini stuck out in the middle of the ocean made a promise to God, that if God got him through that moment alive, he would serve God for the rest of his days, after a number of days one of his mates died on that inflatable life raft, but Louis Zamperini and the other guy found dry land after 47 days in the ocean, only to arrive in the wrong island, the Japanese occupied Marshall Islands. The Japanese then questioned them about the rest of the Allies, and what were they up to, they were both unable to provide answers, because they were lost in the ocean for so many days, because they were lost for so long, it had been announced in the US, that Louis Zamperini was dead, but he wasn't. Both Zamperini and his mate then went through severe torture, they were treated horribly by the Japanese captors, they were feeded crumbs, and they were sent to a pow camp, Louis then met the cruel Japanese general nicknamed "The Bird", he was beaten many times with a bat, and punched many times, and he would just keep on going after his eyes were blackened and he was all bruised, he would not stop, the Allies were then coming to Marshall Islands and Louis Zamperini and the other war prisoners were sent to Japan, they were then made to slave away loading coal on barges, if they didn't they would be executed, and Louis was pushed of a ramp and broke his ankle, he then struggled to do the task, and the general grabbed him, and made him lift up a heavy wooden railway sleeper, struggling to lift it up, he managed to lift it over his head, and held it there for a long time, losing strength after a while, he manages to find the strength to lift it up higher again, he then looks "The Bird" in the eye, and he was ordered not to look him in the eye, he refused to listen, "The Bird" the Japanese gen, them came over to him with his bat, and starts beating him, Louis falls down to the ground, but he doesn't die. Louis then got an opportunity to be freed in Japan, by going on radio, but part of the condition was he had to say something he did not want to say about his own country the USA, something dishonorable, he refused to say it, and he was sent back to the concentration camp. He and his mate and the other prisoners of war who survived the horrible treatment went on to make it to the end of WW2, the Japanese surrendered, and the Allies came to rescue them. Louis Zamperini suffered from PTSD after WW2, and had nightmares of his Japanese captors, and he wanted to kill them badly, his wife then attended a Billy Graham crusade and she got saved, and told Louis all about it, and she wanted him to come to a Billy Graham crusade, he reluctantly went with her, and Louis Zamperini, was reminded of the promise he made to God, while he was stuck out in the ocean for 47 days, he then forgave what his Japanese captors had done to him and he went on to become a preacher. Years later, he returned to Japan to meet up with his captors, the ones who treated him cruelly, and told all the ones he could find that he forgave them, he then led a number of them to Jesus, during the Tokyo olympics, he requested to meet up with "The Bird", but the war criminal Japanese general refused. Zamperini then went on to run with the Olympic torch when he was 80, he went to be with the Lord years later.
 
  • Like
Reactions: amadeus

Stranger

Well-Known Member
Oct 5, 2016
8,826
3,157
113
Texas
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Josho said:
Amazing stuff, looked him up, he left for the New Hebrides with the desire to spread the gospel, the New Hebrides turned from cannibalism to Christianity, he was a brave missionary who was able to lead 100% of the population to Jesus, amazing, he and his wife even learnt the native language, and was able to translate the gospel into the native language for the New Hebrides people, and that itself is amazing, ya know we got all these online language courses these days, and even that is hard enough for some people, i have given it a shot and it's not easy to stick with learning another language, it takes dedication and skill, all too often, people hit a speed bump and give up. New Hebrides is now known as Vanuatu, and is still largely Christian today. Thanks for sharing mate.
Your quite welcome. You should try and obtain his biography. It is full of the Lord's miraculous work in saving this man on an almost daily basis. Towards the end of his ministry he faced off with the native witch doctors in a Mt. Carmel type experience. If I remember right his wife died early on. And after seeing what God was going to bring this man through, it is the best thing for her that she did. It's been years since I read the book but I believe the name of it was "Thirty years with the South Sea Cannibals". Hopefully it is still obtainable.

Stranger
 

Stranger

Well-Known Member
Oct 5, 2016
8,826
3,157
113
Texas
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Josho said:
You may have heard of Olympian Louis Zamperini who served in WW2, survived as a prisoner of war, and later on became a preacher, another great story, I watched a true movie about him a few weeks ago, he was bullied when he was a young boy, and he started to get into fights, he got good at them, his older brother then encouraged him to take up athletics, to stay out of trouble, he trained hard and became one of the best track runners, he competed in the Olympics was it? or it might have been a qualifier for the Olympics, and while he was running to qualify for the Olympics, his opponents would kick him in his shins, and he still managed to win, he then later went on to compete in the Berlin Olympics, he didn't do so great there, but his final lap was very fast, i believe it was record breaking, he was well recognized for his last lap, then WW2 came, he went to serve with the American Armed Forces, he was on a war mission somewhere out in the pacific, flying in one of those troop carrier warplanes, he and his fellow soldiers onboard then crashed into the ocean, only he and 2 other members of the American army survived the crash into the ocean, they spent many many days out on the ocean on a life raft, and lived of birds and fish and rainwater, they were battling for survival, trying to find land, Louis Zamperini stuck out in the middle of the ocean made a promise to God, that if God got him through that moment alive, he would serve God for the rest of his days, after a number of days one of his mates died on that inflatable life raft, but Louis Zamperini and the other guy found dry land after 47 days in the ocean, only to arrive in the wrong island, the Japanese occupied Marshall Islands. The Japanese then questioned them about the rest of the Allies, and what were they up to, they were both unable to provide answers, because they were lost in the ocean for so many days, because they were lost for so long, it had been announced in the US, that Louis Zamperini was dead, but he wasn't. Both Zamperini and his mate then went through severe torture, they were treated horribly by the Japanese captors, they were feeded crumbs, and they were sent to a pow camp, Louis then met the cruel Japanese general nicknamed "The Bird", he was beaten many times with a bat, and punched many times, and he would just keep on going after his eyes were blackened and he was all bruised, he would not stop, the Allies were then coming to Marshall Islands and Louis Zamperini and the other war prisoners were sent to Japan, they were then made to slave away loading coal on barges, if they didn't they would be executed, and Louis was pushed of a ramp and broke his ankle, he then struggled to do the task, and the general grabbed him, and made him lift up a heavy wooden railway sleeper, struggling to lift it up, he managed to lift it over his head, and held it there for a long time, losing strength after a while, he manages to find the strength to lift it up higher again, he then looks "The Bird" in the eye, and he was ordered not to look him in the eye, he refused to listen, "The Bird" the Japanese gen, them came over to him with his bat, and starts beating him, Louis falls down to the ground, but he doesn't die. Louis then got an opportunity to be freed in Japan, by going on radio, but part of the condition was he had to say something he did not want to say about his own country the USA, something dishonorable, he refused to say it, and he was sent back to the concentration camp. He and his mate and the other prisoners of war who survived the horrible treatment went on to make it to the end of WW2, the Japanese surrendered, and the Allies came to rescue them. Louis Zamperini suffered from PTSD after WW2, and had nightmares of his Japanese captors, and he wanted to kill them badly, his wife then attended a Billy Graham crusade and she got saved, and told Louis all about it, and she wanted him to come to a Billy Graham crusade, he reluctantly went with her, and Louis Zamperini, was reminded of the promise he made to God, while he was stuck out in the ocean for 47 days, he then forgave what his Japanese captors had done to him and he went on to become a preacher. Years later, he returned to Japan to meet up with his captors, the ones who treated him cruelly, and told all the ones he could find that he forgave them, he then led a number of them to Jesus, during the Tokyo olympics, he requested to meet up with "The Bird", but the war criminal Japanese general refused. Zamperini then went on to run with the Olympic torch when he was 80, he went to be with the Lord years later.
A brave and faithful man. I had never heard of him. Good story.

Stranger
 

epostle1

Well-Known Member
Sep 24, 2012
3,326
507
113
72
Essex
Faith
Christian
Country
Canada
Josho said:
Lets see how this thread goes, I hope it's not a divisive one, but one that we can learn things from one and another, about the great men and women of God throughout history & today, so lets put the differences aside, it could be Kenneth Copeland, Peter or Mother Teresa, share about whoever you want past or present.

I would like to learn more about Saint Francis of Assisi, I don't know much about him, he is said to be one of the Saints that levitated while preaching, he was kind towards nature, and he tried to spread the gospel outside of Italy, but I'm sure other people on this forum would know a lot more than just that, so what can you guys tell me? Why is he such a well recognized saint by many? What was he mainly known for? What did he do during his time on earth?
The life story is too long for a forum. This one gives a good summary:
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=50

HIGHLIGHTS
he grew up in a wealthy family
he embraced a leper who were normally repulsive to him
he prayed intensely in a cave
the Lord spoke to him in a run down church "Francis, repair my church."
he understood it literally
eventually companions joined him
Francis never wanted to found a religious order
Francis practiced true equality by showing honor, respect, and love to every person whether they were beggar or pope.
Francis' brotherhood included all of God's creation.
He tamed a wolf, and birds would stop to hear him preach
he went to the pope for church sanction
the pope threw him out, but called him back after a dream
he received the stigmata; the biblical basis for the stigmata is found in Galatians 6:17 a very rare phenomenon

There are many more stories about St. Francis, but they don't capture his spirituality.

143092649628.gif
 
  • Like
Reactions: amadeus and Josho

Josho

Millennial Christian
Staff member
Jul 19, 2015
5,814
5,754
113
28
The Land of Aus
Faith
Christian
Country
Australia
kepha31 said:
The life story is too long for a forum. This one gives a good summary:
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=50

HIGHLIGHTS
he grew up in a wealthy family
he embraced a leper who were normally repulsive to him
he prayed intensely in a cave
the Lord spoke to him in a run down church "Francis, repair my church."
he understood it literally
eventually companions joined him
Francis never wanted to found a religious order
Francis practiced true equality by showing honor, respect, and love to every person whether they were beggar or pope.
Francis' brotherhood included all of God's creation.
He tamed a wolf, and birds would stop to hear him preach
he went to the pope for church sanction
the pope threw him out, but called him back after a dream
he received the stigmata; the biblical basis for the stigmata is found in Galatians 6:17 a very rare phenomenon

There are many more stories about St. Francis, but they don't capture his spirituality.

143092649628.gif
Amazing stuff, thanks for sharing, I like how he tamed that wolf, from a man-eating beast to a town pet, another great example of all things are possible through Christ.
 

Josho

Millennial Christian
Staff member
Jul 19, 2015
5,814
5,754
113
28
The Land of Aus
Faith
Christian
Country
Australia
Evan Roberts

Some of you may have heard of Evan Roberts, some of you may haven't, but he was a coal miner and the main revivalist God used to spark the revival in Wales, he started at a pretty young age, he would spend time with God in his teenage years, and his relationship just got deeper and deeper with God, to the point his parents noticed, that he would spend hours in his room with God. Before the revival, the current condition of Wales was lawlessness and ungodliness, he was also given a vision or a few about the current condition of Wales and how it needed turning around, Evan he was full of God, the Holy Spirit had given him a heart for the non-believers, skeptics, backsliders, drunks and the broken-hearted. He then became a young preacher, and God used him in a mighty way from there, he started of in Loughour & New Quay, and the fire spread from there, the Holy Ghost in him moved and touched many people's hearts in and around his anointed services, hundreds were coming to Jesus, then thousands were coming to Jesus, then many villages were turning to Jesus, drunks would be outside the window of the Church mocking him & God one day, then they would come in crying throwing their beer bottles away the next, and giving their hearts to the Lord.

Evan Roberts started having prayer meetings at 5am every day before work in the colliery also, and coal miners turned to Jesus, their language became clean, the managers of the colliery didn't sack Evan or see a problem with this, because after their 1 hour prayer meeting, their productivity sparked and the coal miners would be doing great work in their fastest times ever, the managers noticed a dramatic change in the work the coal miners were doing, before the revival there was a division between the miners in the union, and the miners who weren't in the union, but that changed, they were united and started having prayer meetings together, they would that sing hymns while they were working, instead of swearing.

The amount of people turning to Jesus, and attending his meetings grew massively, they turned up hours early, and they would already be praising God, it got to the point where it was packed like sardines, and Evan struggled to get through the crowd, and broke open the door of a school room, because he couldn't open it, they thanked him, and even more people came into his Church, since they were now able to fill the other room, it then started getting too big for a Church building, and his meetings had to be moved to the open fields, when the revival spread to different towns, people would cram into the village just to get a taste of it and they knew the revival was there! One of the major miracles happening among many, God was healing a lot of people from alcoholism, pubs and bars were going empty, drunks were giving up drinking, the pubs and bars were losing a customers and money, and clothing and shoe stores were gaining a lot of business, since people stopped spending it on alcohol. There was also a rise in business in bookstores, but different business, they had a big stock of Bibles they hadn't had sold in years, that stock emptied out very quick when the revival hit, and the sales of secular books dropped, they had to bring in a lot more stock every week, since they would clear it every week, they also were selling a lot of hymn books.

In the middle of his meetings, people who hadn't had spoken to each other for years due to unforgiveness and problems in between them, forgave each other in the middle of the crowd, and people would cheer and praise God, fathers were reuniting with sons, mothers with daughters, brothers with sisters, husbands and wives, enemies became friends, and different denominations united and put aside their differences, they became one accord, one Church again just like the days of the early Church in the upper room, and they were all united with love for their neighbors and love for Jesus.

The revival had a massive effect on Wales, it pretty much turned the whole country to God, the police no longer had anyone to catch, and nothing much to do, and instead they would join the meetings and watch over the massive congregation, judges ran out of cases in the court, and no one left to judge, soccer teams gave up soccer for Jesus, and came to revival meetings, they gave up their gambling too. After the revival in Wales, it continued on into other parts of world.

We need a massive revival like this today, continue to pray for revival, continue to pray for the politicians, your country, allies, enemies, the soldiers, the cops, the backslid-den, the alcoholics, the drug addicts, the atheists, the agnostics, the idolaters, the non-Christians, your fathers, mothers, brothers & sisters in Christ, the rejected and the broken hearted, pray for the Holy Spirit to pour out his presence and the peace & joy of the Lord on them and to change their lives, and the lives of those who live in your country dramatically, it's not too late for another end time revival, God is powerful and can do anything, there was a report in the Voice of the Martyrs for this month, that many Muslim immigrants in Europe are turning to Jesus, praise the Lord for that, keep up the prayer, prayer warriors, there may be a lot of division in the Church, but there's a thing or two every born again Christian should unite in, we should all unite in prayer & our love for Jesus, no matter what our differences are, our relationship with Christ is what matters the most, a lot of these revivals was the result of prayer, houses of prayer and prayer warriors in the closet, don't pray out of religion or pray because you have to, but pray out of your heart.

God bless y'all :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: amadeus

Windmillcharge

Well-Known Member
Dec 21, 2017
2,934
1,823
113
68
London
Faith
Christian
Country
United Kingdom
Look up George Whitfield or Jonathon Edwards, try William Carey the first baptist missionary to India.
Investigat the 1904 welsh revival and how it spread around the world.
then there is Duncan Campbell and the 1940 revival in the isle of Lewes Sotland.
 

BreadOfLife

Well-Known Member
Jan 2, 2017
20,915
3,368
113
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
I can't think of a better representative of Christian charity in our lifetime.
 

aspen

“"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few
Apr 25, 2012
14,111
4,778
113
52
West Coast
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
St Therese of Lisieux