Christian Biographies for Young Readers

No one could have imagined that the frail, seven-year-old slave girl who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1761 would become the first published African American, achieving fame for her poetry in both America and England. Upon her arrival, Phillis quickly learned to read the Bible and other classic literature, publishing her first poem in 1767 when she was thirteen and a book of poetry in 1773. Her poetry encouraged freedom for all people, and she proved to a doubting generation that intelligence and creativity are not limited to a particular race. Through Phillis’s story, you’ll learn the importance of trusting God’s plan while standing up for justice and the good of other human beings.

B. B. Warfield lived at a time when many people—even those who considered themselves Christians—were questioning the authority of God’s Word. For centuries most people in Europe and North America had taken for granted that the Bible was the word of God, but in Warfield’s lifetime they were wondering whether it could still be trusted. Warfield was confident that the Bible could be trusted, and as a professor of theology at Princeton Seminary, he devoted his life to teaching and writing about its authority and other important issues of theology.

Learn about a father of the Chinese evangelical church, Pastor Wang Mingdao. Mingdao is remembered for standing firm for the true gospel, even though it cost him his earthly freedom. Even after a moment of weakness during persecution, Mingdao found restoration in Christ and kept the faith through twenty-three years of imprisonment. His courage and strength provide a modern example of how Christians can trust the Lord and remain faithful in times of hardship and persecution.

Born in Florence, Italy, in 1499, Peter Martyr Vermigli decided that he wanted to teach God’s Word when he grew up. After many years of study, he became a well-respected leader in the Roman Catholic Church, yet he questioned the church’s teachings because he believed they were contrary to the Bible. Eventually forced to flee Italy and the Roman Church, Vermigli joined the Reformers north of the Alps and devoted the rest of his life to teaching, preaching, and writing about the great truths of the Protestant Reformation. He lived in many parts of Europe, and he influenced many of the most important figures of his times.

Charles Spurgeon is considered one of the greatest preachers in the history of Christianity. In this book, you’ll hear how young Charles learned to look to Christ alone for salvation, and how he never tired of point others to his savior. See how God used this young country boy to preach to thousands, provide training for pastors, start orphanages, and stand against those who denied basic teachings of the Bible.

The name St. Patrick is associated with three-leaf clovers and leprechauns, but what was his life really like? Hear the inspiring story of how Patrick’s suffering as a slave opened his eyes to the mercy of God and prepared him to return to Ireland as a missionary. Get to know the real Patrick of Ireland and learn that the joy of the Lord will sustain you through difficult times and strengthen you to share the gospel.

John Owen was a great Puritan preacher who lived in England. In this book, you’ll learn about Owen’s life, including some of the things that interested him while in school, the care he showed to people when he became a pastor, and the influential books that he wrote. Readers will also come to understand the difficult times in which Owen lived, and how he handled the terrors of war and religious persecution.

John Newton’s life was full of adventure, danger, travels, exotic places, and romance. Encounter each of these things in in this carefully narrated book, and come to appreciate the way Newton’s life was changed for good, even when he was attempting to run as far as possible from God. In spite of Newton’s rebellion and sin, God’s grace finally won—a grace that Newton recognized as amazing, invincible, and completely undeserved.

Born in 347 in Cappadocia, Macrina is remembered by Christians everywhere as an example of faith, love, and wisdom. While she is not as well known as her brothers Basil of Caesarea and Gregory of Nyssa, this woman theologian of the early church made important contributions to Christian practice and thought. With her family, Macrina led the way in condemning slavery and addressing the needs of the poor. Her instruction of her brothers shaped their understanding so that they, in turn, helped formulate what we believe today about the Trinity. Macrina’s story introduces us to this revolutionary family of the fourth century whose lives still touch Christians today.

Five hundred years ago, a monk named Martin Luther wrote ninety-five questions, hoping to start a discussion about sin and repentance at the University of Wittenberg in Germany. In a few months those questions had stirred the nation; a few years later, the continent. Today we know that those questions changed the course of both the Western church and world history. Hear the compelling story of this father of the Protestant Reformation, tracing his quest for peace with God, his lifelong heroic stand for God’s truth, and his family life and numerous accomplishments.

From armed bodyguard to galley slave, from loving husband and father to fiery preacher, John Knox was moved by a relentless passion for the honor of God and the purity of His truth and worship. Yet when he was a schoolboy growing up in the small Scottish town of Haddington, he could never have imagined that he would become a major leader of the powerful movement that transformed Scotland into one of the most committed Protestant countries in the world. Hear the story of how this great Reformer, whose life began humbly, in a faraway, mysterious part of the world, influenced the church and its beliefs far beyond the borders of Scotland, shaping our thinking still today.

Byang Kato grew up in Nigeria in a family devoted to juju, a religion of magic and superstition. Although from a young age he planned to become a juju priest, his encounter with missionaries and the gospel changed that. Hear how the young, eager Byang devoted himself to learning about Jesus and sharing Him with others, and about how God used him to pastor churches, train people in Bible schools, and encourage people far and wide with his writings.

Irenaeus is remembered for his work in helping the church to preserve the faith handed on by the apostles and to defend it when it was attacked. See the difficulties the early church faced and how Irenaeus taught Christians to discern truth from error by listening to the Bible. To Christians, the lessons Irenaeus taught are as important today as they were in his time.

Living only until her execution at age 17, and ruling England for less than two weeks, Lady Jane Grey is still remembered for her intelligence and steadfast defense of the gospel. Declared by the dying (Protestant) King Edward as his successor to the throne—instead of his half-sister Mary, as his father’s will decreed—his quick decision caused confusion for Jane’s succession, which was quickly overcome by Mary’s gathering forces and Naval support.

At age twenty, Julia Gonzaga was one of the most envied women in Italy. A property owner, she entertained artists, poets, and musicians at her castle; and she was the prettiest woman in the country! Yet Julia was confused and anxious about God and her own sin. No matter how hard she tried not to sin, she often put her desires to please other people before obeying God. She finally found peace when she understood the gospel, and then she devoted her life to sharing the good news with others. Her story, set in the 1500s, gives us an opportunity to learn about the unique challenges of the Italian Reformation and some of the Italian Christians who risked and even gave their lives for the sake of Christ.

Jonathan Edwards lived at a time when many people were seriously questioning long-accepted ideas about the world, life, and God, and his answers to these questions have left a mark on the way we think today. While he is often remembered as the preacher of a scary sermon about a spider dangling over a fire, he remains significant as one of the greatest thinkers America has produced. Hear about the events of Edwards’s life from a young student interested in science to husband and father, pastor, leader of the Great Awakening, missionary, writer, and college president. Learn about this important theologian and life in colonial America.

In 1730, nineteen-year-old Marie Durand was arrested and taken from her home in a village in Southern France for the crime of having a brother who was a Protestant preacher. Imprisoned in the Tower of Constance, Marie would spend the next thirty-eight years there. Learn about the inspiring life of a woman who could have recanted her Protestant faith and gained release, but held fast to the truth and encouraged others to do so as well. Hear about the challenges facing Protestants in eighteenth-century France and see that even a life spent in prison can be lived in service to Christ and others.

Learn about the life, thought, and work of one of the most famous Reformers of the Christian church. Hear about the life of John Calvin from his birth to his death, placing him within the troubled context of the sixteenth century. Come to know Calvin’s personality, his devotion to God and the church, and the personal challenges he faced. You’ll understand the struggles the early Reformed church faced at that time, not only surviving attacks of the Roman Catholic Church, but also achieving a clear identity and a unified doctrine. You’ll also have a glimpse of life in sixteenth-century Europe, stricken by pestilence, poverty, and wars.

A Nonconformist preacher and writer of the seventeenth century, John Bunyan is well known as the author of Pilgrim’s Progress, the epic tale of Christian’s journey from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City-from unbelief, to repentance and faith, to the trials and victories of life, to heaven. Many people don’t realize, however, that Bunyan based the story on his own life, which was full of dangers, obstacles, disappointments, tough decisions, and great encouragements. Learn about his journey from rebellious youth to preacher of the gospel and prisoner for the sake of Christ.

Did you know that the first published poet in America was a woman? As an American colonist, Anne Bradstreet’s poems give us a unique window into early colonial life. See how Bradstreet overcame opposition from those who thought only men should write to produce beautiful poetry that encourages the church today. Complete with excerpts from her writings, Bradstreet’s story will remind you of the beauty of God’s creation, His faithfulness, and His unfailing promises.

Thomas Boston was born in 1676 in Duns, Scotland, during a time of religious conflict. Seeing his father imprisoned for his beliefs, Thomas understood that he too might suffer for his faith someday. As a young pastor, Thomas discovered an important book that helped him understand God’s grace more clearly. As helpful as that book was, it also sparked debate in the Church of Scotland and plunged Thomas and other pastors into a heated controversy. Listen how Thomas stood firmly in the face of opposition, defending more than just a book—he was defending the truth of the gospel.

Outside of the people in the Bible, Augustine of Hippo is the most influential person in church history. Yet how many people know his story? In this book, you’ll be introduced to the life and ministry of Augustine. Come to know Augustine’s personal struggles and the high value he came to place on the Bible and truth. See the difficult days in which Augustine lived, learn about his disputes with false teachers, and the turbulent times during the fall of the Roman Empire.

A complex and fascinating character, Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria, is best remembered as the Father of Orthodoxy, upholding the doctrine of the Trinity against the Arian heresy. Become familiar with the life and times of this important church father who tirelessly defended the Nicene Creed, which many of us today recite as a confession of our faith. Born during the Great Persecution, forced five times to leave his church and city, and constantly threatened by those who tried to ruin his reputation, Athanasius provides an example of godly faithfulness. This winsome, simply written narrative will bring the Nicene Creed to life, prompting relevant discussions on the divinity of Christ and the importance of creeds and confessions.

Anselm is probably the greatest theologian who lived during the time between Augustine of Hippo and Thomas Aquinas. His compelling yearning to know and love God as He is revealed to us in Scriptures shaped his life and permeates all of his writings. He found the greatest joy in communion with God, but was thrusted into the difficult political scene of the 11th-12th centuries. He didn’t work well with kings and, at one point, he had most of the English leaders against him. Still, his writings have had a great influence on the Christian church, and his teachings about Christ’s sacrifice and about the relation between faith and reason are a vital part of the historical Christian Confessions. What can Anselm teach us? To be inquisitive and use our minds as God’s gifts to discover and understand what He has revealed in His word (Deut.29:29). Take time to consider and explore Anselm’s question: Why a God-man? What is the meaning of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross? What do we mean when we say, “Jesus died for our sins”?  Our understanding of Christ’s atonement shapes all of our theology and our lives.