Trailblazers

Two young people, one faith and a shared passion for the truth of God’s Word – that was the beginning of the story of Francis and Edith Schaeffer.  Together, they wanted to follow wherever God would lead them and to share the Good News about Jesus with whoever God would send them. But little did they imagine that God would lead them to a remote village in the mountains of Switzerland. Nor did they foresee how God would use their ministry in that little mountain chalet to impact people all over the world. Francis and Edith Schaeffer opened their home to anyone searching for truth. They spent their whole lives helping people to see that the Bible’s answers to life’s questions are relevant and true; in their time, and for all time.

John Knox spent his life with a sword in one hand and a Bible in the other and he wasn’t afraid to use either. He began his theological life as a body guard to George Wishart – and it was when that young man was put to death by the religious authorities that John Knox was finally persuaded of the need to awaken his country from the death of injustice and spiritual poverty that afflicted it. He was never built for a quiet life and when he ran from one danger, he often found himself headed straight for another. Escaping from the authorities brought him straight into a castle siege and from there he ended up as a galley slave on a French frigate. No wonder he appreciated liberty when he had felt the grasp of slavery’s chains and the cut of the enemy’s whip. But his thirst for true freedom came from his longing for God’s Word to be preached. John knew that true liberty only came from being in service to God and his Kingdom. Many stood against him and they still do today… but he gave much to his country and to his God and the church and Scotland owe John Knox – they owe him thanks as they owe the God he served thanks for calling such men to be his preachers.

The taker who turned into a giver. George Müller’s life didn’t have a promising start. By the age of sixteen, he had learned to lie, steal, drink and gamble and his future looked bleak – but God had other plans! After conversion, Müller’s life became a vivid demonstration of faith in action. Praying in every penny of the costs and refusing at any time to ask for financial help from anyone but God, Müller supervised the building of three large orphanages housing thousands of children. Müller’s hard work for the cause of Christ and on behalf of orphans, his commitment to their care and his example of faith in action inspired his generation and will do the same today. The Trailblazer’s series collects great stories from Christians of the past and delivers them to the young people of today. This gripping and astonishing story from Irene Howat will challenge young readers to trust God as Müller did.

George Whitefield’s voice was the envy of many a professional actor.  He could hold a crowd’s attention like no other. But although he had wanted to be an actor as a young boy George’s voice was used for greater things. After coming to know the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal saviour George went on to preach to many people in the United Kingdom, America and the world. He was the first to preach to the slaves of the United States. And it is estimated that he spoke more than 18,000 sermons during his life.

“No! No!” cried the little boy. “Please, no! I want to stay with my mother!” “Be quiet!” shouted the man, roughly pulling his mother away from him. This heartbreaking scene was the reality for thousands of women and children before slavery was abolished. One man dedicated his life to changing that — fighting for freedom and relief from the horrors of the slave trade. His name was William Wilberforce, and his mission took forty-five years. This is his inspiring story—a powerful example of how his faith in Christ and his love for people helped transform a nation.

Charles Spurgeon was a simple country lad who went on to become one of the best known preachers in London, Europe and the world. Caught in a snowstorm one day when he was a teenager, he crept into the back of a church and the words “Look unto Jesus and be saved!” changed his whole life. Charles spoke words that touched the hearts of rich and poor alike. His fame became so widespread that it is reputed that even Queen Victoria went to hear one of his sermons. Charles was more concerned about the King of Kings—Jesus Christ.