First Baptist Calgary

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. 🇿🇦

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.