John Wesley – wrote, Jan. 25, 1738

On this date, 1/25/1738, John Wesley is said to have penned in his journal,

“I went to America to convert the Indians.  But oh!  Who shall convert me?  I have a fair summer religion…But let death look me in the face, and my spirit is troubled.”

He had come here as a “missionary.”     (How many modern pastors are unconverted?) 

Thank the Lord John Wesley was genuinely converted to Christ on May 24^th (of that same year) at 8:45 PM, at Aldersgate Chapel, London.  To his journal he again turned, stating, “I felt my heart strangely warmed…”

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Ernest W Shurtleff – birth, Apr. 4, 1862

Lead on, O King eternal,
The day of march has come;
Henceforth in fields of conquest
Thy tents shall be our home.
Through days of preparation
Thy grace has made us strong;
And now, O King eternal,
We lift our battle song.

Lead on, O King eternal,
Till sin’s fierce war shall cease,
And holiness shall whisper
The sweet amen of peace.
For not with swords’ loud clashing,
Nor roll of stirring drums;
With deeds of love and mercy
The heavenly kingdom comes.

Lead on, O King eternal,
We follow, not with fears,
For gladness breaks like morning
Where’er Thy face appears.
Thy cross is lifted over us,
We journey in its light;
The crown awaits the conquest;
Lead on, O God of might.

Ernest W Shurtleff was born 4/4/1862, at Bos­ton, Mass­a­chu­setts.  His work included being pastor (California, Massachusetts, and Minnesota), missionary, and student chaplain (working with American students in Paris).  He also organized the American Church at Frankfort, Germany in 1905.  Though he published several books of poems he is best remember for the above hymn “Lead On, O King Eternal.”  Shurtleff died 8/24/1917, Par­is, France.

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David Brainerd – wrote, Feb. 20, 1743

“Selfish religion loves Christ for His benefits, but not for Himself.”

David Brainerd, on this date, 2/20/1743, is said to have written the above in his journal.  He was, of course, a Colonial area missionary to our American Indians.  Brainerd was born 4/20/1718, at Haddam, Connecticut, and passed from this life, 10/9/1747 at Northampton, Massachusetts.

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Jim Elliot said it – Oct 28, 1949

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep

       to gain that which he cannot lose.”

Today is the day Jim Elliot pennd in his 1949 journal, his most oft-quoted saying.  Jim was killed spreading the News of Jesus Christ in Ecuador, 1/8/1956. 

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