DID YOU KNOW?

Charles Haddon Spurgeon, often known today as the Prince of Preachers, began his pastorate at London's New Park Street Church in 1854 at the age of twenty. Following in the Non-conformist tradition, he quickly became one of Britain's most popular (and so, famous) preachers. Both his audiences and his written works were voluminous: he often preached (out of doors without amplification) to crowds bettering 10,000, and the sheer number of his written sermons is staggering. A strong emphasis in Spurgeon's preaching was God's grace and sovereignty over man's helpless state. He also knew well the terrible joy that comes only through suffering as he lived quite afflicted (both by illness and slander). C.H. Spurgeon left this earth for his heavenly hope in 1892.

Read an online biography of Charles Haddon Spurgeon .

THE APOSTLE JOHN

John was referred to as "one of the disciples, whom Jesus loved," in the gospel of John and is said to be the author of the fourth gospel. John is the only disciple to be recorded as being present at the crucifixion of Christ. After the death of Jesus, he took the Lord's mother, Mary, as his own. He was also the first to see the glorious sight of the empty tomb. John was one of the early leaders of the church and thus became known as a "Pillar of the Church" (Galatians 2:9). According to tradition, John was banished to the Island of Patmos (Revelation 1:9) after he survived being thrown into boiling oil under Domitian. On that desolate Island, John received visions of the future and words from the Lord to seven churches. The compilation of these visions and letters formed the Book of Revelation. John Foxe also adds that he was released from Patmos and allowed to return to Ephesus in the year of A.D. 97.