Christian Heroes Then and Now

"For three hours, Charles sat in the car on the side of the road. 'God, show me what to do. I will obey what You tell me,' he found himself praying. 'I'm willing to give up everything You've blessed me with. Use me to reach those kids, Lord. They are just like I was, without hope. Help me bring them hope.'" When Charles Mulli (1949-) was a child, his family repeatedly abandoned him, and he lived in fear of his abusive, alcoholic father. With an extraordinary will, the young Kenyan struggled to feed and educate himself and, encountering hope in the gospel, found a reason to live and to forgive. Later, as a multimillionaire and father...

As he tried to think calmly about faith, Richard realized that he didn’t want anything to do with Christianity, even if it did turn out to be true. He could only imagine life as a Christian Jew, and what he imagined was awful. No one in his or her right mind would choose such a path. At least, Richard was sure that he would not choose it. Richard Wurmbrand, founder of Voice of the Martyrs, was once a young atheist determined to experience everything the world had to offer. Yet he regretted that God did not exist, wishing that a heart of love beat somewhere in the universe. When the Romanian found that heart of love in Jesus Christ, he...

D.L. stood his ground against the angry father. "I broke the jug and poured out the whiskey for the good of yourself and your family," he said. "If I am to be thrashed, let me pray for you all before you do that." Seventeen-year-old Dwight Lyman Moody changed his name, moved to Boston, and began pursuing dreams of becoming a wealthy businessman. But God had other plans for him. Instead of business, evangelism would be his life's work. D.L. devoted his life to proclaiming the gospel, serving the poor, and mentoring fellow ministers. A leader of great vision, D.L. Moody served his fellow man through Civil War outreach, his Sunday...