Biography

---

Life Story

Full Name: William Franklin Graham Jr.
Birth: November 7, 1918
Death: February 21, 2018
Birthplace: Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Spouse: Ruth Bell
Salvation Experience: At the age of 16
Contribution: Preached the Gospel to millions around the world through crusades, radio broadcasts, magazines, and publications.

Early Life:
Billy Graham was born on November 7, 1918, in Charlotte, North Carolina, to Franklin and Morrow Graham. His family owned 200 acres of farmland and were deeply devoted to God. From a young age, Billy was active, disciplined, and encouraged by his parents to read the Bible, pray, and attend Sunday School. He loved reading, had friendships with African Americans, played baseball, and avoided bad habits. His parents prayed that he would grow up to serve God responsibly.

Salvation and Calling:
In 1934, Billy attended a 12-day revival meeting led by evangelist Mordecai Ham. He was deeply moved and at the age of 16, experienced a personal salvation, committing his life to Christ. In 1936, while visiting prisoners with evangelist Jimmy Johnson, he shared his faith, though initially shy and nervous.

He later studied at Florida Bible College for three and a half years, mastering Greek, church history, and public speaking. Billy practiced preaching outdoors, to children, and in small groups. His first sermon was delivered to a congregation of 30, and later, a sermon led to the salvation of 39 people. He was ordained as a Baptist pastor after completing his college education in 1940.

Ministry and Global Impact:
Billy married Ruth Bell, daughter of missionary Dr. Nelson Bell, and began preaching through the “Youth for Christ” organization on radio, gaining nationwide recognition. He traveled extensively across the United States, Canada, England, and other countries, reaching countless people through revival meetings and crusades.

He ministered to soldiers during the Korean War, preached in London, Scotland, and India, and held massive crusades in New York with millions attending. Over his lifetime, Billy Graham preached to over 100 million people globally and led millions to Christ.

He also founded the Evangelistic Association, trained hundreds of evangelists, published numerous books—including My Answer with over 1.75 million copies—and launched influential magazines like Christianity Today (1956) and Decision (1960). His ministry produced films, TV programs, and other media outreach, expanding the Gospel worldwide.

Even at 84, suffering from Parkinson’s disease, Billy Graham continued preaching and sharing the Gospel. He passed away on February 21, 2018. His children continue his legacy in Christian ministry.

---

Life Story

Full Name: Arumugam Pillai (later renamed Aaron)
Birth: 1698
Death: 1745
Place of Birth: Cuddalore, India
Country of Ministry: India

Early Life:
Aaron Arumugam Pillai was born into a wealthy upper-caste family in Cuddalore, India. His father, Chokkanatha Pillai, was a trader with the East India Company, but after facing significant losses, he moved the family to Arasapuram. When the Tranquebar Lutheran Mission started a school in their neighborhood, young Arumugam enrolled and began learning from the Tamil books printed by the missionaries.

At the age of 19, a teacher named Savarimuthu introduced him to the teachings of Jesus Christ. Inspired by this, he accepted the faith and was baptized in 1718 by Bartholomaeus Ziegenbalg in Tranquebar, receiving the Christian name “Aaron.”

Faith and Ministry:
Despite opposition from his family, Aaron remained steadfast in his faith. He studied the Bible at the Tamil Theological School and soon became an assistant catechist at New Jerusalem Church in Tranquebar.

Aaron felt a deep calling to serve the people around him. He traveled long distances, preaching the Gospel in towns such as Poraliar, Sirkali, and Sandirpadi in Tamil Nadu. His dedication impressed the German Lutheran missionaries, who ordained him as a pastor in 1733. With this, he became the first non-European to be ordained in the Lutheran Church.

Character and Achievements:
Aaron was a gifted communicator and used his skills to provide spiritual guidance to both local Tamil people and European missionaries. He became a vital link between the local communities and the foreign missionaries. Known for his courage, integrity, and wisdom, he did not avoid conflict but faced challenges directly and resolved them peacefully.

He also worked to educate local people and discourage harmful social practices. Though his ministry was relatively short, his impact was profound. He earned respect and admiration from both Hindus and Christians in the regions he served, leaving a lasting legacy of faith, leadership, and service.

---

Life Story

Full Name: Samuel Rutherford
Parents: William Rutherford and family
Birthplace: Nisbet, Scotland
Year of Birth: 1600
Date of Death: March 30, 1661
Contribution: Served as a church pastor, theology professor at a Bible college, and author of the famous book The Law, The King.

Early Life and Personal Background:

Samuel Rutherford was born in 1600 in Nisbet, Scotland, to William Rutherford and his wife. Little is known about his childhood or family life. Some say his father was a farmer or worked in a mill. In 1627, Rutherford earned his M.A. from Edinburgh College and was appointed as a professor of Humanity at the same institution. Later, he became the pastor of a church in Anwoth.

Rutherford was known for his dedication, honesty, and love for the people he served. He worked tirelessly for the church, teaching, guiding, and caring for the congregation. People described him as someone who prayed constantly, preached whenever possible, visited the sick, wrote books, and read extensively. He was known to rise as early as 3 a.m. for prayer and study.

Trials and Service:

Rutherford’s early years in Anwoth were marked by sorrow. His wife suffered from illness for several years and eventually passed away, and his two children also died. Despite these personal tragedies, he continued to serve God with a devoted heart.

His teachings were unique and impactful, helping people see their spiritual errors and leading them toward repentance. One elderly listener remarked, “Through his words, he revealed the condition of my heart to me.”

In 1636, Rutherford published a book defending the principles of grace, which sharply criticized the doctrines of the Church of England. This led to charges of sedition, and he was brought before the court. As a result, he was exiled and imprisoned in Aberdeen. Even while separated from his congregation, Rutherford continued to write letters encouraging and guiding his church members. These letters became widely influential.

Later Life and Legacy:

In 1638, amid political conflicts between the English Parliament, the King, and the reformers, Rutherford gradually returned to his beloved Anwoth. The Scottish Presbyterian Church recognized his service and appointed him as a theology professor at St. Andrews College. During his time, he authored the well-known book The Law, The King. This work later caused him legal troubles, including accusations of treason, but he remained steadfast in his faith, famously responding that he was accountable first to God’s judgment.

Samuel Rutherford passed away on March 30, 1661, leaving behind a legacy of faith, courage, and theological scholarship that continues to inspire Christians worldwide.

---

Life Story

Full Name: Ida Sophia Scudder
Parents: John Scudder and family
Birthplace: Ranipet, Vellore District, Tamil Nadu, India
Date of Birth: December 9, 1870
Date of Death: May 23, 1960
Contribution: Devoted her life to God as a Christian medical missionary, established hospitals and medical colleges in India, and became a renowned doctor.

Personal Life and Early Years:

Ida Scudder was born on December 9, 1870, in Ranipet, Vellore District, Tamil Nadu, to missionary doctor John Scudder and his wife. She was born into a family of American missionaries who had come to South India to serve the people. Her grandfather, John Scudder, had arrived in India at the age of 26 with his wife to work as a medical missionary. Ida grew up witnessing poverty and suffering in the villages around her.

When she was eight years old, her family returned to the United States. While in America, Ida met a teacher named D.L. Moody, whose teachings inspired her to accept Jesus Christ as her savior. Despite living a comfortable life in America, she felt drawn to help the poor and serve God.

A turning point in her life occurred when her parents fell seriously ill in India. She immediately returned to India to care for them. While helping her father in his medical work, she witnessed a tragic event that changed her destiny:

One night, three women came to her father asking for help with childbirth. Ida, not knowing medicine herself, suggested calling her father. The men accompanying the women refused to allow her father’s assistance. Tragically, by morning, all three women had died. Deeply moved and heartbroken, Ida realized her calling: she needed to become a doctor to save lives, especially of women in India.

Education and Career:

Ida returned to the United States to study medicine. She devoted herself fully to medical education and also raised funds to establish medical facilities in India. By the age of 30, she returned to India as a qualified doctor.

With ten thousand dollars she had collected, and with the help of a friend, she started a small clinic by the roadside. Later, with additional support from friends in the U.S. and a donation from Robert Sewell in memory of his wife, she established a hospital for women and children. This facility eventually grew into the famous Christian Medical College (CMC) in Vellore. Ida also founded a medical college specifically for training female doctors.

Legacy:

Ida Scudder spent her life treating patients with compassion and excellence, always reflecting her Christian faith through her service. She saved countless lives, trained generations of doctors, and left a lasting impact on healthcare in India. She passed away on May 23, 1960, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of medical service and dedication to God.

Testimony

Full Name: Thomas Alva Edison
Parents: Samuel Ogden Edison and Nancy Matthews Edison
Birthplace: Milan, Ohio, USA
Date of Birth: February 11, 1847
Date of Death: October 18, 1931

---

Personal Testimony:

Thomas Alva Edison was born on February 11, 1847, in Milan, a small town in the state of Ohio, USA. He was the youngest of seven children born to Samuel and Nancy Edison. As a child, Edison was weak in health and slow to learn. He often struggled to understand what others said, and because of this, his classmates and even teachers made fun of him.

When Edison was seven years old, his teacher once told his mother that he was “too slow to learn and not fit for school.” Those words broke his mother Nancy’s heart. But instead of giving up, she stood boldly and said,

“If my son does not become greater than all of you, I will no longer call myself a child of God!”

She took her son home, prayed with tears, and began teaching him herself. She made her home his classroom. With her constant prayers, patience, and love, she taught him to read, write, and think. God answered her tearful prayers — young Edison began to grow in wisdom and understanding.

At the age of sixteen, Edison got his first job as a telegraph operator. Later, with his mother’s encouragement and God’s help, he set up his own small laboratory to experiment and learn more about science.

---

Invention of the Electric Bulb:

Edison spent years working to create an electric light bulb. He failed many times, but before every new attempt, he would pray to God and ask for help. Finally, on September 4, 1882, in New York City, after much hard work and prayer, he succeeded.

Before thousands of people who stood in darkness, he switched on the power — and 1,000 bulbs lit up at once! The whole area was filled with bright light. People cheered loudly, shouting that darkness had finally been defeated.

---

Edison’s Testimony about God:

When people praised him and asked him to speak, Edison humbly said:

“It was my mother’s tearful prayers that made me what I am today. Her prayers turned me from an ordinary boy into the man you now see.”

He then spoke about how the Bible had inspired him. He shared how one day, while listening to his pastor preach, he heard Job 28:3 —

“Man puts an end to darkness, and searches out the farthest limit for the ore in gloom and deep shadow.”

His pastor explained this verse spiritually, teaching that man must come out of the darkness of sin into the light of Christ. But Edison took it literally and decided to find a way to bring light to the physical world.

He said,

“It was this Bible verse, Job 28:3, that inspired me to invent the electric bulb.”

Edison discovered the light bulb in 1879, and in 1882, he successfully demonstrated it in public. He always gave credit to God’s Word and his mother’s prayers for his success.

---

Famous Quote:

“My mother’s prayers made me a man. Her tearful prayers are the reason I stand before you as a great person today.”

---

To God be the glory. Amen. 🙏💡