faith

Samuel Rutherford

by

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.

Ida Scudder

by

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.

Thomas Alva Edison

by

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. 🙏💡

Midgley John Jennings

by

Biography

Midgley John Jennings was a devoted Christian chaplain who served with the East India Company and became known for his faithful ministry in Delhi, India.

He was born on 8th June 1806 in Stevenage, England, and went to be with the Lord on 11th May 1857.

Early Ministry

Jennings came to Kanpur (Cawnpore) in 1832, where he began his ministry among the British people. However, the deep love of Christ touched his heart, and he started to care for the spiritual needs of the Indian people too. Even though there were many restrictions, he went out into the streets, met the locals, and preached the message of Jesus Christ to them.

Ministry in Delhi

After serving for 20 years in Kanpur, he was transferred to Delhi in 1851. At that time, Delhi was a strong center of the Muslim faith and had no active Christian missionary work. Seeing this, Jennings felt a great burden for the salvation of the people there.

He worked alone without help or support, often walking through the streets of Delhi, praying and asking God to bless the city. Through his faithful prayers and preaching, two educated Indian men accepted Christ — Ram Chandra, a professor of mathematics, and Chimman Lai, a surgeon at the Delhi Hospital. Their conversions marked the beginning of the Delhi Church.

Growth of the Mission

Later, because of Jennings’ request, the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (SPG) sent two missionaries along with financial support to continue the ministry. Under this mission, the Delhi Church began to grow and became one of the most promising mission fields in India.

The 1857 Tragedy

During the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, all Europeans in Delhi were attacked and killed by the rebels. Jennings was living in the Red Fort quarters with his young daughter, Annie Jennings. Sadly, both father and daughter were killed by the soldiers. Chimman Lai was also martyred in his dispensary because he refused to deny his faith in Jesus.

The Legacy

Even though it seemed like the Delhi mission was destroyed, God’s work continued. Ram Chandra, who had escaped the attack, returned to Delhi and continued to preach the Gospel fearlessly. Later, more missionaries came, and the seeds planted by Midgley John Jennings grew into a fruitful Christian mission.

Summary :
మిడ్‌గ్లీ జాన్ జెన్నింగ్స్ (Midgley John Jennings) — ఒక గొప్ప దేవుని సేవకుడు. ఆయన ఇంగ్లాండ్‌ (England) లో పుట్టి, ఇండియా (India) లో దేవుని వాక్యాన్ని ప్రచారం చేశారు. కాంపూర్ (Kanpur) లో మొదట బ్రిటిష్ ప్రజలకు సేవ చేసి, తరువాత దేవుని ప్రేమతో భారతీయుల మధ్య సువార్త చెబుతూ, ఢిల్లీ (Delhi) లో చర్చిని స్థాపించారు. 1857లో జరిగిన తిరుగుబాటులో ఆయన తన కుమార్తెతో పాటు వీర మరణం పొందారు. కానీ ఆయన విత్తిన విశ్వాసపు విత్తనం ఫలించి, ఢిల్లీ మిషన్‌ దేవుని మహిమకు గొప్ప ఆశీర్వాదమైంది.

జాన్ లోగీ బయర్డ్ (John Logie Baird)

by

జాన్ లోగీ బయర్డ్ (John Logie Baird) – టెలివిజన్ కనుగొన్నవాడు | బైబిల్ వాక్యాధారంతో పుట్టిన ఆవిష్కరణ

పూర్తి పేరు: జాన్ లోగీ బయర్డ్
తల్లిదండ్రులు: జాన్ బయర్డ్ & జెస్సీ మోరిసన్ ఇంగ్లిస్
జన్మస్థలం: హెలెన్స్ బర్గ్, స్కాట్లాండ్
జననం: 13 ఆగస్టు 1888
మరణం: 14 జూన్ 1946

వ్యక్తిగత సాక్ష్యం (Personal Testimony):

టెలివిజన్‌ను కనుగొన్న జాన్ లోగీ బయర్డ్ ఒక భక్తుడైన కుటుంబంలో జన్మించాడు. ఆయన తండ్రి ఒక పాస్టర్ – దేవుని సేవలో నిత్యం నిమగ్నుడై ఉండేవారు. కానీ చిన్ననాటి నుండే బయర్డ్‌లో ఒక కొత్త ఆలోచన ఉండేది — “ప్రపంచానికి ఉపయోగపడే ఏదైనా కొత్తది కనిపెట్టాలి!” అని.

తన తండ్రి దేవుని పనికి దూరం అవుతాడేమోనని ఆందోళనతో అతని ఆవిష్కరణ ఆసక్తికి పెద్దగా ప్రోత్సాహం ఇవ్వలేదు. అయినప్పటికీ బయర్డ్ యూనివర్సిటీ ఆఫ్ గ్లాస్గో లో ఎలక్ట్రికల్ ఇంజనీరింగ్‌లో చదువుకొని, దేవుని సేవతో పాటు తన శాస్త్రీయ జ్ఞానం ద్వారా మానవాళికి ఉపయోగపడే పనిని చేయాలని నిర్ణయించుకున్నాడు.

ఒక రోజు తన అక్క ఆన్నీతో మాట్లాడుతూ, “నాకు దేవుడు ఒక మంచి ఆలోచన ఇవ్వాలి – ఇది ప్రపంచ ప్రజలకు ప్రయోజనం కలిగించాలి,” అని అన్నాడు.

అప్పుడు అతని అక్క ఇలా ప్రశ్నించింది:
“గతవారం నాన్న గారు బోధించినప్పుడు ప్రకటన గ్రంథములో చెప్పిన వాక్యం గుర్తుందా? ‘అంత్యదినములలో ఇద్దరు ప్రవక్తలను క్రూరమృగము చంపుతుంది. వారి శవములను ప్రపంచమంతా చూడును’ (ప్రకటన గ్రంథము 11:9-10). ఇది ఎలా సాధ్యం? యెరూషలేములో వారి శవములు ఉంటే ప్రపంచమంతా ఎలా చూస్తుంది?” అని అడిగింది.

ఆ ప్రశ్న జాన్ లోగీ బయర్డ్ మనసును కదిలించింది. ఆయన బైబిల్ చదువుతూ ఆ వాక్యంపై ఆలోచించాడు. అప్పట్లో రేడియో లేదు, టెలివిజన్ లేదు, విద్యుత్ కూడా అంతగా లేని కాలం. అయితే దేవుడు తన వాక్యంలో “ప్రపంచమంతా చూచును” అని రాయించాడు.

అప్పుడే బయర్డ్ గ్రహించాడు —
“ప్రపంచ ప్రజలు ఒక చోట జరుగుతున్న సంఘటనను చూడగలగాలంటే అది టెలివిజన్ ద్వారానే సాధ్యం!”

దేవుని వాక్యముపై విశ్వాసంతో బయర్డ్ టెలివిజన్ ఆవిష్కరణకు ప్రయత్నం ప్రారంభించాడు. ఎన్నో సార్లు విఫలమైనా, విశ్వాసం కోల్పోలేదు. చివరకు 1928లో, జాన్ లోగీ బయర్డ్ విజయవంతంగా టెలివిజన్‌ను కనిపెట్టాడు.

బైబిల్ ఆధారం (Biblical Inspiration):

“మరియు జనములు, వంశములు, భాషలు మాటలాడువారు, భూమిపై నివసించువారు మూడు దినములన్నర వారి శవములను చూచుదురు…”
(ప్రకటన గ్రంథము 11:9)

ఈ వాక్యమే బయర్డ్ ఆవిష్కరణకు ప్రేరణ. బైబిల్ రాయించిన దేవుడు సర్వజ్ఞుడు, భవిష్యత్తు తెలిసినవాడు. ఆయన యోహానుతో టెలివిజన్ సాంకేతికత ఏర్పడకముందే ఈ వాక్యాన్ని రాయించాడు.

నేటి టెలివిజన్ ద్వారా ప్రపంచ వార్తలు, సంఘటనలు మన కంటికి కనబడుతున్నాయి అంటే — అది దేవుని వాక్యం సత్యమని, బైబిల్ దైవగ్రంథమని నిరూపణ!

జాన్ లోగీ బయర్డ్ తన జీవితమంతా దేవుని మీద విశ్వాసంతో శ్రమించి, మానవాళికి వెలుగు చూపే టెక్నాలజీని అందించాడు.
చివరగా 1946 జూన్ 14 న ఆయన ప్రభువునందు విశ్రాంతి పొందాడు.