Issue 101 is on the church and health care

The church has been much more influential in the history of healthcare than you might expect. It’s hard to remember, walking the gleaming halls of today’s secular hospitals, how this institution grew up in the midst of the church; modern hospitals can be traced directly back to ancient and medieval Christian institutions.

Far from the stereotype of shriveled ascetics who hated the body, early Christians valued the body and the medical arts necessary to heal it as gifts from God and acted accordingly. Wealthy Christian women gave up this world’s comforts to care for wretches suffering the most repellant illnesses. Popes and bishops poured the church’s resources into founding proto-hospitals to aid the sick poor. Monks learned the medical arts to help both their own communities and needy visitors. Friars lived in leper colonies, serving the lepers and kissing their faces.

Experts tell us we are at risk of a global pandemic. In such an event, would we respond as the early Christians did, who cared for plague victims (even their persecutors) heedless of risk? Would we put God’s love for others above our own lives, as they did?

These are questions you may ask yourself as you read the just released issue of Christian History magazine #101: Healthcare and Hospitals in the Mission of the Church.

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In Exodus 28 God commanded Moses: “You shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue. It shall have an opening for the head in the middle of it, with a woven binding around the opening, like the opening in a garment, so that it may not tear. On its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue and purple and scarlet yarns, around its hem, with bells of gold between them, a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, around the hem of the robe. And it shall be on Aaron when he ministers, and its sound shall be heard when he goes into the Holy Place before the LORD, and when he comes out, so that he does not die.”

The bell, which is thought to date back to the time of Christ, may or may not have once been attached to a high priest’s garment, but it fits the general description and gives rise to excitement and speculation.

Philip the Apostle by Peter Paul Rubens

Tradition has long contended that one of the biblical Philips (either the apostle or the evangelist) was crucified upside down at Hierapolis (in modern Turkey). However, until now no one has been able to find the grave.

Recently Italian archaeologists discovered the ruins of a small church about 150 feet from the martyrium which had been the focus of research. At the new site was a grave, thought to be that of the apostle. It appears his remains were moved in the fifth century.

For more details, see the July/August issue of Biblical Archaeology Review.

Cover of the Amy Carmichael Story

We are pleased to announce that the Amy Carmichael Story is the latest Torchlighters DVD to win international trophies. At the 2011 International Christian Visual Media (ICVM) awards, Amy’s story took the Gold Crown for Best Children’s Film, Bronze for Best Youth Film, Silver for Best Series, Silver for Best Documentary Under $50,000, and Gold for Best Evangelistic Film.

The Amy Carmichael Story is the eighth in the popular Torchlighters, Heroes of the Faith series. Soon to be released is the William Booth Story. Most of the Torchlighters titles have won awards, including The Jim Elliot Story, the William Tyndale Story, the Eric Liddell Story, The Gladys Aylward Story, and The Perpetua Story.

Another Christian History Institute production, History of Christian Worship, Part 2: The Body won the Bronze for Best Documentary Under $50,000.

ICVM is a group of Christian writers, directors, producers and distributors from over twenty nations who first came together in the 1970s to promote the gospel through excellent visual media. Under its present name and makeup, it has been in existence since 1993.

"History of Hell" resource

Thousands of readers of Christian History magazine responded to our survey, and this is what you told us: Keep the magazine coming in printed format! Here is what we are planning for the next few months.

This summer we are producing a small handbook on Christian thought on hell. All who subscribed by June 30th will receive this handy resource for free. We are also hard at work on Christian History magazine issue #101 on the history of healthcare in the mission of the church. Look for this issue in the mail in the fall. Be sure your interested friends subscribe now to receive this next magazine. Learn more about both these projects at the Christian History magazine’s “Coming Next Time” page.

We are committed to making Christian History magazine available on a donation basis. If you have not already done so, please consider making your donation today.

Thank you for your encouragement and support!

Jerry Griffith accepts WorldFest 2011 Award. Photo by Krishna Giri of WorldFest

Christian History Institute’s documentary KJV: The Making of the King James Bible won a Special Jury Award at the 2011 WorldFest in Houston. Producer Jerry Griffith (shown at left) accepted the honor.

At the same festival, three other Christian History Institute productions also won awards; History of Christian Worship, Part 1: the Word won a Gold Remi; Wesley: a Heart Transformed Can Change the World won a Platinum Remi; and our recent documentary, Perpetua: Early Church Martyr, won a Silver Remi.

WorldFest Houston is a 50-year-old film and video festival for independent filmmakers. Since 1968 it has been international. It issues awards in twelve categories, and is attended by over 500 international filmmakers with entries from about 40 countries. In addition to feature and short films, it gives awards for TV Productions, Documentaries, Corporate & Business Films, Student & Experimental, TV Commercials, Film & Video Productions, Music Videos, New Media (Interactive & Web Sites) and unproduced Screenplays.

Issue #100

Christian History Institute is pleased to announce the publication of Christian History magazine commemorative issue #100. Through engaging articles, captivating images and thought-provoking extras this issue explores the fascinating story behind the making of the King James Bible, on the 400th anniversary of this monumental event. Explore all this publication has to offer on our brand new website www.christianhistorymagazine.org. While there, be sure to take our short survey, order your personal hard copy of Issue #100, sign up for future mailings and updates and become a Facebook fan. In addition to an electronic copy of the new magazine, you will find fully searchable PDFs of all 99 back issues, along with the ability to order hard copies of selected back issues.

Christian History magazine was begun in 1982 by Ken Curtis, the founder of Christian History Institute. Dr. Curtis’ passion to educate believers on the rich stories of our collective past was first realized through the production of Christian films and then through the creation of the Christian History magazine. This magazine has been a source of historical treasure for tens of thousands of readers for nearly thirty years. (A selection of www.christianhistorymagazine.org and tell us what you think!

Our People DVD cover

While walking the poverty-stricken streets of London’s East End late one night in 1865, William Booth saw desperate people who had been neglected by society. He and his wife Catherine decided that night “These will be our people.” Their commitment, bravery and dependence on the Lord eventually led to the founding of the Salvation Army, an organization that continues to assist hurting people worldwide!

Their fascinating story is now available in a top notch documentary, titled Our People. You can get this DVD through Vision Video.

William and Catherine’s story will also be told through an upcoming episode of the Torchlighters! Stay tuned for more information in the next few months.

Amy Carmichael DVD

As Amy begins missionary work in India in the early 1900’s, she is shocked to learn of the plight of young girls who are being held against their will in harsh temples to serve the gods of the land. Young Preena is such a girl who desperately longs for freedom. Follow the action as little Preena attempts a daring escape in order to find the gentle woman who follows a God like no other — the woman known as Amy Carmichael!

Amy’s groundbreaking work among the forgotten children of India has been an inspiration to countless believers for more than a century. Now you can bring the action-packed story of this remarkable woman of faith to the children in your life through our latest episode of The Torchlighters Heroes of the Faith: The Amy Carmichael Story.

Visit the Amy Carmichael page at Torchlighters web site for more information and activities.

Come take a look at the new fun page at Torchlighters.