Christian History Institute

Robert Fernandez, producer of the Torchlighters series.

Recently, Robert Fernandez, producer of Torchlighters® sat down with Dawn Moore, Christian History Institute’s Director of Product Development, and answered some questions. Robert gave his insights into the purpose and intent of the series, and named the future subjects who are being considered. If you love Torchlighters®, this is an interview you won’t want to miss.

Short Version of the Robert Fernandez Interview (4-1/2 minutes)

Long Version of the Robert Fernandez Interview (13 minutes)

Events of interest that happened this day in Christian history. For the most part, we have not attempted to convert old calendar dates to new, but have accepted dates as written in documents.

DVDs about Christian History and Biography

Supplement your knowledge of Christian history with DVDs about the people and the events that make up the story of the church.

C.H. Spurgeon, the People’s Preacher. Inspirational docu-drama recreates the life and times of Spurgeon as it traces his trials and triumphs with historical accuracy.

Amy Carmichael: Mother to the Motherless.
The true story of a brave missionary woman and her battle to rescue young girls from unspeakable evil.

 

Apostles’ Creed — Abridged Version. The Apostles’ Creed is a living link back to the Early Church — a summary of Biblical faith taught to new believers before baptism.

History Of Orthodox Christianity. Designed to be the most detailed worldwide television presentation of the Orthodox Church, her traditions, and her sacramental life.

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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Jesus Christ is the deepest figure of history. Those who contemplate him are always recognizing some new feature of his infinite character, some overlooked aspect of his relationship to us, some newfound lesson from his life. Here we present a different person’s insight each day.

Who Is the True Jesus? A Muslim and a Christian debate the true nature and character of Christ.

Journeying with Jesus in the Holy Land.
This DVD sweeps us inexorably through the “greatest story ever told,” from Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem to His triumphant ascension on the Mount of Olives.

 

Yeshua/Jesus. This two-part documentary explores the intriguing heritage of biblical Israel and the Jewish origins of the Christian faith, uncovering wonderful truths about Jesus.

The Light of the World — the Life of Jesus. You are there — in the days when the Word became flesh and dwelled among men. Follow the story from the Jordan River to its end at the Mount of Olives.

A tiny golden bell found in a Jerusalem drainage channel has reminded archaeologists and laymen of the Biblical description of Aaron’s robe.

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.

Carmichael jacket

Torchlighters was honored at the International Christian Visual Media 2011 conference held in Atlanta on July 6-9 where its Amy Carmichael Story won the Gold award for the Best Children’s Film! Check out this article at the Examiner for more information.

Scholars have found what may be a reference to Balaam of Beor, who appears in the Bible. Although the text is from about 600 BC, it may allude back to the prophet who tried to curse Israel but could not and so taught the Israelites to sin with Moabite women, instead.

The text, which was found at Deir Alla, near the region of ancient Moab, refers to Balaam several times and uses words and expressions similar to those included in the Biblical account. To read more, with attempted translations of the text, visit these typical sites: Rabbi Leibel Reznick’s or Kathryn QannaYahu’s.

A find from 2008 exhibits the oldest Hebrew text unearthed so far. A pottery shard from 3,000 years ago, or about the time of David (dated through pottery comparisons and radiocarbon analysis of associated material) is written in an early Canaanite script, a precursor to modern Hebrew. The find was from the region of Elah, near where David killed Goliath.

Its importance is in helping show the development of writing in Israel, and in demonstrating the cultural level of that time. To read more, visit this page at the New York Jewish Times.