Christian history nuggests reach my email every morning.
The Christian History Institute (CHI) daily sends me a story out of Christianity’s past plus a review of significant dates that happened on that day.
The fascinating emails often humble me–and they’re free.
CHI also mail me a physical magazine focused on a specific topic out of Christianity’s past. Those come each quarter.
The March 2025 edition features Oswald Chambers.
What type of history are the magazine and daily emails reviewing?
Christian. (See title).
On the day I’m writing this post, February 24, the daily email featured the story of Emperor Diocletians’ persecution of Christians, beginning on Feburary 24, 303 AD.
Whereas I knew of the Roman government’s determination to kill Christians, I didn’t know the why of the story.
(For fascinating insight, consider reading Jamie Ogle’s novel Of Love and Treason. It tells a fictionalized account of St. Valentine. Ogle did an excellent job of describing life for Christians in Rome at the time).
In 477 words, author Dan Graves provided me with a full explanation and story. Engaging, horrifying, and true.
As I reflected on his words and remembered how Ogle told her story set during that time, I felt humbled in my faith.
Once more.
Readers, we need people to tell these stories–of our faith’s history, of the missionaries who sacrificed so much for the sake of the Gospel, and of what it really meant to be a follower of Jesus.
When I read the missionary stories, talk to missionaries, and recall history, I’m humbled over and over again.
With this daily reminder, I can start my day in a better spot than, “where’s the coffee?”
What other reminders does the Christian History Institute provide?
Significant events and deaths that occured on that particular date in history.
Of personal interest to me on February 24: “1873. A longstanding edict against Christianity is revoked in Japan.”
I happen to be researching 19th and 20th century Christianity in Japan, so this was a date I marked in my research!
I’ve been fascinated by the obscure corners of the world reported by the Christian History staff.
It’s not European or American-centric, which is important at a time where there soon will be more Christian in China than in the United States.
(Author photo)
Graves often writes the articles and he routine describes missionaries landing in far off places. He shares information about the deaths of notable Christians (too often in prison!).
Did you know Martin Luther and Michelangelo died on the same day? February 18–different years but such an interesting juxtaposition!
(Might one argue that Luther’s 1510 visit to Rome–where indulgences and extravagant art works like Michelangelo’s later work, infuriated him–played a part in the Protestant reformation?
(Can you recognize how just reading that fact sent me pondering broader ideas? Here’s one not necessarily pertinent to the men who died on February 18).
Christian History Magazine
As the website explains: “Christian History is a non-profit organization that provides Christian history resources and self-study material at low or no cost. Based out of Worcester, PA, CHI was founded in 1982 by Dr. A. Kenneth Curtis to share the lively history of the faith.”
From the first edition published in 1982 about Zinzendorf and the Moravians, the magazine looks at one particular subject or individual.
You can see the list of all their magazines here.
At about 48-pages long, the magazines cover a specific subject–articles, pictures, bibliographies.
A magazine format can be an easier way to learn about specific subjects in Christian history.
I bought a dozen of these magazines at $6 each, or in inexpensive bundles on subjects.
As a non-denominational magazine, CHI “adheres to the Apostles’ Creed. We seek to present the history of the global church and to see the best in each Christian tradition.”
Is this blog post an ad?
Of course not.
I’m simply sharing about a magazine and daily emails that are enriching my spiritual life.
They’re touching my love of history and faith stories. They’re also sending my mind all over the, literal, map thinking of Christianity’s past.
I’m, again, impressed by the faith of missionaries going places I’ll never see.
So much Christian history needs to be told.
The daily emails are so much more inspiring than my Twitter feed!
CHI also provides material for homeschooling and a variety of videos.
And the information through CHI is either free or affordable.
Enjoy.
Thoughts? Reactions? Lurker?