In the nineteenth century Harriet Beecher Stowe was the most important woman in the United States. She had a loathing of slavery that was supported by her faith and prompted action.

William Booth wrote: ‘You cannot warm the hearts of people with God’s love if they have an empty stomach and cold feet.’ He formed the Salvation Army which faced much opposition, but became an important force in providing social relief.

Elisabeth Elliot felt God's call to become a missionary at an early age. She was drawn by the challenge of the unreached Amazonian Waodani tribe who had a fearsome reputation for violence.

Elisabeth faced much suffering as a result of this challenge but continued to witness to the Waodani despite this.

The faithful and fruitful life of Elisabeth Elliot sets a challenging example of discipleship to us today. She deserves to be remembered.

Few stories in Christian history are more dramatic than that of John Newton, whose life demonstrates the title of his most famous hymn, ‘Amazing Grace’.

A rebellious, reckless, immoral youngster and later a slave ship master, he was to undergo a remarkable conversion. He went on to become a lively, committed and caring pastor and went on to write hymns and campaign against the slave trade.

Schaeffer was the right man at the right time, wisely guiding the global church through an upheaval of cultural change. Faced with new and challenging questions many believers were enormously reassured by the fact that, even if they didn’t have the answers (or sometimes even understand the questions), Francis Schaeffer did.

Hudson Taylor was not just an extraordinary missionary to China, but an incredible example of a life fully surrendered to God.

John Stott was born in 1921 in London. He was naturally gifted, possessing a brilliant mind, an amazing memory and an extraordinary self-discipline.

John Paton was born in 1824 in Scotland, the eldest of eleven children in a poor but devout Christian family.

He sailed the South seas, battled great disaster and loss, but he remained committed to worldwide mission.

The life of Amanda Smith was extraordinary: she travelled from being a black slave to becoming the first international woman evangelist.

She did an enormous amount of good by building bridges and demolishing barriers between black and white communities.

If you’ve ever wondered how much anyone can do in a lifetime then take a look at William Carey.

‘Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God’ was the motto Carey gave to history. Carey did both and in doing so became a man who achieved great things for God.