Today in Church History

5th December

This is the traditional date for the death of the church father, Clement of Alexandria (c. 150-215). He is called the father of the Eastern Church. He is also the author of the oldest Christian hymn that has come down to us, "Shepherd of Tender Youth".

On Dec 5, 1823, Robert Morrison, first Protestant missionary to China, left China to return to England, taking his first furlough since arriving there in 1807. Back in London, he presented a copy of his Chinese Bible to King George IV and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. He spent many months traveling across the British Isles promoting the cause of Chinese evangelism. Returning to China in 1826, he remained there until his death in 1834. During the course of his twenty-seven years among the Chinese, he saw only three or four converts, but he laid the foundation for all subsequent missionary work in that great land.

Dec 5, 1934, was the last full day missionaries John and Betty Stam spent together in their home in China. The next day, their city of Tsingteh was captured by Communist troops. John and Betty were seized and forced to leave their little baby, Helen Priscilla, in a blanket on the bed. On the morning of Dec 8, 1934, the Stams were beheaded for their faith in Christ. Little Helen was miraculously found by national Christians and smuggled out of the country.