April 1st in Christ

On April 1, 774, Charlemagne, the future Holy Roman Emperor, was greeted by Roman magistrates carrying the banners of the city, sent forward by the Pope to meet him.
This event marked his increasing influence in Christian Europe, as Charlemagne played a significant role in the Christianization of the Frankish Empire and the establishment of the Holy Roman Empire.
His alliance with the Pope, culminating in his coronation in 800, was pivotal for the Church’s political power.
On April 1, 1229, Abraham of Bulgaria, while living as an Islamic merchant, converted to Christianity and was killed by Muslims for changing religions.
This martyrdom highlights the spread of Christianity into Islamic regions and the challenges faced by converts, reflecting the tensions between Christian and Islamic communities in the medieval period.
This event is significant for understanding the missionary efforts and persecutions in Christian history.
On April 1, 1934, German scholar Gerhard Kittel published the first partial volume of "Theological Dictionary of the New Testament."
With World War II and Kittel’s death in 1948 intervening, this monumental 10-volume work was not completed until the late 1960s.
It became a foundational resource for New Testament scholarship, influencing Christian theology and biblical studies.
On April 1, 1548, the Parliament of England ordered the publication of the Book of Common Prayer.
Though Thomas Cranmer is rightly credited with the final form, he worked with a committee including Reformer Martin Bucer.
On April 1, 1572, in the Eighty Years’ War, the Watergeuzen captured Brielle from the Seventeen Provinces, gaining the first foothold on land for what would become the Dutch Republic.
This event marked a significant moment in the Dutch Revolt against Spanish Catholic rule, leading to the establishment of a predominantly Calvinist state, crucial for the history of Dutch Protestantism and the broader Reformation.
On April 1, 1745, David Brainerd began his missionary work among the Native Americans of New Jersey, having previously worked in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.
The New Jersey natives showed more interest, but Brainerd died of tuberculosis only two years later.
His diary, published by Jonathan Edwards, became a major force in promoting missionary work, inspiring missionaries like William Carey, Henry Martyn, and Thomas Coke.
On April 1, 1853, Frederick Denison Maurice, a Christian socialist and influential figure in the Anglican Church, died in London.
Known for his work on social justice and his role in the Broad Church movement, Maurice had a strong influence on his generation, including men like James Clerk Maxwell, making his death significant for Protestant thought.
On April 1, 1946, William R. Newell, an American Congregational pastor and Bible teacher, died at age 88.
He is remembered today as the author of the hymn “At Calvary” (“Years I Spent in Vanity and Pride”), which is widely known and sung in evangelical churches, contributing to the rich tradition of Protestant hymnody.
On April 1, 1966, loyalists led by Ian Paisley, a Protestant fundamentalist preacher, founded the Ulster Constitution Defence Committee to challenge the civil rights movement, setting up a paramilitary wing called the Ulster Protestant Volunteers.
This event is significant in the context of Northern Irish Protestantism and the political tensions leading to the Troubles, reflecting the religious and political dynamics of the period.
Romans 6:23 - “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
God bless you in Jesus Christ today!