Reformers

Amos of Tekoa was among many other prophets that God raised up to admonish the Israelites of plagues for their wickedness and idolatry. Amos was a herdman or shepherd of a poor town who showed that if God did not spare the other nations around them, who had lived as it were in ignorance of God compared to them, then they could look for nothing, but a horrible destruction, unless they turned to the Lord in true repentance. Finally, Amos comforts the godly with hope of the coming of the Messiah. Amos’ prophetic career began near the town of Tekoa, in Judah. Despite being from the southern kingdom of Judah, Amos’ prophetic message was aimed at the Northern Kingdom of Israel, particularly the cities of Samaria and Bethel.

John Wycliffe

John Wycliffe was an English preacher, writer and Bible translator who has been called "the morning star of the Reformation." He preached and wrote against various doctrines and practices of the Church of Rome, translated the Bible into English, and sent itinerant preachers (later called Lollards) throughout England to bring to the common people the Word of God and the message of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Jan Huss, Bohemian reformer, became a powerful preacher of Roman doctrine, until he began to translate some of Wycliffe’s sermons into the Bohemian language. These sermons moved him to cry out for reform in the Church, and a return to the authority of the Scriptures. He was branded a heretic, excommunicated, and his writings were suppressed. He found refuge outside of Prague, where he continued to preach, write, and study. The chief product of his pen concerning the Church developed the Wycliffe teachings concerning the universal priesthood of all believers, stating in no uncertain terms that Christ is the only Head of the church. Though he was promised safe conduct, the Council had him arrested, tried without an advocate, and sentenced to death as a heretic. As the red tongues of flame at his execution rose high around his body, Huss sang, "Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, have mercy on me." The Pope dismissed his own broken promise of safe conduct to Huss with, "When dealing with heretics, one is not obligated to keep his word."

Menno Simons was a Dutch reformer, though little is known of his early background, except that he decided to become a priest. However, he was troubled by doubts about the validity of Catholic teachings. Influenced by the writings of the Protestant reformers and by his own reading of the Bible, he renounced the Catholic Church and was baptized as an Anabaptist, where he was ordained to the office of a bishop, a no-so-desirable position because of persecutions. Menno preached nonviolent Anabaptism in the Netherlands. His constant activity made possible the survival and spread of the original, peaceful Anabaptist movement when it was most threatened by persecution. Menno also wrote numerous pamphlets and books explaining the Anabaptist doctrines.

Martin Luther

The son of a rural mining family, Martin Luther attended the Latin School in Mansfeld, continuing his schooling in Magdeburg and later in Eisenach. Luther began his studies to become a lawyer. He later decided to enter the Augustinian monastery in Erfurt. His search for a merciful God and His Will culminated in the development of the Reformation of the Church.

His public criticism of the misuse of letters of indulgence in 1517 did not result in the desired discussion but led to the start of a court of inquisition culminating in Luther's excommunication. He was  "kidnapping" by royalty to protect his life and spent almost a year as Knight George. Luther promoted the development of the protestant territorial church through visitations and church policies. He died in Eisleben, the town of his birth. By order of the Elector Luther was buried in the Castle Church in Wittenberg.

George Fox

Born in Fenny Drayton and apprenticed to a Nottingham shoemaker, George Fox rebelled against state control of the Church of England and began toured the country giving sermons where he argued that consecrated buildings and ordained ministers were irrelevant to the individual seeking God. Fox had a divine revelation that inspired him to preach a gospel of brotherly love. Fox formed a group called the Friends of Truth. Later they became known as the Society of Friends. Fox's central dogma was that of the inner light, communicated directly to the individual soul by Christ. After Fox’s followers refused to attend Anglican services or pay tithes, Fox was arrested. Eventually members of the Society of Friends became known as Quakers. During the reign of Charles II, 13,562 were arrested & imprisoned, 198 were transported as slaves, 338 died in prison or of wounds received in violent assaults. The Society of Friends grew to more than 20,000 converts and missionaries at work in Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the American colonies. Fox continued as a travelling preacher until his death in 1691.

Pope John XXIII

Pope John XXIII was ordained a priest and held a variety of church offices. He was named papal nuncio to newly liberated France, where he successfully revived sympathy for the Vatican. He was elected pope after the death of Pius XII. Because of his advanced age, he was expected to be little more than a caretaker in the office, but instead he became the major reforming pope of the century. Eager to lead the church into the modern era, he called the Second Vatican Council in 1962, inviting Eastern Orthodox and Protestant observers to join Catholic delegates. He also sought to repair relations with the Jews. The council went on to make major reforms in Catholic liturgy and administration, though John died before its conclusion. An energetic advocate of world peace, he was one of the most popular popes in history.