Biographies

Biographies shares the stories of men and women whose lives have shaped churches and the Restoration Movement through faithful ministry, leadership, and witness. Explore historical profiles, ministry highlights, and reflections that illuminate how God has worked through individuals across generations. These biographies provide context for key movements and ideas, offer lessons from successes and failures, and encourage readers to pursue Christ-centered character and service. Whether you’re studying church history or looking for examples of faithful discipleship, this hub gathers biographical content in one place.

January 16, 2020

Christian Standard

Biographies Restoration Movement History

Plainspoken Advice from a Veteran Minister, Circa 1900

We focus today on two short articles by J. M. Land, a man who preached several decades on either side of the Ohio-Indiana line, up until his death in 1905. Land usually shared obituaries or news items during the time he wrote for Christian Standard, spanning from 1873 to 1901, but he also wrote more than a dozen mainly shorter articles like the two we share today. The first piece by Land offers observations on how older ministers and younger ministers should relate with one another, and the second shares advice for how an incoming minister can resolve an inherited

August 8, 2019

Christian Standard

Biographies Restoration Movement History

W. R. Walker: “The Counselor’s Question Box”

In last week’s column we acquainted readers with W. R. Walker by sharing a 1963 article about him published a few weeks after his death. Walker preached for almost two decades in churches in northeast Ohio and, later, for 28 years (1920-48) at Indianola Church of Christ in Columbus, Ohio. In between, from approximately 1914 to 1920, he taught at Christian colleges. Walker also was part of Standard Publishing for about 40 years. In addition to serving as president from the 1920s until 1955, Walker was listed as “editorial counselor” within the pages of Christian Standard from 1945 until his

January 24, 2019

Christian Standard

Biographies Restoration Movement History

Orrin Root and ‘Sound the Battle Cry!’

I was thinking about Orrin Root the other day. He comes to mind quite often. Mr. Root was retired when I met him in 1998, but he still was writing The Lookout’s weekly Sunday school lesson commentary, as he had done since 1949. When Mr. Root died in 2003, he was several months ahead on his lesson writing. Oh, and he was 98. I always thought he wrote like a young man, only with much wisdom. Mr. Root came to work at Standard Publishing (former parent company of this magazine) in 1945, when he was 40 years old. He became

January 3, 2019

Christian Standard

Biographies Restoration Movement History

Henrietta Heron — ‘The Friendly Counselor’

— Jan. 7, 1939 — I recognized the name Henrietta Heron, but knew next to nothing about her until I stumbled upon the column we feature today. Research revealed that she worked at Standard Publishing (parent company of this magazine until recent years) before serving as president of the World Wide Baraca Philathea Union from 1928 until 1933, and then as general counselor of the organization after that. According to Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary’s website, “Baraca Philathea was an ecumenical movement designed to facilitate adult evangelism through Bible study. A million strong during the early twentieth century, it tried to bridge

November 29, 2018

Christian Standard

Biographies Restoration Movement History

Remembering Hugh McDiarmid, Standard’s Second Editor

At this magazine, we speak often of Isaac Errett, our founding editor. So far as I am aware, his name has appeared in each issue of the magazine since the beginning in April 1866. Can anyone name the editor who succeeded Errett? Anyone? Anyone? Arron Chambers provided the answer—Hugh McDiarmid—in “Lifting Up Jesus,” an article about the magazine’s editors for our 150th anniversary issue (April 2016). But Arron provided only this brief description: Errett’s successor was Hugh McDiarmid (June 10, 1837—August 15, 1901); he served as editor from 1888–92. McDiarmid was born in Kent County, Ontario, Canada. Some information about

November 1, 2018

Christian Standard

Biographies Restoration Movement History

‘Young Missionary’ J. Russell Morse Discusses Foreign Mission Methods

If you haven’t taken the opportunity to read Russell Johnson’s article from our November 2018 issue titled “Prayer, Power, Purpose: J. Russell & Gertrude Morse and Four Generations of Ministry to Southeast Asia and Beyond,” please be sure to treat yourself. The article details hardship, heartache, discouragement, and imprisonment, but also the prayers, purpose, and perseverance through which God’s Word has been faithfully preached over the past century. Thousands of people in isolated areas have heard the message and accepted Christ through God’s grace and the Morse family’s efforts. I scanned Christian Standard’s archives and reviewed the headlines of numerous

June 16, 2018

Jerry Harris

Biographies Restoration Movement History

Cam Huxford: A Portrait of Faithfulness

By Jerry Harris What is faithfulness? Where does it come from? What builds and strengthens it? What sustains it over time? While all church leaders would like to be described as faithful, for many it’s an elusive target. That’s why it’s important to know the story of Thomas Campbell Huxford—or just Cam—and his wife, Sarah. Their life and ministry together have been an incredible living illustration of faithfulness. Faithfulness Begets Faithfulness Cam grew up in a small Christian church in a town of less than 500 in coastal South Carolina. His father, also named Thomas Campbell Huxford as was his

March 17, 2011

Christian Standard

Biographies Restoration Movement History

Reggie Thomas: A “˜Fisher of Men” for 65 Years

By Victor Knowles Reggie Thomas is one of the national treasures of the Christian churches and churches of Christ. Few men in this fellowship have preached as long or enjoyed such results to their preaching as Reggie Thomas. December 5, 2010, marked the 65th anniversary of his first sermon. Only a select few have ever reached this milestone. Early Influences Reggie was born to A. R. and Florence Thomas on January 8, 1929, in Joplin, Missouri. When he was 8, he made the Good Confession and was baptized into Christ at South Joplin Christian Church. In 1943, during the middle

March 12, 2011

Christian Standard

Biographies Restoration Movement History

Interview with Douglas Foster

By Brad Dupray Douglas Foster is director of The Center for Restoration Studies at Abilene (Texas) Christian University, where he also serves as professor of church history. ACU is primarily affiliated with the a cappella churches of Christ, but Foster brings a broad knowledge of the Restoration Movement as a co-editor of The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement and of the forthcoming World History of the Stone-Campbell Movement (due from Chalice Press in 2012). He completed an undergraduate degree at David Lipscomb University and earned a PhD in church history at Vanderbilt University, both in Nashville, Tennessee. Foster has taught

February 3, 2008

Christian Standard

Biographies Restoration Movement History

E.L. Russell”“A Pacesetter Without Prominence

By Brett Andrews I suspect one day in Heaven we will be treated to a long parade of the greatest leaders in history. And we won”t recognize most of their names. One of those uncelebrated but great leaders I wish you could have known was Eldreth L. Russell, minister of my home church in Meadville, Pennsylvania, for most of the 1960s and “70s. Under his ministry, the Meadville church grew, sent out ministers and missionaries, and became a middle-sized church with a megachurch influence. Setting the Pace with Joy Ministry taxes the strongest. Paul wrote of carrying the daily pressure

February 3, 2008

Christian Standard

Biographies Restoration Movement History

Herb Bleakney”“Unpaid, Unsung Youth Ministry

By Shawn McMullen My father-in-law, Herb Bleakney, worked for decades in a Pennsylvania steel mill. That was his day job. But in the evenings and on weekends, he was part of an elite group of men in his smaller church who took upon themselves the task of discipling the young people in their congregation. The men who helped him also worked full-time jobs, cared for their families, and served the church in many other ways. Even so, while my wife and her siblings were in their teens, these men poured themselves into the lives of the church”s youth. They planned

May 15, 2005

Mark A. Taylor

Restoration Movement History Biographies

Soft-Spoken, Kind, and Fondly Remembered

A tribute to Edwin Hayden, former CHRISTIAN STANDARD editor and longtime elder, remembered for humility, careful conviction, and enduring encouragement. Friends and former students recall his influence, his care for others, and his Christ-centered focus.