Christmas Evans (Christian Biographies Adapted for Children) -- Santosh Poonen -- September 28, 2022
Audiobook Live recordings from RLCF Family Prayer Meetings during which Santosh Poonen shares Christian biographies adapted for children Based loosely on the chapter from the book, "They Knew Their God" by Harvey, Harvey & Hey ----- http://rlcf.church River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The video recounts the life story of Christmas Evans, the 'one-eyed preacher' of Wales. It details his early life, his conversion experience, and the deep passion he developed for studying and proclaiming God's Word. The speaker emphasizes that a genuine desire for knowledge of God, even when difficult, can lead to profound spiritual growth and ministry.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Who was Christmas Evans?Santosh introduces Christmas Evans, a Welsh preacher born on Christmas Day 1776, who later became widely known as the one-eyed preacher of Wales.
Attacked and left blind in one eyeAfter converting and leaving his life of gross sin, Christmas and his friends were brutally attacked by old friends with sticks, resulting in the permanent loss of vision in one eye.
Orphaned and raised in povertyFollowing his father's death when he was eight, Christmas spent six unhappy years with a cruel, drunkard uncle where he received no schooling and could not read until age seventeen.
Driven to Christ by the fear of deathA deep fear of dying in an ungodly state plagued Christmas from age nine until it finally forced him to rest upon Christ during a church revival.
Learning to read the Bible in WelshNewly born again, Christmas and other illiterate young people bought Bibles and candles to meet in a barn, where he miraculously learned to read within a month.
Thirst for knowledge and a dramatic dreamAfter briefly attending his pastor's school for Latin grammar, Christmas lost his eyesight in one eye and dreamed of the final judgment, which left a deep impression leading him to serve God full-time.
First attempts at preachingEager to proclaim salvation, Christmas initially memorized and preached a borrowed sermon, but subsequent attempts to preach without preparation yielded humbling failures that kept him from pride.
Called to the discouraging village of LlynllefiOrdained as a minister, Christmas was sent to pastor one of the most discouraging Baptist churches in Wales, where he waited upon God for a deeper Christian life.
The impact of the Holy SpiritUpon receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit, Christmas gained confidence in prayer, a burden for Christ's cause, and fresh revelation regarding salvation.
Marriage and widespread itinerant preachingMarried to the devout Catherine Jones, Christmas traveled widely across Wales, eventually preaching to massive outdoor crowds and astounding listeners who initially doubted his uncultured appearance.
Superintendent in Anglesey and doctrinal controversyMoving to the island of Anglesey to lead churches amidst severe poverty, Evans later became sidetracked and embittered by the legalistic Sandemanian controversy before experiencing a profound spiritual restoration.
Three hours of prayer on the mountainClimbing Mount Cader Idris with a cold heart, Christmas spent three hours wrestling in prayer until his inner bondage broke and the joy of salvation was restored.
Writing the twelve-point covenant with GodIn deep dependence on Christ, Evans wrote down a solemn twelve-point covenant committing his soul, body, personal holiness, and ministry entirely to the Lord.
The graveyard sermon and trusting God through trialsEvans gained lasting renown through his powerful 'graveyard sermon' and demonstrated remarkable faith by taking unjust legal threats directly to the court of heaven in prayer.
Final service and heavenly homegoingAfter serving small congregations in his final years despite failing health and great poverty, Christmas Evans preached his last sermon at Swansea in 1838 and peacefully passed into glory.
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