David Livingstone               

Born March 19, 1813, in Blantyre, Scotland. 2^nd oldest of 2 sisters, 5 brothers. Father: tea salesman. Both parents lived into his adulthood. Childhood distinctions: purpose, doggedness. Raised Presbyterian, then independent Calvinist church. 1823 began work in cotton mill. 1833 spiritual awakening. 1836 began medical study in Glasgow. 1838 accepted by London Missionary Society for mission study combined with more medical study. 1840 ordained, received medical degree, left to join Robert Moffat's Kuruman mission in South Africa. 1841 began trips from Kuruman into Africa 'wilderness'. 1843 opened new mission at Mabotsa. 1844 mauled by lion. 1845 married Mary Moffat (with whom he had 3 daughters, 3 sons) 1849 crossed Kalahari to find Lake Ngama. 1851 discovered Upper Zambesi, developed goal of introducing trade by exploring rivers. 1853 began 3-year exploration of African interior from coast to coast. 1856 returned to England international hero. 1857 broke with L. M. S., book Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa a sensation. 1858 returned to explore Zambesi region. 1862 Mary joined him but died. 1864 returned to England by first sailing the Indian Ocean. 1866 began many years of exploring for source of the Nile, rumored dead. 1871 much-publicized meeting with reporter Stanley. Died 1873, probably May 1, in what was later Zambia. Buried in Westminster Abbey in London.

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Florence Nightingale           

Born May 12, 1820 in Florence, Italy. Father: wealthy English aristocrat. Youngest of 2 sisters. Both parents live into her adulthood. Privately tutored. Raised officially Anglican, unofficially Unitarian. Childhood distinctions: resourceful, restless. Never married. Grew up on two great English estates: Lea Hurst (Derbyshire) and Embley Park (Hampshire). 1829 began diary in French. 1837 mystical calling, began two-year tour of Europe. 1839 'coming out' for Queen Victoria. 1842 first heard of Kaiserwerth deaconesses. 1843 began constant torment of daydreaming. 1844 realized her calling was to the sick. 1845 convinced her role was to be a nurse. 1847 Rome visit reinforced her longings. 1850 Egypt, Greece trip included Kaiserwerth stop. 1852 wrote 'Cassandra' lament. 1853 left home, supervised infirmary for women. 1854 pioneered modern nursing in Crimean War. 1856 returned to England heroine, confidante to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. 1857 influenced reform of army medical system (implemented in 1859). 1860 published classic Notes on Nursing: What It Is, and What It Is Not, opened Nightingale Training School for Nurses in London, privately circulated rambling Suggestions for Thought. 1861 moved to South Street residence in London, spent rest of life administering nursing school and unofficially advising many medical enterprises. Died August 13, 1910. Buried St. Margaret churchyard at Wellow, near Embley Park.

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Francis Schaeffer                       

Born January 30, 1912, in Germantown section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Only child. Father: tradesman. Attended Presbyterian. Childhood distinctions: active, intellectual. Both parents lived into his adulthood. 1929 intellect sparked by philosophy. 1930 born again. 1935 graduated Hampden-Sydney College (Virginia), July 26 married Edith Seville (with whom he had 3 daughters, one son, entered Westminster Theological Seminary (Philadelphia). 1937 helped found Faith Seminary (Delaware) for conservative Presbyterians. 1938 ordained minister, pastored Bible Presbyterian church in Grove City, Pennsylvania. 1943 pastored in St. Louis. 1948 moved to Switzerland as 'missionary'. 1951 'hayloft experience' renewed spirituality. 1955 founded L'Abri Fellowship. 1958 began L'Abri in England. 1968 first book The God Who Is There. 1978 diagnosed with cancer. 1979 began L'Abri in America. 1981 Christian Manifesto a best-seller. 1982 published Complete Works of Francis A. Schaeffer, A Christian Worldview. 1984 died May 15, in Rochester, Minnesota, where he is buried .

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Mary Slessor                       

Born December 2, 1848, near Aberdeen, Scotland. 2^nd of 7 siblings. Father: shoemaker. Raised Presbyterian. Childhood distinctions: timid, impressionable. Never married. 1858 family moved to Dundee. 1859 father, 3 siblings died over next four years. 1859 began part-time in weaving mill. 1862 worked full-time. 1864 became very active in church. 1876 accepted for training by Presbyterian mission society, sailed for Calabar (part of what is now Nigeria). 1880 opened Old Town mission. 1882 took in first twin babies. 1885 assigned to Creek Town. 1886 reconnoitered murderous Okoyong area. 1888 settled at Ekenge among Okoyong, began several years of incredible adventure. 1891 on furlough to Scotland recognized as outstanding missionary, began writing articles touting abilities of Africans. 1892 appointed Vice-Counsel to administer justice to Okoyong. 1896 relocated to Akpap. 1898 took four of her 'children' on furlough to Scotland. 1903 left Akpap to begin ministry among Aros and Ibibios. 1906 broke with mission society, took judgeship. 1907 major decline in health. 1910 opened mission in Ikpe. 1914 feted in Nigeria with Silver Cross. Died January 13, 1915.

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Alexander Solzhenitsyn

Born December 11, 1918, in Kislovodsk, Soviet Russia. Only child. Nickname: Sanya. Father: dead before Sanya's birth. Mother: overeducated secretary. Raised Russian Orthodox. Childhood distinctions: hyperactive achiever. 1921 left with relatives. 1924 joined mother in Rostov-on-Don. 1930 renounced Christianity, joined Young Pioneers, a Communist youth group. 1936 top graduate of elite Rostov high school and a full-fledged atheist. 1940 married Natalya Reshetovskaya. 1941 mathematics graduate of Un. of Rostov. 1942-45 artillery officer in Red Army. 1945 arrested for criticizing Stalin. 1945-53 imprisoned. 1952 rediscovered faith. 1953 exiled to Kazakhstan. 1954 survived stomach cancer. 1962 published novella One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. 1968 published two polyphonic novels: First Circle and Cancer Ward. 1970 Nobel Prize for literature. 1972 August 1914, first of Red Wheel (World War I) trilogy. 1973 Married Natalya Svetlova, with whom he had three sons. 1974 first of 3-volume Gulag Archipelago. 1974 expelled from Soviet Russia. 1976 moved to Vermont, finished 'Gulag Archipelago' trilogy. 1978 alienated western press and academia by revealing religious core in Harvard Speech. 1980's completed 'Red Wheel' trilogy and The Oak and the Calf memoir. 1994 returned to Russia after fall of Communism. 2000 urged Russians to hasten reforms. 2008 died August 3 at age 89. 2008 died August 3 at 89.

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