The following five well-known Christians are better known by their initials than their real names. Can you name their full names?
R. A. Torrey
C. T. Studd
A. B. Simpson
B. B. Warfield
Reuben Archer (R. A.) Torrey (1856 – 1928) was an American pastor, evangelist, educator, and writer. Having preached throughout the world and written more than 40 books, Torrey did much to promote personal evangelism. He was a man of great prayer, loved to study the Bible, and believed that winning souls to Christ was his greatest joy in life.
Charles Thomas (C. T.) Studd was born in England in 1860. And before he passed away in 1931 he literally spanned the globe as a Christian missionary in China, India, and Africa. C.T. was an outstanding British cricketer and had a wonderful career in sports ahead of him but all that changed when God chose to use an atheist to redirect young C.T. in a new direction. As providence would have it one day C.T. read a pamphlet from an atheist that said, if he believed in the Christian message, he would do everything he could to share the gospel with an many people as possible. As a result, C.T. was challenged to share the message of Christ with all he came in contact with. C.T. Studd is a classic example of an individual who gave up everything this world could offer in order that he might gain Christ.
Albert Benjamin (A. B.) Simpson (1843 – 1919) was a Canadian pastor, theologian, author, and founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, (C&MA) an evangelical movement that stressed global evangelism. Ordained in 1865, Simpson served several prestigious churches in Hamilton, Ontario, and Louisville, Kentucky. Simpson had a passion for missions and winning souls and this became the focus of his life. In addition to founding the C&MA, Simpson also, in 1880, published the first illustrated mission magazine in North America – The Gospel in All Lands.
Frederick Brotherton (F. B.) Meyer (1847 – 1929) was born in London. He was a Baptist pastor and evangelist and became a lifelong friend of Dwight L. Moody. Meyer was part of the Higher Life Movement and was known as a crusader against immorality. He preached against drunkenness and prostitution. He is said to have brought about the closing of hundreds of saloons and brothels. He was the author of numerous books and active in inner city mission work on both sides of the Atlantic. A popular conference speaker, Meyer held meetings and evangelistic services in Soth Africa, Asia, the United States, and Canada.
Benjamin Breckinridge (B. B.) Warfield (1851 – 1921) was an American professor of reformed theology at Princeton Seminary from 1887 to 1921. Warfield attended Princeton University and graduated with high honors. In 1876 he graduated from Princeton Seminary to train for Presbyterian ministry. His passion was to refute the liberal element within Presbyterianism and within Christianity at large. Warfield is often regarded by Protestant scholarship as the last of the Princeton theologians. He held firmly to the doctrine of sola scriptura – that the Bible is God’s inspired word and is sufficient for the Christian to live their faith.