Heritage
New Testament
Sample Stories
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was tall and lanky. A mind sharpened by Scripture complemented his physique. His faith was deepened through sorrow after his mother died when he was nine and his sister Sarah some years later. Yet the Bible’s promises of eternal hope steadied him. Although his life was marked by loss, leadership, and a nation on the brink, he was strengthened by focusing on God’s message of love.
When he married Mary Todd in 1842, he brought that faith into their home. Of their four sons, only Robert lived past the age of eighteen. Mary, fiery and fragile, leaned on Abe’s quiet belief, especially when their son Willie died.
As president, Lincoln faced a nation fractured by the Civil War. The South clung to slavery, a moral stain that tore at his conscience. His faith called for justice and shaped his resolve. He saw all men, Black and White, as God’s children. In 1863, he signed the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing millions.
Lincoln’s faith wove through his words. His Second Inaugural Address in 1865 was less a speech than a sermon. Standing before a war-weary crowd, he spoke of God’s judgment on a nation that profited from slavery. “The Almighty has His own purposes,” he said, urging reconciliation. His call for “malice toward none, with charity for all” echoed Christ’s command to love one’s enemies. Those words, born of faith, stirred hearts and planted seeds of healing in a land scarred by battle.
But the war’s end didn’t stop all the fighting. On April 14, 1865, John Wilkes Booth’s bullet struck Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre. The nation mourned, but Abe’s faith-fueled vision endured. His family clung to God’s grace, finding solace in the same verses he had cherished.
The Civil War ended, and the Union stood. The Union broke slavery’s chains, though the fight for equality continued. Lincoln’s faith shaped America’s soul. His belief in justice inspired laws, leaders, and movements. His call for unity echoed in courtrooms, churches, and town squares, urging a nation to rise above division.
Lincoln’s legacy rippled forward. His worn Bible, now preserved in a museum, became a symbol of a leader who knelt before God yet stood for justice. America, though imperfect, grew toward his vision as a nation where equality and compassion could triumph.
Pocahontas
Pocahontas, a young Powhatan stood at the edge of Jamestown, her dark eyes watching the pale strangers from England. Her father, Chief Powhatan, ruled the land, but Pocahontas felt a pull to understand these newcomers. Her courage and curiosity would weave a bridge between two worlds, shaping America’s early story.
Pocahontas wasn’t just a chief’s daughter; she was a peacemaker. When English settlers were starving, she brought corn, saving lives. Her kind heartedness was evident early. Legend says that in 1608 when she was only 13, she pleaded for John Smith’s life, stopping her father’s warriors and saving John’s life. She visited the small community of Jamestown, learned English words, shared laughter, and eased fears. Her open heart kept peace fragile but alive.
By 1613, tensions grew. The English kidnapped Pocahontas, holding her in their village. There, she met Reverend Alexander Whitaker, who taught her about Jesus. She embraced Christianity, taking the name Rebecca. Her beliefs were not forced on her; she embraced them wholeheartedly. In 1614, she married John Rolfe, a tobacco farmer. Their union wasn’t just love; it was a truce. The “Peace of Pocahontas” halted war, letting Jamestown grow.
In 1616, Pocahontas sailed to England with Rolfe and their son, Thomas. She dazzled London, meeting King James I. As Lady Rebecca, she showed the English that Native people were not savages but equals. Her grace challenged stereotypes, planting seeds for respect. Yet, England’s air weakened her. In 1617, as she boarded a ship home, illness struck. She died at only 21.
Pocahontas’ influence rippled. Her marriage stabilized Jamestown, ensuring England’s foothold in America. Her trip to England humanized Native people, shaping how Europeans saw the New World. Her Christian faith, although brief, showed her willingness to embrace new paths. Some Powhatan saw her as too trusting, but her courage knit two worlds. Pocahontas’ life, was short, but bright. It proved one woman’s heart could change history’s course.
Basketball and Jesus
In the winter of 1891, a young Canadian named James Naismith faced a challenge in Springfield, Massachusetts. He loved his role as a physical education instructor at the International YMCA Training School (now Springfield College). The YMCA, a Christian organization, was all about building strong minds, bodies, and spirits. A devout Christian who had studied theology, Naismith believed sports could shape character and spread faith. This belief, rooted in a movement called Muscular Christianity, led him to invent basketball. The game that would change the world.
James needed to keep restless students active indoors during a harsh New England snowstorm. He mounted an empty peach basket on opposite walls and told the men to play ball. It ended in quite a tussle. He made up rules for the second game and things went better. Ten years later the game was being played all over the country. In 1936, James watched as the game was played for the first time in the Olympics.
Naismith believed sports could shape character and spread faith. His goal wasn’t just fun. He wanted a game that built virtue and brought people closer to biblical values.
Naismith’s faith shaped the game’s early rules. He designed basketball to be clean and fair, avoiding the roughness of football. His director, Gulick, wrote in 1897 that the game must stay “clean” and reflect Christian morals. No “slugging” or bad behavior. Naismith saw himself as a referee, not just a coach, ensuring players grew in character.
The YMCA spread basketball across America and the world, using it as an evangelism tool. Other key figures helped basketball grow. Senda Berenson, a teacher at Smith College, adapted Naismith’s rules for women. This made it one of the first team sports for women in America. Her work was also tied to the values of community and discipline. It helped basketball spread to schools and colleges. Missionaries took the game to places like China, where it became a way to share faith and build community.
Basketball’s impact on American culture is massive. It became a unifying force, bringing people together across varied backgrounds. By the 1940s and 1950s, it helped break racial barriers. The Harlem Globetrotters, an all-Black team, showcased talent and challenged segregation. The NBA integrated in 1950 with players like Chuck Cooper and stars like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and LeBron James. This turned basketball into a cultural powerhouse, influencing fashion, music, and film. Movies like Hoosiers and Space Jam show how basketball captures American stories of teamwork and triumph.
The game also shaped social values. Its roots in Christian ideas of teamwork and fairness still echo in community programs. NBA initiatives like Basketball Without Borders promote unity and inclusion. Basketball courts became safe spaces in urban areas, teaching life skills like leadership and perseverance. The NBA’s global reach and players’ activism are built on Naismith’s vision of a game that does good.
Abigail Adams
Abigail Adams was a strong Christian woman who shaped her family and America with her faith. Born in 1744, she married John Adams, who later became the second President of the United States and mother of the sixth, John Quincy Adams. John had a strong Christian upbringing as well. They faithfully attended the Congregational Church together. (John was a second cousin of Samuel Adams.)
Abigail’s strong trust in God was no surprise. Her father was a minister, so she grew up reading the Bible and praying. She believed God had a plan for people and that doing right mattered. During the American Revolution when the colonies were fighting to be free from England’s control, John helped write the Declaration of Independence. Abigail and John exchanged letters frequently. Abigail always encouraged John. She wrote about staying strong and fair. Her support helped him lead with courage.
John and Abigail raised their five children with Christian teachings. Even when John was away, she ran the family farm and made sure the children learned about God. She taught them to be honest, kind, and hardworking, values from the Bible. John Quincy – still regarded as having the highest IQ of all U.S. presidents - later said his mother’s lessons shaped his life and work. Her relationship with God built a family that served America well.
Beyond her home, Abigail’s Christian ideas touched the nation. She wrote letters about freedom and fairness, often linking them to her beliefs. She told John to “remember the ladies” when making laws. Though she wasn’t a leader like her husband, her words spread hope and strength during the fight for independence. Historians say her influence helped make America a place that valued rights and morals.
Some of the people included in the sidebars are:
Pocahontas: A Native American woman from the Powhatan tribe who played a key role in mediating between her people and English settlers in Jamestown, later converting to Christianity and marrying John Rolfe.
Roger Williams: A Puritan minister who founded the colony of Rhode Island in 1636 as a haven for religious freedom after being banished from Massachusetts for his separatist views.
William Penn: A Quaker leader who founded the Province of Pennsylvania in 1681 as a refuge for religious tolerance, establishing fair treaties with Native Americans and promoting democratic principles.
John Wesley: An English cleric who founded Methodism in the 18th century, emphasizing personal faith, social justice, and revival preaching that sparked the Methodist movement.
David Brainerd: An 18th-century Presbyterian missionary who dedicated his life to evangelizing Native Americans in the American colonies, despite severe health issues, inspiring future missionaries through his diary.
Abigail Adams: The wife of President John Adams and mother of John Quincy Adams, known for her influential letters advocating women's rights, education, and abolition during the American Revolution.
George Washington: The first President of the United States and commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, revered as the "Father of His Country" for his leadership in founding the nation.
John Hancock: A prominent Patriot and merchant who served as President of the Continental Congress and was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence with his famously large signature.
Second Great Awakening: A religious revival movement in the early 19th-century United States that emphasized personal piety, evangelism, and social reforms like abolition and temperance.
Henry Opukahaia: A Hawaiian orphan who converted to Christianity in the early 1800s, studied in New England, and inspired the first American missionary efforts to Hawaii through his memoirs.
Sojourner Truth: A former enslaved woman who became a prominent abolitionist and women's rights activist in the 19th century, famous for her "Ain't I a Woman?" speech advocating equality.
Susan B. Anthony: A leading figure in the women's suffrage movement who co-founded the National Woman Suffrage Association and campaigned tirelessly for women's right to vote in the 19th century.
Frederick Douglass: An escaped enslaved man who became a renowned orator, abolitionist, and statesman, authoring influential autobiographies and advocating for civil rights during and after the Civil War.
Abraham Lincoln: The 16th President of the United States who led the nation through the Civil War, issued the Emancipation Proclamation, and worked to preserve the Union and end slavery.
Clara Barton: A pioneering nurse who founded the American Red Cross in 1881, providing aid during the Civil War and natural disasters while advocating for humanitarian efforts.
DL Moody: Dwight Lyman Moody, a 19th-century American evangelist who founded the Moody Bible Institute and conducted massive revival meetings, influencing modern evangelism.
William & Catherine Booth: The British couple who founded the Salvation Army in 1865, focusing on social welfare, evangelism, and aiding the poor through military-structured Christian outreach.
Queen Kapiolani: The consort of King Kalākaua of Hawaii in the late 19th century, known for her philanthropy, promotion of Hawaiian culture, and efforts in women's health and education.
Basketball and Jesus: Refers to James Naismith, a Christian educator who invented basketball in 1891 as a way to promote physical fitness and moral values among young men at a YMCA.
Toyohiko Kagawa: A Japanese Christian pacifist, social reformer, and evangelist in the early 20th century who worked on poverty alleviation, labor rights, and peace initiatives.
JC Penny: James Cash Penney, an American businessman who founded the J.C. Penney department store chain in 1902, guided by Christian principles of fair dealing and employee welfare.
Peter Marshall: A Scottish-American Presbyterian minister who served as Chaplain of the United States Senate from 1947 to 1949, known for his inspiring prayers and sermons.
Norman Rockwell: An American painter and illustrator famous for his 20th-century depictions of everyday American life in covers for The Saturday Evening Post, capturing cultural nostalgia and values.
Hank Aaron: Henry "Hank" Aaron, a legendary baseball player who broke Babe Ruth's home run record in 1974 while facing racial adversity, later becoming a philanthropist and executive.
Mary Kay Ash: An American entrepreneur who founded Mary Kay Cosmetics in 1963, empowering women through direct sales and motivational leadership based on her Christian faith.
Fred Rogers: The creator and host of the children's TV show "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" from 1968 to 2001, promoting kindness, emotional intelligence, and self-worth through gentle education.
John & Elizabeth Sherrill: A husband-and-wife writing team known for co-authoring Christian bestsellers like "The Cross and the Switchblade" and "God's Smuggler," focusing on true stories of faith.
Chuck Girard: An American musician and pioneer of contemporary Christian music, founding the band Love Song in the 1970s and contributing to the Jesus Movement.
Rachel Carson: An American marine biologist and conservationist whose 1962 book "Silent Spring" exposed the dangers of pesticides, sparking the modern environmental movement.
Loren Cunningham: The founder of Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in 1960, a global Christian missionary organization emphasizing youth involvement in evangelism and mercy ministries.
George Verwer: The founder of Operation Mobilisation in 1957, an international Christian missions organization focused on evangelism, church planting, and humanitarian aid.
Bill Bright: The founder of Campus Crusade for Christ (now Cru) in 1951, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that produced the "Four Spiritual Laws" tract and the "Jesus" film.
Sonny Arguinzoni: The founder of Victory Outreach International in 1967, a Christian ministry focused on rehabilitating drug addicts and gang members through faith-based programs.
Johnny Cash: An iconic American country music singer-songwriter known as "The Man in Black," whose career spanned decades and included gospel influences and themes of redemption.
Billy Graham: A renowned American evangelist who preached to millions worldwide through crusades from the 1940s to 2000s, advising U.S. presidents and promoting global Christianity.
National Day of Prayer: An annual observance in the United States, established by Congress in 1952 and set on the first Thursday in May, encouraging prayer and reflection across faiths.
Sample Pages +
Note, these page have been reduced to fit 3 across.
The pages in the New Testament are larger and much clearer
