September 19: Today in Christian History

September 19: Feast day of St. Januarius

Today, September 19, is the feast day of St. Januarius, better known as San Gennaro, the patron saint of Naples believed to protect the city from volcanic eruptions. Gennaro was an early Christian martyr and bishop of Naples. He is best known in the USA for the San Gennaro festival held annually in Little Italy in New York — a tradition begun in the early 20th century by Italian immigrants.

September 19, 821

Theodulf, poet, scholar, secretary of education, and bishop of Orleans during Charlemagne's reign was buried. He wrote hymns, among which his best remembered is "Gloria Laus et Honor" or "All Glory, Laud and Honor / To thee Redeemer King.

September 19, 1853

Baptist missionary pioneer J. Hudson Taylor sets sail from England for China at the age of 21

September 19, 1882 

The Salvation Army "invaded" India. When the authorities in India heard that the Salvation Army was coming, they visualized the landing of a formidable force which might cause communal riots resulting in violence and bloodshed. Consequently, the Mumbai police lined up in force on the quayside at Apollo Bunder for the Army's arrival. When the four Salvation Army officers on board the ship stepped ashore, the police superintendent approached, asking, "When will the rest of your army land?" Major Frederick de Lautour Tucker replied, "We are the whole Army."

September 19, 1930

Rev Pastor Paul Surulere Maforikan was born on this day in Ajase, Republic of Benin. His Father, Pa Joseph Maforikan, relocated to Ajase from Badagry, Nigeria during the war. It was there his father met his mother, Madam Celina Jokotola.

Baba Paul, as he is fondly called by his teeming admirers, joined Celestial Church Of Christ in 1948 through the direction of the holy spirit. He was previously a member of Christ Apostolic Church before he joined Celestial. He was one of the pioneering members who followed the Pastor Founder S B J Oschoffa to Nigeria

September 19, 1888

Missionary Jonathan Goforth begins a tour of the Henan region of China, where he would spend the rest of his life preaching, establishing churches, and ministering to the needy.

September 19, 1955

Mission Aviation pilot Nate Saint spots the Auca villages in the Amazon jungle. The Auca massacred him and his companions on January 6, 1956.

September 19: Thomas Barnardo Saved the Lives of Homeless Children.  

Thomas Barnardo, a man who, by the time of his death in 1905, had cared for and saved more than 60,000 homeless children who would otherwise have been destined for lives of certain hardship and, in many cases, lives of crime

September 19, 2003: Kenneth Hagin dies

Hagin went to bed feeling well, according to a news release from his ministry. Kenneth Hagin sat at the breakfast table on Sunday morning and smiled at his wife, Oretha, then sighed and his head fell to his chest. He died on Friday, September 19, 2003, at the age of 86

Kenneth Erwin Hagin was an American preacher. He is known for pioneering the Word of Faith movement