Dan van Voorhis is an author, historian, professor, and speaker at 1517. After receiving his Ph.D. in History from the University of St. Andrews, Dr. van Voorhis spent 11 years teaching history and political thought at Concordia University, Irvine. He is now the 1517 Academy Dean. He also spends his time writing for 1517 and hosting/producing podcasts including the Soul of Christianity and the Christian History Almanac. Dan is married to Beth Anne, and they have two sons, Coert and Raymond.
The year was 1773. We remember the completion of Christ Church Alexandria, Virginia on this date. The reading is from “Christ is Made the Sure Foundation” by John Mason Neale.
The year was 1925. We remember noted famed missions founder, Dr. Kate Waller Barrett. The reading is the Lenten hymn "Lord Who Through These 40 Days" by Claudia Frances Hernaman.
The year was 1943. We remember Christoph Probst, Hans Scholl, and Sophie Scholl. The reading for today is a short inscription from Sophie Scholl's diary.
The year was 1401. We remember the Lollard uprising of the 15th century and the fracturing of the church in England. Today's reading comes from Walter Brueggeman, "A Way Other Than Our Own, Devotions for Lent."
The year was 600. We remember how Gregory the Great unified the western world by decreeing that "God Bless you" was the only form of post-sneeze benediction. The last word for today comes from Stanley Hauerwas, from his commentary on…
The year was 1882. We remember Henry Highland Garnet. Today's reading comes from Charlotte Brontë, the last lines from her longer poem entitled "The Missionary."
The year was 1929. We remember when the Lateran Pact recognized the creation of Vatican City as an autonomous country. The reading is Thomas Campion’s “Lenten Hymn.”
The year was 1849. We remember the creation of Vatican City as an independent city-state in 1929. The last word for today comes from the "Third inkling" Charles Williams.
The year was 1587. We remember Mary Stuart, Mary Queen of Scots. The reading for today comes from English poet Robert Herrick, "His Prayer for Absolution."
The year was 679. We remember St. Amand, the Frankish Missionary bishop of Neustria. The reading for today comes from Angelico Chavez, "Jesus at the Well."
The year was 1851. We remember John Pye-Smith, the theologian, headmaster, and geologist. The last word for today comes from Sarah Maitland, from her "A Joyful Theology."
The year was 1788. The Reverend Richard Johnson preached the first Christian sermon in Australia, under a tree in the Sydney cove. The reading is from John Newton, "Father Forgive Them."
This 5-minute podcast consists of stories from the past about the saints and sinners who have shaped the history of the church and concludes with a piece of prose, poetry, and the reminder that everything is going to be ok.
Season 3 of The Soul Of Christianity: Say A Little Prayer. Season 3 of The Soul Of Christianity: Say A Little Prayer. Dan vanVoorhis and Debi Winrich get to The Soul of Christianity, this time by going line by line…
For over four hundred years historians and theologians have been unable to come to a consensus as to where Johann Arndt (1555-1621) fits on the spectrum of orthodoxy in the Lutheran church, what age he best represented, and how he…
This is a story of a historian turning his craft to the story about which he is most afraid: his own. This is a book about fighting the monsters of addiction, severe anxiety, depression, and crippling self-doubt. But more than…