Christian studies - inspirational Christians

by theresa960 (student)

GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)

Year 10 Christian Studies Assignment

Nick Vujicic

Nicholas James Vujicic was born on the 4th of December 1982. Nicholas is an Australian preacher and motivational speaker, Director of Life without Limbs. He was born with tetra-amelia syndrome. It is a rare disorder characterized by the absence of all 4 limbs. As a child, he struggled mentally and emotionally, as well as physically. At the age of 17 he started his own non- profit organisation which is called Life without Limbs. He presents motivational speeches worldwide, on life with a disability, hope and finding the meaning of life. Nick was missing both of his arms at shoulder length as well as his legs. His feet were toeless except for two toes on one foot. He was bulled in school and soon became depressed. At the age of 8, he nearly committed suicide due to being bullied. At the age of 10 he nearly drowned himself. Nick prayed to grow his legs and arms hoping God would answer his prayers. At a point where his mother showed him a newspaper article about a man dealing with severe disabilities, Nick realised that he wasn’t unique in his struggles and began to embrace his disability. He decided to place his faith in Christ and reach out to others, sharing his story. When he saw that his stories were helping people cope with their problems in their life, he realised that God had given him a purpose. That purpose was to help and inspire others to live life to its fullest. The quote, “If I fail, I try again, and again, and again. If YOU fail, are you going to try again? The human spirit can handle much worse than we realize. It matters HOW you are going to FINISH. Are you going to finish strong?” was taken from his book called ‘life Without Limits’. He also says his favourite quote from the bible, Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Nick shares this message to anyone that is prepared to open their ears and hearts. One of Nick’s favourite scriptures is Psalm 139:17-18 that says, "How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand." Nick accepts what God has given him and realizes that he isn’t the only person that has the same disability as he has.

Alice Cooper

This is a preview of the whole essay

Alice Cooper

Alice Cooper’s birth name is Vincent Damon Furnier. He was born on February the 4th 1948 in Detroit Michigan of United States. Vincent is an American rock singer, song writer and a musician. He plays the harmonica, vocals and the guitar. He is also an actor and a DJ. His father was a preacher in a church of Jesus Christ, also known as Bickertonite church which historically is a branch of the Latter Day Saint movement. Vincent’s grandfather was an apostle in the Church of Jesus Christ. At the age of 11 and 12 he became active in his church. Here I have a scripture that I’ve found in bible relating Alice becoming active in his church. Acts 2, 38 Peter said to them, Change your hearts and lives and be baptized, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Vincent attended Washington Elementary School, then Nankin Mills Jr. High, then Lutheran High School in Westland. Because of Alice’s childhood illnesses, Furnier moved with his family to Phoenix, Arizona, where he attended Cortez High School in north Phoenix. Vincent (Alice) had gained access into the University of Arizona, University of Colorado and University of California-Davis – he declined all these offers. Vincent (Alice) became an alcoholic when he started his music career and drank deeply for the next 15 years. He has being striving to quit alcoholism with the help of his wife since he has become addicted to it. Here is a scripture I thought it would go with his addiction to alcoholism and how he believed in there was a God and so on. Psalm 40, 2:4 He lifted me out of the pit of destruction, out of the sticky mud. He stood me on a rock and made my feet steady. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Years ago it was a shock to the world as people heard that the rock star was embracing Christianity. He became Christian in the 1980s. Vincent believes that being a Christian is something you just develop in. He quotes,” you learn. You go to your bible studies. You pray”. Alice views his Christian beliefs as an on- going thing. He avoided ‘celebrity Christianity, because, “it's really easy to focus on Alice Cooper and not on Christ. I'm a rock singer. I'm nothing more than that. I'm not a philosopher. I consider myself low on the totem pole of knowledgeable Christians”. Vincent’s embrace to God of Christianity was more a return to faith than a coming to faith. He quote, “was pretty much convinced all my life that there was just one God and there was Jesus Christ and there was the Devil”.

Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa was born on the 26th of August 1910 in Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu. She was an Albanian-born Indian Romanian Catholic nun. Over 45 years she took care of poor people, sick people, orphaned people, and dying people. She was guiding the Missionaries of Charity’s expansion, starting in India then in other countries. She suffered a heart attack in 1983 then a second heart attack in 1989. In 1991, after a battle of pneumonia, she suffered more heart problems. In April 1996, Mother Teresa fell and broke her collar bone. In August she suffered malaria. Even though she had a heart surgery, it seems that her health was failing. She died on the 5th on September 1997. Mother Teresa is always reaching out to do more for the poor without being anxious of how this can be done. “God will provide,” is her unspoken motto. Her deep concern for the salvation of souls. This is being reflected in her desire to bring Christ to those whom her sisters serve. “Pray and work daily” she tells the Missionaries of Charity, “that all may become followers of Christ” Mother Teresa was a loving friend, caring woman to the poorest of the poor, children, slum, homeless, and lepers so her name is well known to people throughout the world. Here are some scriptures I have chosen for Mother Teresa as she is a kind person and full of love for the people that are injured, sick and the poor and the people that she helped. Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children (Eph 5:1). And live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Eph 5:2).

Martin Luther King

Martin Luther King was born on the 15th January 1928 and died in 1968. He was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African American civil rights movement. He is best known for his role in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world using non violent methods following the teachings of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. Dr. King’s commitment to the bible as his primary source book was nourished in his childhood when Bible stories told around the dinner table held the King children in awe. Those stories sustained him until the end of his life. Because of his Christian beliefs, Martin Luther King worked towards equality by organising non-violent protests. He believed that it was never right to use violence, because this does not express the love of God, it expresses just hatred. Here are the quotes to his equality, “I see very clearly that God doesn't show partiality. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right.” (Acts chapter 10 verses34-35). Paul said 'From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth.' (Acts chapter 17 verses 26). Martin believed that true Christianity was tolerant, humane, egalitarian and unprejudiced. King's essential message was that your race, colour, creed or nationality was irrelevant- what mattered was the sort of person you were inside.

By Theresa C