“This course helped me fill in the gaps of my understanding of how we got from the early church to our time today. There were a lot of important events and people who carried the faith from the time after the recorded history in the bible to the present. It was helpful to learn about the challenges and motivations which led to various outcomes. These people shaped the world in some glorious and terrible ways. The best value of knowing the history is to learn from it so we can multiply righteous victories and avoid repeating its failures. I liked how there were a lot of names and events covered which I had heard of but not necessarily understood their significance or place in the timeline. There were also many names and events which I hadn't previously known. It's an excellent overview of this rather large chunk of time.”

“In this course, I learned to be less 'judgmental' of other denominations and Christian views. Understanding how Christianity emerged through the ages, the various persecutions that Christians went through was eye opening. Reading the stories of the men and women who sacrificed so much to bring the message of the hope through Jesus Christ, many having become martyrs or having died in poverty that they could give all they had, has caused me to reflect deeply on my walk with Jesus, and my 'weak faith.' I was brought to tears on a number of occasions; particularly at the burning of John Hus and William Tyndale, and at the severe suffering of Richard Wurmbrand. My heart was overwhelmed by emotion as I began to grasp what these dear brothers and sisters throughout history did to bring us the freedom to have a copy of the bible in our own language and to be able to worship God freely. The atrocities that were committed both to Christians and in the name of Christianity, often made me feel sick to my stomach. I wanted to weep deeply over the abuses of those who attacked the church both from within and outside, my heart broken for those who endured persecution at their hands. It is with a much gentler heart and greater compassion for all my brothers and sisters in Christ that I end this course.”

“This course has deepened my understanding of how Christianity has developed and spread across different regions, cultures, and historical periods. One of the most significant lessons I have learned is that Christianity is both a global and historically dynamic faith. Studying how the gospel moved from the early church to modern times has helped me appreciate the divine providence and human efforts that shaped the church. I also gained insight into the challenges and triumphs of the Christian faith throughout history—persecution, doctrinal disputes, missionary movements, and church reformations. This has strengthened my conviction that ministry must be rooted in both biblical truth and historical awareness, allowing me to learn from past mistakes and victories in spreading the gospel. Another key takeaway is the role of missionary work in church history. From the early apostles to contemporary missionaries, I have been inspired by how faith was carried across cultures and languages. This has given me a greater appreciation for cross-cultural ministry and evangelism, which will be valuable in my own calling.”