Legacy Youth Ministry Resources

Illustration texts

Intro to Biographies

When illustrating with the lives of people, I often must briefly introduce the person in order to give the quote a context and increase its impact. Rather than repeating this information with each illustration, I am starting to collect biographical data here. E-mail me as you find people I include in my illustrations, but fail to introduce here. Also let me know if I have left out important details that I should include. ? Copyright 2002 Steve Miller - All Rights Reserved

William Carey

In 1793, William Carey left the security of England to devote the rest of his life to missionary work in India. He and his colleagues translated and printed the Bible into several of the Indian languages of India, founded a school, and taught linguistics. He transformed the Church?s understanding of world missions and became known as ?The Father of Modern Missions.? He died in India after serving there for over 40 years. Carey once said, ?Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God.?

Benjamin Franklin

The son of a Boston candle maker, Franklin had scarcely two years of formal schooling. But eventually he would be received by five kings, awarded honorary degrees by six universities, and be hailed as the "greatest philosopher of the century" by an Italian academy. His success as a printer and tradesman allowed him to retire at age 42 and pursue his other interests. He enriched society by serving as alderman, councilman, burgess, justice of the peace, and postmaster general. He helped to found Philadelphia's watch, fire company, militia, college and hospital. Scientifically, he enlightened the world as to the nature of electricity and was the first to use the terms "plus", "minus", "negative", "positive" and "battery" in reference to electricity. He wrote or speculated on yellow fever, cancer, the origin of springs, astronomy, the formation of raindrops, hot-air balloons, the Gulf Stream, magnetism, sleep, surface tension, demography, and heat absorption. He invented the lightning rod, a simplified clock, a machine for duplicating handwritten documents, a tool for retrieving books from high shelves, the Franklin stove, and an instrument called the Armonica, which Mozart composed music for. He wrote on such diverse subjects as "agriculture, chess, military strategy, literary style, silkworms, pickled sturgeon, ice boats, mastodon teeth, garters, and the balance of trade." He drew an influential political cartoon, wrote the Declaration of Independence, attended the convention that devised the Constitution of the United States, and served as the American minister to France. He was known for his foresight, decision making, shrewdness and tact. [From Benjamin Franklin, The autobiography and other writings, ed. by Kenneth Silverman, Penguin Books, p. 212, vii, viii) ? Copyright 2002 Steve Miller - All Rights Reserved

Billy Graham

One of the world?s most beloved and respected leaders, Billy Graham has preached the gospel in every nation. His crusades have reached more than 200 million people in person, millions more by radio, TV, and film. ? Copyright 2002 Steve Miller - All Rights Reserved

Pat Riley

Has been called the National Basketball Association?s premier coach. He?s also a master motivator who rakes in $45,000 for one hour speaking engagements. ? Copyright 2002 Steve Miller - All Rights Reserved

Read Biography Rather Than History

Read no history: read nothing but biography, for that is life without theory. -- Benjamin Disraeli, Contrarini Fleming, 1844

Bill Gates' Wealth

Money Bill Gates' Wealth Bill Gates is so wealthy that you have to break it down to realize how much money he really has. One writer put it this way. Let's assume that Gates has been working 14 hours per day, each workday since Microsoft began. If you broke his wealth into an hourly wage, you find that he's been making a half-million dollars per hour, or $150 per second. To put it in perspective, if he were to drop a $500 bill on the ground on his way to work, it wouldn't be worth stopping to pick it up. In that four seconds he could make $600 by getting to the office sooner. (Bills@www:\\nucalf.physics.fus.edu)

The World's Greatest Entrepreneur

Bill Gates Biography Bill Gates has been called "The World's Greatest Entrepreneur," "The single most important person in computer history," who became a billionaire in his 30's. He started and leads Microsoft, the company that produces Microsoft Windows, MS Word, and a host of other programs.

Urban Studies Biography

As a history major in college, I read the biographies of many famous Americans. That reading turned out to be the most treasured learning experience of my many years as a student. Studying the lives of great people was the best way to learn history, and it proved valuable later when I began studying the psychology of success. In fact, it was the reading of those biographies which led to my interest in psychology. Nothing helps us understand the meaning of success better than reading about people who made the most of their lives. (Urban, Hal, Life?s Greatest Lessons or 20 Things I Want My Kids to Know, Great Lessons Press, Redwood City, CA, 1997)