Anniversaries for 2003
General
Robert Estienne, the leading printer in Geneva at the time of the Reformation, was born in 1503. He printed Bibles in French, using roman type rather than the heavy 'Black Letter' type, which made for greater ease of reading, and from 1551 introduced the practice of numbering individual verses, which has been followed in English translations.
Lilias Trotter, missionary to Algeria, was born in London in 1853. A gifted painter and sensitive writer, she formed the Algiers Mission Band (now Arab World Ministries).
The Japan Evangelistic Band was founded in 1903.
Watchman Nee (Nee Shu-Tsu), leader of the 'Little Flock' churches, in China, was born in 1903. He was arrested by the Communist authorities in 1952 and died in prison in 1972.