Christian History Almanac Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Jan 28, 2026
A lively retelling of Henry Morton Stanley’s improbable life, from orphaned beginnings to Civil War reporter and African traveler. The narrative tracks his famed meeting with David Livingstone and a claimed spiritual turn. The show explores how his actions helped open Uganda to missionary activity and touches on the complicated legacy of 19th-century missions.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Stanley’s Mysterious Origins
- Dan van Voorhis recounts John Rowlands' humble origins and name change to Henry Morton Stanley after a difficult childhood in Wales and New Orleans.
- He notes Stanley's own later storytelling and possible embellishments about a benefactor named Henry Stanley who baptized and renamed him.
From Soldier To Reporter
- Dan narrates Stanley's turbulent early adulthood including shifting allegiances in the American Civil War and his rise as a New York reporter.
- He emphasizes Stanley's commission to find David Livingstone, leading to their famous meeting in Africa.
Conversion Amid Complex Missions
- Dan highlights Stanley's claimed conversion influenced by David Livingstone's piety and zeal in Africa.
- He frames this conversion as part of the complex, sometimes problematic, story of 19th-century missions in Africa.