Life and Labors of Elder John Kline, the Martyr Missionary

Twenty-nine years of daily records supply the foundation for this account of John Kline, a German Baptist minister remembered by the Brethren. Benjamin Funk gathers material from Kline's diary into a religious biography, recording where he stayed, the families he visited and the places where he preached. The introduction begins at his grave in Rockingham County, Virginia, where people recall his visits and words during the church's annual meeting in 1878.

Alongside these personal memories are outlines of sermons and accounts of church gatherings. The sermon excerpt explores the connection between faith and good works, arguing that belief should take visible form in obedience, forgiveness and care for others. Prayer and dependence on God are recurring concerns. Readers interested in the Brethren, nineteenth-century ministry or the everyday records behind a religious life will find both biographical detail and sustained Christian teaching.