Christian History Institute
Christian History Institute is a nonprofit Christian-history publisher and media producer known for educational print, film, television, and online resources.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Christian History Institute is a United States nonprofit organization focused on communicating the history of Christianity through publishing, documentary and educational media, and digital resources. Founded in 1982 by A. Kenneth Curtis, the Institute was created to make Christian history accessible to lay readers, students, churches, families, and educators. Its work has combined historical instruction with devotional and general-interest presentation rather than operating solely as an academic publishing body. The Institute's output has included Christian History magazine, study guides, historical book projects, short-form bulletins, films, television programs, DVDs, and web-based supplementary material. Its best-known media property is Torchlighters: Heroes of the Faith, an animated biographical series for children produced in cooperation with Voice of the Martyrs and International Films. The series presents the lives of Christian figures in an educational and family-oriented format and has received recognition at several film and video festivals. The organization has also produced or co-produced historical programs dealing with the early church, the Protestant Reformation, Christian missions, biblical translation, and the interpretation of Jesus' teachings in modern life. Examples include John Wycliffe: Morningstar, From Christ to Constantine: The Trial and Testimony of the Early Church, The Reformation Overview, Candle in the Dark, Jesus the New Way, and Test of Time. These projects show the Institute's long-standing preference for combining historical narrative with filmed reenactment, documentary explanation, and Christian teaching. Christian History Institute has maintained an associated publishing program through books and periodicals. Its publications have addressed figures and themes such as John Wesley, William Carey, George Müller, the King James Bible, women in Christian history, major events in church history, and the development of the early church. The Institute's online presence extends this work through digital articles, historical resources, and supplemental materials connected with its audiovisual productions. In 2004, the Institute moved its offices from Worcester to the campus of Missio Seminary in Hatfield, Pennsylvania. The move was accompanied by closer institutional ties: Missio Seminary president David Dunbar joined the Institute's board of trustees, while Institute president Ken Curtis joined the seminary's board of directors. In 2019, Gateway Films/Vision Video, another media operation founded by Curtis, became part of the Christian History Institute. Vision Video subsequently launched Redeem TV in 2020, extending the organization's activity into streaming Christian film and television. Today, the Institute's brand identity rests on accessible Christian historical education across multiple formats. It serves churches, families, educators, Christian media audiences, and readers interested in the development of Christianity. Its activities combine nonprofit mission, editorial publishing, film production, licensing, and digital distribution, with a particular emphasis on biographies, historical movements, missions, and the lives of figures presented as examples of Christian faith.
History
Christian History Institute was established in 1982 by A. Kenneth Curtis, who sought to create accessible educational resources about the history of Christianity. From its beginning, the organization worked across more than one medium, issuing print resources for lay education while also developing films and television material. This combination became central to its identity: the Institute treated Christian history as a subject suitable not only for academic study but also for church education, family viewing, personal reading, and classroom use. Among its publishing activities has been Christian History magazine, together with study guides and shorter Glimpses bulletins. Its book program has covered historical figures, church movements, major events, missions, biblical translation, and the development of Christian doctrine and practice. Published or co-published works have included treatments of John Wesley, William Carey, George Müller, women in Christian history, the early church, and the King James Bible. The organization has also collaborated with outside authors, editors, and Christian publishers on historically oriented titles. The Institute's audiovisual program expanded its reach. Its productions have addressed the early church, the Reformation, Christian missions, biblical translation, and the continuing influence of Jesus' teachings. Notable titles include John Wycliffe: Morningstar, From Christ to Constantine: The Trial and Testimony of the Early Church, The Reformation Overview, Candle in the Dark, Jesus the New Way, and Test of Time. Several productions received awards or commendations at Christian and international film and video festivals. The Institute became particularly associated with Torchlighters: Heroes of the Faith, an animated biography series made with Voice of the Martyrs and International Films. The series presents Christian historical figures for younger audiences and has been distributed as an educational and family-oriented resource. In 2004, the Institute moved its offices from Worcester to the campus of Missio Seminary in Hatfield, Pennsylvania. The relocation produced formal links between the two organizations. David Dunbar, then president of the seminary, joined the Institute's board of trustees, and Ken Curtis, the Institute's president, joined the seminary's board of directors. The relationship placed the Institute's publishing and media work within a broader educational setting while preserving its separate organizational identity. A later organizational development involved Gateway Films/Vision Video. The operation had also been founded by Curtis and became part of Christian History Institute in 2019. This brought an established Christian video catalog and distribution capability into closer alignment with the Institute's educational publishing mission. In 2020, Vision Video launched Redeem TV, adding a streaming outlet to the group's existing print, DVD, television, and web activities. Christian History Institute's current model is therefore multi-format and mission-led. It combines periodicals, books, study materials, historical films, animated biographies, television content, and online resources. Its digital materials can supplement films and videos, while its print and editorial work provides context for historical subjects. Across these formats, the organization emphasizes accessible accounts of Christian history, biographies of influential or exemplary figures, and resources that can be used by churches, families, educators, and general readers. The Institute remains a nonprofit Christian educational publisher and media producer rather than a conventional commercial entertainment company.
- 2020
Redeem TV launches
[1]Vision Video introduced Redeem TV as an online streaming service for Christian film and television content.
- 2019
Gateway Films/Vision Video joins the Institute
[1]Gateway Films/Vision Video became part of Christian History Institute, strengthening its Christian film and video operations.
- 2004
Office relocation to Missio Seminary
[1]The Institute moved its offices from Worcester to the campus of Missio Seminary in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, establishing board-level ties between the organizations.
- 2001
Test of Time is released
[1]The Institute co-produced Test of Time with the BBC, examining the teachings of Jesus through contemporary case studies.
- 1998
Several major film productions appear
[1]Candle in the Dark and Jesus the New Way were released and received awards at Christian and international film festivals.
- 1995
The Reformation Overview is released
[1]The multi-part historical package was produced on the Protestant Reformation, with individual units receiving numerous international film awards.
- 1990
From Christ to Constantine is produced
[1]The program on the early church received recognition at the Columbus International Film & Video Festival and the Houston International Film & Video Festival.
- 1984
John Wycliffe: Morningstar is released
[1]The historical film about John Wycliffe received a Christian Film Distributors Association award for best film of the year.
- 1982
Christian History Institute is founded
[1]A. Kenneth Curtis founded the Institute to develop print and film resources for lay education in Christian history.
Products and positioning
A mission-driven Christian history publisher and media producer that makes church history, biographies, historical movements, and Christian education accessible through print, film, television, and digital distribution.
Periodical
Christian History magazine
Christian History magazine is a central print publication associated with the Institute. It presents accessible articles on people, movements, events, and ideas in the history of Christianity. The magazine is designed for readers beyond specialist academia and supports the Institute's broader goal of making historical knowledge useful in churches, educational settings, and personal study.
Animated educational series
Torchlighters: Heroes of the Faith
Torchlighters is an animated biography series for children that recounts the lives of notable Christian figures. Produced in cooperation with Voice of the Martyrs and International Films, the series uses accessible storytelling to introduce younger viewers to Christian history, religious commitment, and humanitarian or missionary examples. It is distributed as an educational and family-viewing resource.
Educational publishing
Christian history study guides
The Institute produces study guides that organize historical subjects for guided reading, church groups, classroom use, and individual education. These materials complement the Institute's magazines, books, and audiovisual programs by providing explanatory context and a more structured way to engage with Christian historical topics.
Documentary and educational media
Christian history films and television programs
The Institute has produced or co-produced films and television programs on the early church, the Reformation, Christian missions, biblical translation, and the historical influence of Jesus' teachings. The catalog includes documentary, dramatized, and educational formats distributed through television, DVD, and related digital channels.
Streaming service · 2020
Redeem TV
Redeem TV is a streaming service launched by affiliated Vision Video in 2020. It extends the organization's Christian film and television distribution from physical media and broadcast-oriented formats into online viewing, giving the wider Institute group a direct digital outlet for faith-oriented programming.
Brand decisions
2020
Launch of Redeem TVProduct launchBackground
The Institute's affiliated Vision Video operation expanded beyond print, DVD, and television distribution as online streaming became an increasingly important delivery format.
Action taken
Vision Video launched Redeem TV as a Christian streaming service.
Aftermath
The launch gave the broader Christian History Institute group an additional digital channel for distributing Christian film and television programming.
2019
Integration of Gateway Films/Vision VideoM&ABackground
Christian History Institute had long used film and television to support Christian historical education, while Gateway Films/Vision Video was a related media operation founded by A. Kenneth Curtis.
Action taken
Gateway Films/Vision Video became part of Christian History Institute.
Aftermath
The integration expanded the Institute's media catalog and distribution capabilities and preceded Vision Video's launch of the Redeem TV streaming service.
2004
Relocation to the Missio Seminary campusStrategyBackground
The Institute sought a closer relationship with a Christian educational institution while continuing its publishing and media mission.
Action taken
It moved its offices from Worcester to the campus of Missio Seminary in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, and established reciprocal board participation with the seminary.
Aftermath
The move created formal organizational links between the Institute and Missio Seminary, although the Institute continued as a distinct nonprofit organization.
Recent events
- 2020
Vision Video launches Redeem TV[1]
Product launch
Vision Video launched Redeem TV as a streaming service, extending the affiliated media operation's distribution into online Christian film and television.
- 2019
Christian History Institute incorporates Gateway Films/Vision Video[1]
M&A
Gateway Films/Vision Video, a media operation also founded by A. Kenneth Curtis, became part of Christian History Institute, broadening the Institute's film and video activities.
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