woman missionary – Women in their best

I came across this biography writer through watching a video on the story of Gladys Aylward (See the end of this blog for the video*). Here is her book. Do read.

A missionary in the 1930s, Gladys Aylward, 24 February 1902 – 3 January 1970, was a British-born evangelical Christian missionary to China. In 1938, the region was invaded by Japanese forces, and Aylward led more than 100 orphans to safety over the mountains, despite being wounded, personally caring for them (and converting many to Christianity.

GLADYS AYLWARD – A LIFE FOR CHINA

GLADYS AYLWARD – A LIFE FOR CHINA

by Carol Purves

ISBN 978 1 909281 49 3

This is the story of Gladys Aylward, a missionary to China in the 1930’s and the 1940’s. Immortalised through the film The Inn of the Sixth Happiness starring Ingrid Bergman. Gladys set out to China alone, trusting in God to supply all her needs. Her call was to China alone, no other country of service would do for her.

Often her life was in danger. She received a bullet wound to her shoulder while fleeing Japanese soldier. She encountered wolves in the forest in Siberia, fortunately she only heard them, she did not see them.

Nearly a hundred children were led by her across the mountains to safety, while she was the only adult to guide them. Her story eventually became known world-wide as she lectured in many English speaking countries. Being only five foot tall was no hinderance to her determined nature.

Interesting facts – Did you know Gladys travelled all the way from the east side of London to deepest China wearing two left shoes?

Did you know this intrepid missionary is now buried in Taiwan, which in her day was known as Formosa?

Read all about it in this book.

Purchase this book from: Amazon.co.uk | Amazon Kindle

About Carol

It is said that everyone has a book in them. To date Carol Purves has discharged five of her internal books. Her main genre is Christian biographies. What could be better; most people are interested in people. We like to know how they tick (or in these cases how they ‘ticked’), their successes are ours and their failings show our perceived superior wisdom.

Carol is a freelance writer, former teacher, secretary and member and former committee member of the Association of Christian Writers, (an orginazation which did most to set her on the path of being a writer.) Living only 9 miles from the Scottish Border it was inevitable that she should join the Fellowship of Scottish Christian Writers, (though being a Sassenach she is in the minority in her membership).

A taste of her blog: “Crisis of Confidence”

Carol Purves Carol’s Blog March 4, 2021

Maybe I’m not alone. Things that I used to do with confidence, I now am afraid to do. I used to drive happily anywhere in the country, I now hesitate to just drive into the city. (not that anything is open when I get there). I used to answer the telephone without a thought, now I hesitate wondering if it is bad news or someone needing encouragement I cannot give . (or even a cold call. I’ve just been interrupted yet again as I type) I used to greet everyone I met with a smile and cheery word, now I cross the road in case of infection. (Not that they can see my smile behind my mask anyway)

It is no wonder that you, me and the rest of the world are suffering a crisis of confidence. Everything we knew as normal and acceptable has been stripped away. With fake news and scaremongers we can’t believe in anything or trust anyone.

What we need is somebody who will absolutely not let us down. Something we can rely on without fail. Then our crisis of confidence will become an assurance of confidence.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Video on Gladys Aylward: The Small Woman With A Great God (2010) | Full Movie | Carol Puves

A classic

Gladys Aylward: The Little Woman Paperback – 1 Jun. 1970

by Gladys Aylward (Author)

A solitary woman. A foreign country. An unknown language. An impossible dream? No.

With no mission board to support or guide her, and less than ten dollars in her pocket, Gladys Aylward left her home in England to answer God’s call to take the message of the gospel to China. With the Sino-Japanese War waging around her, she struggled to bring the basics of life and the fullness of God to orphaned children. Time after time, God triumphed over impossible situations, and drew people to Himself. The Little Woman tells the story of one woman’s determination to serve God at any cost. With God all things are possible!

A true story of a determined missionary, Gladys Aylward: The Little Woman will challenge you to bold and expectant faith.

Mary Slessor

Mary Slessor wrote to a friend who had long prayed for her: “I have always said that I have no idea how or why God has carried me over so many funny and hard places, and made these hordes of people submit to me, or why the Government should have given me the privilege of a Magistrate among them, except in answer to prayer made at home for me. It is all beyond my comprehension. The only way I can explain it is on the ground that I have been prayed for more than most. Pray on, dear one — the power lies that way.”

On another occasion she wrote: “Prayer is the greatest power God has put into our hands for service — praying is harder than doing, at least I find it so, but the dynamic lies that way to advance the Kingdom.”

As for her rewards, she had but one question: “What would I do with starry crowns except to cast them at His feet?”

http://www.historymakers.info/inspirational-christians/mary-slessor.html

Excerpts:

Mary became a Christian at a young age. She enjoyed going to church; it was a wonderful outlet from her miserable home life. She was not well-educated, but loved to read, and would stay up late soaking up any book she could find. She loved reading the Bible most of all, studying Jesus and his life in the gospels. Mary dreamed of doing pioneer work in the remote interior of Africa. At the time, missions work was mainly for men, so she was encouraged to get involved with home missions. It was her older brother who was planning to go as a missionary, but when Mary was 25 years old, he died. She wondered if maybe she could go in his place. Early in 1874 the news of the death of David Livingstone stirred the church and created a great wave of missionary excitement. Mary was then determined to go!

In 1875, Mary was accepted to go with the Calabar Mission. So, at age 27, she sailed for Calabar (located within present day Nigeria)…

Mary began to learn more and more about the culture of the local tribes. Witchcraft and spiritism and cruel tribal customs were hard to fight against. One custom that broke her heart was ‘twin-murder’. The tribes thought that twins were a result of a curse caused by an evil spirit who fathered one of the children. Both babies were brutally murdered and the mother was shunned from society. Overwhelmed and depressed, she knelt and prayed, “Lord, the task is impossible for me but not for Thee. Lead the way and I will follow.” Rising, she said, “Why should I fear? I am on a Royal Mission. I am in the service of the King of kings. Mary rescued many twins and ministered to their mothers. She was continuously fighting against this evil practice, often risking her life to stop the leaders from killing twins. The Lord gave her favor with the tribesmen, and Mary eventually gained a respect unheard of for a woman…

She was bold in her ministry and fearless as she traveled from village to village. Mary rescued hundreds of twin babies thrown out into the forest, prevented many wars, stopped the practice of trying to determine guilt by making them drink poison, healed the sick, and told the people about the great God of love whose Son came to earth to die on the cross that sinful men might have eternal life…

She was destined to live alone with her adopted children. Mary’s lifestyle consisted of a mud hut (infested with roaches, rats, and ants), irregular daily schedule (normal in African culture), and simple cotton clothing (instead of the thick petticoats and dresses worn by most European women at the time). The other missionaries were unable to relate to her life. Mary didn’t focus on health precautions or cleanliness much. Although she did suffer from malaria occasionally, she outlived most of her missionary coworkers.

She was 55 when she moved on from Okoyong with her seven children to do pioneer work in Itu and other remote areas. She had much fruit with the Ibo people. Janie, her oldest adopted daughter, was a valuable asset in the work. So, for the last ten years of her life, Mary continued doing pioneer work while others came in behind her. Their ministry was made much easier because of her efforts. In 1915, nearly 40 years after coming to Africa, she died at the age of 66 in her mud hut. Mary Slessor has become an inspiration to all who hear her story. She was not only a pioneer missionary, but also a pioneer for women in missions.