Lottie Moon

Charlotte “Lottie” Diggs Moon was born on December 12, 1840, in Albemarle County, Virginia. Her family owned large tracts of farming land and was quite wealthy in the pre-Civil War South. She was the fourth of seven siblings that survived into adulthood. The wealth of the Moon family provided the children, including the girls, with extensive educational opportunities.

Lottie excelled in literature and languages; she learned Greek, Latin, Italian, French, and Spanish in school. By the time she completed her master’s degree, well-known Baptist preacher and professor John Broadus considered her to be the best-educated woman in the South.  Lottie’s family endured the Civil War but lost their fortune in the aftermath.  

Lottie had always been adventurous and dreamed of becoming a missionary. But being Southern Baptist, a single woman was not permitted on the foreign mission field...until her younger sister, Edmonia, applied and was accepted to become an intern to Tarleton & Martha Crawford in China.  Lottie decided if they’d accept one single woman as missionary, surely they’d accept two.   She applied and was sent to China!  To become a missionary, she had to sign a contract stating that she was committed to staying in China until a “total breakdown of health, or death.”

Lottie spent 39 years in China.  She began her work by forming a school for girls.  At the beginning, she could only get five girls to come to her school.  But it soon grew.  Life was difficult on the mission field.  It was hard to be accepted by the Chinese people—they called her a “foreign devil!”  She was in China during the Boxer Rebellion and saw the atrocities of war again—much like she’d seen in the Civil War.  Lottie’s sister, Edmonia, had a mental breakdown and had to return to the United States. Because of this, Lottie began a series of letters to the Southern Baptist Mission Board encouraging them to consider the needs of their missionaries.  During Lottie’s 39 years in China, many of her fellow missionaries had mental breakdowns or died from the difficult conditions.  Lottie continually fought for new missionaries to be placed to help with the work and for the health of those working alongside her.  She shared her stories with the Women’s Missionary Union (WMU) which was begun around the same time she went to China.  Because of her convincing letters, women rallied to raise money for many of Lottie’s projects. 

Lottie led thousands of people to the Lord. She began schools, churches, and hospitals.  She was also the first single woman allowed to open a new mission station.  She found that she was more readily accepted by the Chinese people when she dressed like them.  And she found the clothes to be much warmer and more comfortable.  

Southern Baptist  missionaries today have Lottie to thank for furloughs.  The board implemented furloughs so the missionaries could come home every ten years (and now every four years) with the intent to rest.  That change came because of her letters.  

During the end of Lottie’s ministry, China was experiencing a drought.  There wasn’t enough food for the people to eat, so Lottie would share her food with the needy.  No one knew Lottie wasn’t eating so she could share her food with others.   By the time her fellow workers realized what she was doing, she weighed 50 pounds.  They all agreed she must go home and recover.  She died aboard a ship on her way home on Christmas Eve, 1912. A young missionary accompanying her said she raised her hands in greeting in the typical Chinese manner moments before she died.   

The WMU named the annual Christmas offering after Lottie.  Today, the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is collected in Southern Baptist churches in December—exclusively for their missionaries.

Eric Liddell

Eric Liddell (1902 –  1945) was a Scottish Olympic champion at 400 m and a famous Christian missionary; his inspirational life was captured in the film ‘Chariots of Fire‘. 

Although his parents were Scottish, Eric Liddell was both born and died in China. He was born on 16 January 1902 in the city of Tientsin (now Tianjin) in north-eastern China.

He was sent to Eltham College, a Christian boarding school for 12 years. In 1921, he moved to Edinburgh University where he studied Pure Science. From his school days, he was an outstanding sportsman excelling in short distance running, rugby union and cricket. In 1922 and 1923 he played rugby union for Scotland in the Five Nations. However, it was at running that he really excelled, and after setting a new British record in the 1923 100 yards sprint, he was considered a great prospect for the Olympics in 1924.

Eric Liddell was a committed Protestant Christian. During the Paris Olympics – because the heats of the 100m sprint were held on Sunday, he withdrew from the race – a race considered to be his strongest. Instead, he concentrated on the 400 metres as the race schedule didn’t involve a Sunday.

Eric Liddell was considered to be a strong favourite for the race. Before the final, the US Olympic masseur slipped a piece of paper into his hand. It included the words from the Bible, 1 Samuel 2:30 “Those who honour me I will honour.”

Sprinting from the start, Liddell created a significant gap to the other runners and held onto win gold and set a new Olympic record time of 47.6 seconds. He described his race plan:

“The secret of my success over the 400m is that I run the first 200m as fast as I can. Then, for the second 200m, with God’s help I run faster.”  He also won bronze in the 200m. In this race, he also beat Harold Abrahams a British rival and team-mate.

Liddell’s running style was unorthodox. Towards the end of the race, he would fling his head back, with mouth wide open appearing to gasp for breath.

In 1925, Liddell returned to northern China to serve as a missionary like his parents. In China, he remained fit but only competed sporadically.

Liddell married Florence Mackenzie a Canadian missionary. They had three daughters Patricia, Heather and Maureen.

In 1941, the advancing Japanese army pressed Liddell and his family to flee to a rural mission station. Liddell was kept very busy dealing with the stream of locals who came to the station for medical treatment and food.

In 1943, the Japanese reached the mission statement and Liddell was interned. Aggravated by the shortage of food and medical treatment, Liddell developed a brain tumour and suffered severe ill-health.

Many camp internees attest to the strong moral character of Liddell. He was seen as a great unifying force and helped to ease tensions through his selflessness and impartiality.

In “The Courtyard of the Happy Way“, Norman Cliff, wrote Liddell: “the finest Christian gentleman it has been my pleasure to meet. In all the time in the camp, I never heard him say a bad word about anybody”.  A fellow internee, Stephen Metcalfe, later wrote of Liddell: “He gave me two things. One was his worn out running shoes, but the best thing he gave me was his baton of forgiveness. He taught me to love my enemies, the Japanese, and to pray for them.”

Eric Liddell died on 21 February 1945, five months before liberation. He died from his inoperable brain tumour – through overwork and malnutrition undoubtedly hastened his death. It was revealed after the war that Liddell had turned down an opportunity to leave the camp (as part of a prisoner exchange program), preferring instead to give his place to a pregnant woman. His death left a profound vacuum within the camp – such was the strength of his personality and character.

Gladys Aylward

At twenty-seven years of age, Gladys was told her grades were not good enough to continue her studies to become a missionary to China through the China Inland Missions. She was devastated.  But she decided to get a job as a maid and save money to go to China on her own.  Each week, she would take her earnings to Muller’s Shipping Agency and make payments on a train ride which would take her through Europe, Russia, and Siberia before she’d arrive at Tientsin in Northern China.  Within a year, she’d saved the money needed and had heard of Mrs. Lawson who was seventy-three years old and had gone back to China alone—even though she’d hoped to take someone with her.  After contacting Mrs. Lawson, Gladys was on her way!

Gladys had never traveled alone—much less to a country where she didn’t speak the language.  She’d gotten to Siberia and because of a war, the train unloaded everyone, except Gladys, at a town before they moved on to pick up the dead or wounded near the battlefield.  Gladys had to walk back to the nearest town all alone, in the snow, for two days and nights.  When she arrived, she was sent on a train to Russia where she was nearly kidnapped and made to work in Russian factories as a machinist—but two strangers rescued her and got her on a boat to Japan where she was able to make her way to Tientsin.  Once she arrived in Tientsin, she learned that Mrs. Lawson had not really expected a maid from London to come to China and had gone on to a mountainous village about a month’s travel away. Gladys made the trip and arrived to help the abrupt Scottish woman in the village of Yangcheng.  

Mrs. Lawson had rented a “haunted house” very cheaply and the two women began to turn it into an inn for the mule teams to use.  They figured they’d be able to share the gospel with the muleteers and the gospel would spread as these men traveled through the villages.  Their inn was named The Inn of Eight Happinesses.  Their plan began to work when Mrs. Lawson fell from a balcony and died from her injuries.  Gladys had to assume new responsibilities and financial worries.  She wasn’t sure how she’d be able to pay taxes for the inn. 

The mandarin of Yangcheng came to the inn and asked Gladys to become the “foot inspector” of their area.  This person was to travel village to village and make sure girls’ feet were no longer being bound.  The only woman who had feet which were able to make the trips was Gladys—the foreign devil.  Gladys asked the mandarin if she’d be able to share the gospel as she traveled and the mandarin told her it was of no importance to him.  Gladys eagerly accepted the job which came with a salary!   She now could pay her taxes.  

Gladys traveled and shared the gospel which the Chinese people readily received—and gave a monthly foot report to the mandarin. On one of her trips to the mandarin, a woman was selling a child on the street.  She reported the practice to the mandarin in hopes to get it stopped, but the mandarin was actually afraid of the child traders.  Gladys stopped and “bought” the child on her way home and Ninepence became the first of many children Gladys adopted.  To protect her children’s status as their mother, Gladys also became the first foreigner to become a Chinese citizen with help from the mandarin.  Not only had Gladys become known as the Honorable Foot Inspector, but after stopping a riot at a prison, she became known as Ai-weh-deh which meant Virtuous One.  The mandarin held a dinner in Gladys’ honor and after giving her accolades, he told Gladys and all the guests, “ Ai-weh-deh, I have seen all that you are and all that you do, and I would like to become a Christian like you.”

Because of the Japanese invasion in China, war came to the villages.  By the time bombs hit Yangcheng, Gladys had five children of her own.  After the bombing, there were two hundred orphans who came to the Inn of Eight Happinesses to be cared for. Soon, Gladys led her troop of orphans to caves to hide from the Japanese.  A reporter from Time magazine found her and interviewed her about the orphans and after the article appeared in the magazine, there was a price on her head.  Japanese posters appeared with her name: Wanted Dead or Alive!  She learned that if she could get the children to Sian, the government would care for the orphans.  She sent 100 of the children with a man who got them there safely.  He was to come back and get the other 100...but was killed on the way.  Gladys had to take the children over a mountain, across a large river, and on a coal car with very little food on the way.  The trip took weeks. Upon delivery of the children to the orphanage, Gladys fell into a coma, suffering from pneumonia, typhoid, and malnutrition.  She appeared to be much older than her thirty-eight years.  Gladys returned to London to heal.  As she stepped off the train, her own parents didn’t even recognize her.  She began mission work—sending clothing and necessities to China.  Within ten years, Gladys was ready to go back to China.  However, she couldn’t re-enter the mainland because no foreigners were allowed—even though she was also a Chinese citizen.  So she went to Formosa where she ministered to Chinese people.  She was once again Ai-weh-deh. Gladys died in Formosa at 67-years-of age.   She died in her sleep with a newborn baby in a crib next to her, a baby  who had been abandoned.  She was buried in Taipei on a hill...facing China.  

Who is a Pastor’s Wife?

Who IS a pastor’s wife?  The wife of a pastor, right?  Well then...who’s a pastor?

There’s been so much confusion over this issue in my own mind through the years.  I would have guessed it was just me.  But I’ve gotten messages from other women who seem to be just as confused.  Maybe my story will explain my dilemma.  

When I married Andy, he was in Music Evangelism—he traveled and sang with a gospel quartet, The Royalheirs, and then with his twin brother, The Dietz Brothers. We joined a church where we lived but were seldom there because of our travels.  But as we had children, I was there almost every Sunday and Wednesday.  We were members there for six years before our pastor asked Andy to become the Youth Minister or Youth Leader, I think he was called.  Because I was so involved in the church, it just seemed like the next step. I never felt like a pastor’s wife because my friendships never changed—and we had great friends.  We were on staff there for three years and then moved to our second church.  I didn’t feel as involved at our next church because I had a new baby and four children under six. I was busy at home.  Our third church was the church where Andy grew up. So we were “home.”   He was among old friends who quickly became my friends. We remained there for 26 years.  

If you’d asked me during those years if I was a pastor’s wife, I would have said, “No.  My husband is the Youth Minister (or later Missions’ Minister).”  Or I might have said, “I’m a staff wife.”  I didn’t feel like a pastor’s wife and was never called a pastor’s wife. In fact, it wasn’t until my daughter was grown and talked about being a PK (preacher’s kid) that the lightbulb went off!   I WAS a pastor’s wife!!   Why had that never registered?

I became a pastor’s wife during a time that only the senior pastor was called a pastor—at least in my denomination.  But a pastor is someone who is a shepherd. He’s someone who cares for the sheep—who feeds the sheep by teaching the Word. My husband did that from the beginning in our youth ministries.  We’ve had anywhere from 50 to 500 youth. He taught them, cared for them, led them, and doctored their wounds.  He also did that as a Missions’ Minister. My son has done that as a Worship Pastor. Children’s Ministers, Activity Ministers, Education Ministers, Family Ministers, New Church Members Ministers, Small Group Leaders all pastor...if they shepherd the people.  

We are in our fourth church where Andy is the pastor.  The senior pastor.  And I’m glad I finally figured out who I am...and now realize it’s who I’ve been for 37 years!  

Ministry Change

A young pastor’s wife contacted me recently and said she and her husband are in the process of changing churches and wanted to know how to finish well.  Their denomination has their pastors send resumès to other churches without a pastor...so they’re early in the process.  They just know their ministry is finished where they are.  She also said they were under attack.  I gave her the following advice and then thought it might help you if you’re in the process or may be in the future.  What would you add?

1. Stay focused.  You’re not gone yet and still have a job to do.  Do it well.  
2. Whoever is attacking, overcome them with kindness. Love the people. Bless them.  Do good to them.  Pray for them. 
3. Do the next thing in front of you that you know would bring God pleasure and you pleasure.  Stay occupied—it’s so easy to get antsy when you know change is coming.  And it’s very easy to get ahead of God.  
4. Minister to your family.  If your children are old enough, prepare them at the appropriate time for the change coming (depending on their ages and ability to keep it quiet, if necessary). Plan play times with their special friends.  
5. Keep doing ministry.  Don’t just quit.  Plan ahead and put people in place to carry out the plans.  Hopefully you’ve trained others for ministry—empower them!
6. Don’t get overwhelmed.  Remember God is in control and has good plans for all concerned. And remember He loves this church.  If you start stressing, take short trips out of town.  See a movie.  Go to the carnival. Do something fun!
7. Pray with your spouse and your family.  Enlist trusted friends and family to pray with you.  
8. Stay in the Word. Hear God.  He will encourage you, counsel you, and direct you.  
9. Leave the church better than you found it.   Ask God what that looks like—and do it.  
10. Praise God for this church.  God had a good purpose in bringing you to them and giving them to you.  Bless them.  

Mary Slessor

Mary Slessor was born on December 2, 1848 in Aberdeen, Scotland to Robert & Mary Slessor, a poor working class family.  Robert was an alcoholic and was unable to keep up his work as a shoemaker.  The family moved to Dundee so Robert could work in the mill—which he never fulfilled because of his drunkenness. Mary’s mother began working at the jute mill and asked Mary to go to work at the age of 11.  Mary worked half of the day and attended the factory’s school the other half.  

Mary’s mother was a devout Presbyterian and read the Missionary Record each month.  Mary loved reading of David Livingtone’s adventures in Africa in the magazine and upon learning of his death, she wanted to follow in his footsteps.  At the age of 27, she applied to become a missionary and was appointed to Calabar, Nigeria—the very place David Livingstone had served!   She was elated.  

Upon arriving in Calabar, she was assigned to the mission station there.  She was told no one had gone more than 5 miles into the interior because it was too dangerous.  Tribes were at war with one another.  But Mary chafed at having to spend her money to support the lifestyle of entertaining, imported foods, and fine living at the mission station.  She wanted to go inland.  She began making appeals to the Foreign Mission Board of the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland.  She was finally permitted to move further into Nigeria.  She met King Eyo Honesty VII whom she’d read about in Livingstone’s journals. He became a protector and helper as Mary moved further down the river.  The people were frightened of Mary at first because of her white skin and red hair—they thought she had fire on her head.  

People began to bring babies to Mary’s doorstep—they either considered the child cursed or couldn’t feed it. The first child she adopted was Janie.  When Mary contracted malaria and went back to Scotland to recuperate, she took Janie.  People loved hearing Mary’s stories of Africa and seeing her African child.  Money began to flow into the mission board for her work in Calabar.  

Mary finally made it to inland Nigeria upon her return.  She found a very superstitious people who followed witchcraft and practiced human sacrifices and slaughtering of twins and mothers—considering them a curse.  Many men had up to 30 wives and if he died, all of his wives were killed and buried with him.  Mary intervened many times with the chief when he was about to pour hot oil on a person for punishment.  Mary was fearless.  She intervened in tribal wars convincing chiefs to sit and talk to one another.  

Because of her relationship with many chiefs of the area, she was asked to become the British vice-consul and judge the people. She agreed to be vice-consul with the understanding that evangelism was her main focus.  Mary would knit as she listened to the disagreements of men and then give fair judgments. She was soon revered and called the “white ma” and later, “The Mother of Us All.”  

Mary suffered from several bouts of severe malaria and eventually developed rheumatism.  Her daughter, Janie, helped her in her work. Not only did many people come to Christ, but Mary single-handedly stopped the practices of human sacrifices, killing twins and their mothers, capturing slaves, and many of the other pagan practices.  She started churches and schools in many villages. Mary died of malaria January 13, 1915. Drums beat the news from one village to another that The Mother of Us All had died.  Mary had served God in Nigeria for 39 years.  

The Reward

Matthew 10:41 says, “ Anyone who welcomes a prophet and surrenders to his prophecy will receive a prophet’s reward, and anyone who welcomes a righteous person and conforms to the righteousness that surrounds him and proceeds from him will receive a righteous man’s reward.”

Jesus had been preparing his disciples.  He’d just told them to expect persecution, divisions—even death!   But then he told them some people would receive what they had to say and to those people, he would give a reward.  There may be hard times coming, boys—but hang on!   The rewards will be fulfilling.  

We may be the prophets and righteous people bringing the word of truth but we’re also receivers.  Have you ever heard something and then chewed on it and worried it to death?   Now I’m not saying we shouldn’t examine a word—we absolutely should!   But it’s usually because that word is out of my spiritual comfort zone that I wear it out until there’s nothing to receive.  Or Satan may accuse the prophet or righteous man to me..and I listen to the enemy’s accusations.  I’ll never receive that reward.  

We should be the prophet and righteous man bringing the word of God fearlessly.  But we should also be the receiver.  We should test the word...and receive.   There’s great reward when we do!  Don’t miss out on any rewards.