Missionaries are some of my favorite people. Their lives are so often defined by astonishing personal sacrifices coupled with testimonies of God’s goodness and blessing.

Our devotional today is from Words of Hope and tells the story of Gladys Aylward, a missionary who followed God’s call even after she had been rejected by missionary society:

Gladys Aylward was an English parlor maid when she met Jesus. Transformed, she dreamed of going to another country to share the life she had found in him. Applying to the China Inland Mission, she failed their entrance requirements. Undeterred, she bought a train ticket and set out across Russia on the Trans-Siberian Railway. She settled in a remote province of China. Joining another missionary, they opened an inn for muleteers. As the men enjoyed good food and a warm bed, they also were entertained. The women told stories of Jesus.

Later, officials commissioned Gladys to help abolish the custom of foot-binding, giving her access to Chinese homes and undreamed-of opportunities to spread the gospel. She eventually became involved in prison reform and established orphanages, leper treatment centers, and churches. She served the Chinese people until her death in 1970. This was the testimony of this humble servant: My heart is full of praise that one so insignificant, uneducated, and ordinary in every way could be used to his glory for the blessing of his people in poor persecuted China.

Read the rest of the devotional at woh.org

Is there anything about Gladys that particularly stands out to you? What would it take for you to just go without following the “official” missionary plan?

By: Chris. This entry was posted on Monday, August 9th, 2010 at 9:34 am and is filed under Devotional, humility, Ministry, Missions. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.