MEATY: It’s Harvest Time!
THE WHOLE ESTATE – A Classic Missions Challenge, by Oswald J. Smith:
“Here is an estate. The master tells his servants that he is leaving, but that he will be returning. And while he is gone, they are to bring the entire estate under cultivation . . . ”
Learn more about the mission vision of HARVEST MINISTRY
and this month’s Harvest Outreach to KAGADI, Uganda.
The Whole Estate
A Classic Missions Challenge
–By Oswald J. Smith, Missionary EvangelistHere is an estate. The master tells his servants that he is leaving, but that he will be returning. And while he is gone, they are to bring the entire estate under cultivation.
They begin working around the house. They beautify the gardens and flowerbeds. Next year the weeds grow and again they go to work, keeping the lawns in perfect condition.
Presently one of them remembers his master’s orders. “I must go,” he explains. “Our master told us to bring the entire estate under cultivation.” And he prepares to leave. “But,” they cry, “we cannot spare you. See how fast the weeds grow. We need you here.” In spite of their protests, however, he leaves and begins working in a far corner of the estate.
Later on, two others remember their Lord’s orders and in spite of objections they too, go and cultivate another part of the estate.
At last their master returns. He is pleased as he looks at the flowerbeds and gardens and the lawns around his house. But before rewarding his servants, he decides to explore the rest of the estate and as he does so, his heart sinks for he sees nothing but wilderness and marsh, and he realizes that there has not even been an attempt to cultivate.
Finally he comes to the one man working all by himself in a distant part of the estate and he rewards him richly. He discovers the two in still another part and likewise rewards them. Then he returns to headquarters where his servants are waiting and expecting a reward, but his face indicates displeasure.
“Have we not been faithful?” they explain. “Look at these flowerbeds and gardens. Look at these lawns. Are they not beautiful? And have not we worked hard?”
“Yes,” he replies, “you have done your best. You have been faithful. You have labored diligently.”
“Well then,” they cry, “why are you disappointed? Are we not entitled to a reward?”
“There is one thing you have forgotten,” he replied. “You have forsaken my orders. I did not tell you to work the same gardens and lawns again and again, year after year. I told you to bring the entire estate under cultivation, to cultivate it, and when your companions insisted upon going and doing their part, you objected. No, there is no reward.”
Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
Matthew 9:37-38 NKJV
More verses about reaping God’s harvest of souls:
Proverbs 10:5
He who gathers in summer is a wise son; He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.
John 4:35
Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.
Luke 10:2
And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.
SOURCE: Smith, Oswald J., A Passion for Souls, (Toronto, Ontario: People’s Church). Excerpted from an article found in The Harvest Call, by T.L. Osborn, (Tulsa, OK: The Voice of Faith, Inc. 1953), pp. 180-181. Used by permission of People’s Church and the family of Oswald J. Smith. Written email letter of permission for TMMC dated 2004.
LIGHT SIDE: Rats & Pits!!!
“The Pit” is unlike anything you have likely experienced. It is totally different than a camp porta-potty and has absolutely no resemblance to a typical American bathroom . . .
Mission Maker Magazine
Ann’s article, “The Lighter Side of Missions,” published in Mission Maker Magazine, featured funny mission stories about rats, pit toilets, and eating grasshoppers. It’s a highlight from her book, The Mission-Minded Child – Raising a New Generation to Fulfill God’s Purpose.
Back to Mission-Minded Books & Resources
Of Rats & Pits:
Never Shine a Flashlight Down THE PIT!
A Dunagan Family Mission Story
(from Ann’s perspective)
“The Pit” is unlike anything you have likely experienced. It is totally different than a camp porta-potty and has absolutely no resemblance to a typical American bathroom. Not one home decorating magazine is displayed in a basket to read at your leisure, not one pretty towel hands on a shiny silver bar, and fluffy coordinating bathmats are nowhere to be seen.
The Pit it a cement or mud cubicle with a weathered wooden door, a six-inch square hold in the ground, and an unforgetable “aroma” –all above a very, very deep pit.
One night we were in a remote African village dominated by demonic witchcraft. It was late . . . and dark; and a while after the evening ministry time was over our outreach team got rolling in one of those funny, middle-of-the-night conversations. The topic turned to some very practical missionary advice: “Be sure to never shine your flashlight down the Pit!” (Have you ever watched that scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark when Indiana Jones throws a torch down into the forbidden tomb and sees what he dreaded most–the floor alive with snakes?! I think you get the picture. The Pit is often swarming above with flies; and in the unknown depths below, it’s alive . . . with no ones now what!)
We were all laughing hysterically, including me . . . until I realized I had to “go,” and it just couldn’t wait until morning.
I got out my flashlight and went out into the darkness, through the rain–all by myself to the Pit. By this time, nothing seemed funny anymore. I was very tired and wouldn’t have minded those fluffy coordinating bathmats As I neared the “aroma,” I tried to decide my strategy. How could I go about using the Pit without shining the flashlight down?
When I arrived, I quickly threw open the rickety door–and barged in upon the biggest rat I had ever seen in my life! (With its tail it must have been nearly two feet long!) I wish I could say I was your strong unflinching woman; but I screamed and just stood there, soaking wet, crying in the dark.
My precious husband, Jon, came to my rescue, got rid of the creature, made sure the coast was clear, then stood guard to make sure I was protected.
I bravely reentered the Pit with my flashlight, while my husband reentered his comical, slightly mischievous mood. He told our team to come watch something funny as he rolled a rock toward me under the Pit’s door. My reaction did not let them down. I thought the rat was attacking me and I totally freaked out.
Everyone (except me!) thought it was the funniest joke of the evening!
Teaching With God’s Heart for the World – 10 PDF’s
Click here to download VOLUME 1 – Part 1 – FREE!!!
- FILE SIZE: 9.76 MB – 64 pages
- SECTION I – Welcome: Table of Contents, Dedication, Introduction, Suggested Weekly Schedule, Using the Library and Media.
- SECTION II – Building a Foundation for Missions: Our Call, Our Biblical Basis, Our Heritage, Our Missionary Examples
- FILE SIZE: 7.69 MB – 54 pages
- SECTION III – TOOLS FOR TEACHING: General Teaching Helps (with Bible Memory), Music and Missionary Songs, International Holidays, Teaching History (and making time lines), Geography and World Maps, Missionary Passport
- FILE SIZE: 10.20 MB – 72 pages
- SECTION IV – DAILY LESSON PLANS: Week 1 – The Gospel We Preach and Personal Prayer, Weeks 2-3 – Our Biblical Basis for Missions (Old Testament – Israel, New Testament – Roman Empire) Weeks 4-7: Medieval Europe, Crusades and Holy Wars, Renaissance and Reformation, Exploration and Colonialization
(NOTE: Day 1 is missing in the file. Please CLICK HERE for DAY 1.)
- FILE SIZE: 9.57 MB – 64 pages
- SECTION IV (cont.) – Weeks 8-14: WORLD MISSIONS AROUND THE GLOBE – Western Europe (home of early missionaries), Eastern Europe (the iron curtain and open doors), North America, Quakers and Pilgrims (Thanksgiving Week), Latin America, Asia (Hinduism)
- FILE SIZE: 14.55 MB – 68 pages
- SECTION IV (cont.) – Weeks 15-16 : Far East Asia (Buddhism) and The 10/40 Window
- AVAILABLE MISSION RESOURCES – Extensive reviews and photos of many mission-minded family resources.
Click here to download VOLUME 2 – Part 1 – FREE!!!
- FILE SIZE: 12.93 MB – 72 pages
- Section 1
- FILE SIZE: 11.08 MB – 74 pages
- Section 2
- FILE SIZE: 10.49 MB – 64 pages
- Section 3
- FILE SIZE: 12.84 MB – 76 pages
- Section 4
- FILE SIZE: 16.87 MB – 72 pages
- Section 5
Exciting International Adventures!!!
Throughout the years, our family’s international travels have led to amusing encounters, humorous misunderstandings, and hilarious adventures. When we have an opportunity to share about world missions (especially when we’re talking with kids and teenagers) we often enjoy sharing a few of our funny missions stories or exciting adventures.
Being mission-minded is not boring!
Machu Picchu, Peru – South America
Right now, our oldest son, Patrick (who just completed his commission in the USMC, as a commanding officer in Ground Intelligence), is now on a ’round-the-world adventure (not as for military or missions work, but simply for a personal experience).
This week, he’s in South America; he just completed a 4-day trek to visit Machu Picchu in PERU . . . and we’re all curious where he’s heading next . . .
All across the globe . . .
In just a few days, Josh & Anna Dunagan (our son and daughter-in-law) will be heading to COSTA RICA, Central America — with Gospel Projects International — on a mission trip to distribute Bibles door-to-door with a missionary family, and to minister in street evangelism.
Our oldest daughter Christi (who is engaged to be married in June to Trae Childs — a third-generation missionary from NIGER — in West Africa) will be ministering with Ann at several DARING DAUGHTER events in March, to encourage teen girls for world missions.
and our college son Daniel (who is also engaged to be married in June to his sweetheart, Anna, and currently working in the ORU missions department) is excited about being a part a college mission outreach in June to GERMANY — in Europe.
Missions can be extremely fun!
Although international missions work often means adjusting to curious cuisine and challenging conditions, it can also be extremely fun. Our family has enjoyed Polynesian snorkeling, European museums, African safaris, Middle Eastern camel “excursions,” South American professional soccer games, and Australian boat rides. Take our word for it — or better yet, try it yourself — missions is definitely not boring!
More about our family’s international mission ADVENTURES
A Filipino Cure for Fleas
On the Light Side . . .
One of our Dunagan family mission memories
Our family was in a remote Filipino village on one of our first missionary trips, and the national pastor hosting us was very nervous.
“I’ve never hosted foreigners and don’t know what to feed you,” he said.
“Oh, we’re easy to please,” we responded naively. “Just relax; we’ll eat whatever you put before us.”
A few minutes later the pastor introduced us to the church women who were going to be cooking our food. One of them was eating this very different looking egg. It was black; and as she cracked it open, she started tugging at the insides–pulling out a black embryonic chick!
We found out that balut (a fertilized duck egg with a nearly developed embryo that is boiled and eaten in the shell) was a common Filipino food . . . and we were nervous.
The people gave us an esteemed room in the village — the only one with a rug. Unfortunately, the rug was totally infested with fleas; and within a few days my legs were covered with flea bites.
When the pastor saw the bug bites, he said, “Oh, that is terrible. We must do something about those fleas biting you. Yes, there is only one thing to do.”
“What is that?” we asked.
“Well, we must eat the dog. I was going to save it for a party, but I think we must eat it now.”
A few days later, Jon came into our room. “Guess what we’re having for dinner,” he said with a raised eyebrow.
Not balut, I hoped. (I didn’t know if I was that good of a missionary yet.)
I went to visit the church women and to see our menu for myself. These precious ladies were cutting up some strange white-looking meat. When I asked what it was, they talked among themselves in their Filipino language of Tagolog and then went to find someone who could interpret.A few minutes later one woman came in and distinctly pronounced with wonderful enunciation the new English word she had just learned.
“Dog.” she said.
“Dog?” I timidly asked, as my mind whirled with memories of special pets from my childhood.
The woman clarified herself: “Yes, you know — Ruff! Ruff!”
Yes, I knew far too well. But that’s what we and our kids had for dinner that night. Our menu actually consisted of nearly-raw dog meat and fried dog intestines.
And we still had fleas!
This story was excerpted from Ann’s book, The Mission-Minded Child – Raising a New Generation to Fulfill God’s Purpose , Chapter 11, “Making Missions Fun – At Home, School, and Church”
The Praying Mommas & the Screaming Babies
Finding God’s balance for motherhood and ministry is sometimes a difficult (and continually changing) tug-of-war; but I believe the struggle is healthy.
— By Ann Dunagan
As a homeschooling mother of seven, I place a high priority on God’s calling to care for our own children; however, I also feel a call of God’s heart for the needs of world missions, and for the lost. I know that multitudes around the world desperately need God’s salvation, and multitudes of orphan children are in need.
Most of the time, just doing another load of laundry . . . or drilling the kids on their grammar . . . or reading a bedtime story . . . doesn’t seem as vital. But God sees the big picture. He highly esteems motherhood, and He values a faithful mom who is willing to lay down her “big dreams” . . . to serve her family.
The “healthy” ministry/motherhood tug-of-war
If you’re a mission-minded mother (a Christian mom with a heart for others), I’m sure you’ve felt this tug-of-war between motherhood and ministry.
Our children need to know that we love them; but they also need to know that we have a heart for others. Our kids need to know that we care about their needs, but also that they’re not the center of the universe, and that others are also in need. Finding the balance can be a struggle; but I believe the process of finding God’s daily divine balance is a healthy evaluation process, both for ourselves and for our family.
We all face this struggle . . .
Perhaps the phone rings, and your friend begins pouring our her heart about a desperate situation. Maybe a fragile marriage is falling apart, or someone at church was just rushed to the hospital. These needs are real, and often urgent. How do we find the right “combo” for each day, and each season of our lives? How do we balance these pressing needs with the ongoing “everyday” needs of our own family?
This personal testimony of “The Praying Mommas and the Screaming Babies” is from one of our Africa mission trips years ago. The story has continually reminded me to seek the Lord’s divine calling for each day. I have found that the key to finding God’s balance is to stay in communication with God through prayer; however, He sees the full picture of both motherhood and ministry.
God sees the world’s needs, and He also sees our children. And if you’re a mom, God will speak to you, as a mother.
The Praying Mommas and the Screaming Babies
About five thousand women gathered for a week of ministry, teaching, and worship. The accommodations for our African village conference were humble. Bamboo awnings covered with tarps provided shade from the hot sun, and most of the women simply brought straw mats for sleeping. Many women also brought little children and nursing babies, whom they cared for as they listened to the sessions.
One morning, I got up and took an early morning prayer-walk, and I was blessed (and challenged) to see hundreds of women gathered for a time of fervent prayer.
As I walked quietly behind the group, I noticed a few women who were praying very hard and loud, but then I noticed that these women were totally oblivious to the needs of their little babies–sitting with bare bottoms in wet little puddles in the dirt, screaming at the top of their lungs. As I watched for a few moments, I wondered what God thought about their fervent prayers. One by one I picked up the babies and tried to help them stop crying, handing each one to his or her momma.
Later that day I shared with the women about the importance of balancing our ministry with our family priorities. Yet I was also challenge on a personal level. How many times does God see my own out-of-balance efforts, like when I’m at work on the computer or busy with a mission project–and my little kids are plopped down in front of one-too-many videos?
I want God to hear my prayers, and I want my efforts to be actions of obedience. I need to keep balanced.
“Ponder the path of your feet,
And let all your ways be established.”
–Proverbs 4:26
Mission-Minded Moms – on Revive Our Hearts
Interview on Revive Our Hearts — Nancy Leigh DeMoss (Wolgemuth) with Ann Dunagan
(The following is an excerpt from Ann’s interview about “The Mission-Minded Family” on Revive Our Hearts — a nation-wide radio program for Christian women.)
I WAS NAKED, AND YOU CLOTHED ME…
ANN: The Lord has dug deep in my heart about the need of orphans. There were times where we would be in an area, and there were all these little naked children around. I just remember it began to stir in my heart so deeply. There was one point in particular that reminded me of a Hudson Taylor quote. As a young man, he said, “I feel like I cannot go on living unless I do something for China.”
I had gotten to this point where I felt like I could not go back to Africa again unless we did something big for orphans. There was this burning desire that just kept burning deeper. I finally just got to the point where I felt like I was about to explode. “I can’t come back here again unless we do something for these orphan children.”
NANCY: There’s a passage in Proverbs 31 that I know has been meaningful to you that talks about having this heart.
ANN: When we look at Proverbs 31, we usually start in verse 10. Proverbs 31:10 begins, “Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies” (KJV). Well, if you read the whole thing in context, some of my favorite verses in the Bible are Proverbs 31:8-9, which say, “Open your mouth for the speechless, in the cause of those who are appointed to die. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and the needy.” (NKJV) The Lord began working in my heart about the importance of opening up my mouth and sharing, pleading the cause. Being ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading though us. God is seeing the injustice in this world. He sees children who are dying. He sees all of these needs. He wants for us to open our mouth and plead the cause of the poor and the needy.
NANCY: And it goes on in Proverbs 31:20, “She opens her hands to poor, and reaches out her hands to the needy” (ESV). So she doesn’t just think about this. This isn’t a burden she carries on her heart. It’s something she actually does something about in some practical, tangible way to help to meet these needs of the needy and poor around her.
ANN: There was this one time that my kids and I had done this major closet purging effort. We had gotten some sacks of clothes. The kids’ closet was a major disaster area. I thought, “Okay, we are going to conquer the closets.” So we took a couple days and organized the closets. W e picked up all the hangers. We had the giveaway pile and the throwaway pile. It was a major effort to get all these clothes organized.
It was shortly after that that I headed over to Uganda. I was doing this one women’s conference, and there were children everywhere around that place that were naked. There was one little boy in particular that had this ripped up shirt. He was the same age as my son Daniel, who at that time was thirteen years old. This boy had a ripped up t-shirt, no shorts, and no underwear. When I would go by, he would pull his shirt down so I couldn’t see. It just dug in my heart because I was thinking of even how proud I felt of my ridiculously conquered closets.
I went back to this little room I was staying in under the mosquito net, and I just said, “Lord, what do you want me to do?” I remember that God just dropped in my heart and said, “Ann, I am the one naked on these streets. Are you going to do something about it?” I just remember thinking, “What can I do?” We had a little bit of money, and we went and bought armloads of clothes. I thought, “This will be fun. We’ll clothe all these little naked kids running around.”
So our family started passing out these clothes and were trying to match up boy with boy clothes and girl with girl clothes. I thought this was a little, noble fun thing; this will be great. As we began, mothers came running from different areas of the village. Then word began to spread, and people came running, holding up little naked children, asking, “Can we have some of some of these clothes?” There was such a swarm of people around us that we ended up getting in the back of the truck. That didn’t work. I ended up on top of the cab of the truck, trying to pass out these clothes.
What I thought was going to be a wonderful thing ended up in pathetic pandemonium. It did something deep in my heart where I thought, “You know, the Bible says, ‘I was naked, and you didn’t clothe me'” (Matthew 25:43). I just came home, and I got a bunch of kids’ churches together with our own family to be a part of this. We thought, “What can we do to clothe the children in this village? All those kids that weren’t able to get something.” That was exciting.
NANCY: What did you do?
ANN: We did! We got a bunch of kids’ churches together, put up these little thermometers, and said, “We’re going to clothe a few of these villages. Who wants to come and help with $5 or $10?”
Our son, Daniel, during this particular time, God moved in his heart in a very real way. He had some savings. He had some money he was trying to save up so he could open up a checking account. He kept thinking about that little kid that was his age that didn’t have any shorts, only had one ripped up t-shirt and not even underwear. It just moved his heart in a very deep way. I remember, he went and dumped out all the money on his bed and came and gave us all of his savings and said, “I want to help those kids.” It was exciting. It was something that God had moved in his heart.
NANCY: So his faith is becoming his own faith, not just riding the spiritual coattails of his parents.
ANN: When God does something inside the hearts of our children, it is so precious.
The Scarlet Cord: FREE Missions Book
A Concise Call to World Missions!
Emphasizing God’s only way of salvation through the precious blood of Jesus Christ, The Scarlet Cord is a call to missions. With personal missionary adventures and a passion for the lost, Jon & Ann Dunagan share why “Missions is not just for missionaries; God’s call is for all!”
Challenge Your Church:
Harvest Ministry is offering THE SCARLET CORD books in multiples of 5 for a suggested donation to cover our publishing costs and shipping. Our heart is to see the vision for this book to be extended to as many people as possible — the message of God’s salvation through the BLOOD OF JESUS and God’s passionate call to reach the lost.
5 books = $20
10 books = $40
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25 books = $100
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Set of 5 books (paperback edition) –
Suggested cost: $20
Chapters Include:
Ch. 1 – Saved to the Uttermost:
The Symbolism of Rahab’s Scarlet CordCh. 2 – God’s Only Way:
Nothing but the Blood of JesusCh. 3 – God’s Vision:
Big Questions about World MissionsCh. 4 – God’s Great Commission:
Our Biblical Basis for World MissionsCh. 5 – God’s Great Provision:
Trusting God and Stepping OutCh. 6 – God’s Great Adventure:
Exciting Experiences from Every ContinentCh. 7 – 100 Mission Mottos:
Compelling Missionary QuotesCh. 8 – 100 Mission Verses:
Nothing but the Blood of Jesus from Genesis to RevelationCh. 9 – 100 Missionaries & Martyrs:
Remembering Those Who Gave Their AllCh. 10 – The Blood of the Lost:
Classic Missionary StoriesCh. 11 – Remembering the Blood:
Communion Verses and Hymns
FREE ebook special!
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” –I Corinthians 1:18
Jesus paid it all . . .
Our heart is to see the vision for The Scarlet Cord — stirring up God’s heart for all nations and for the lost — extend to as many people as possible.
There are 3 ways you can order The Scarlet Cord:
- Order paperback book-sets for church or family distribution in multiples of 5
- Order one paperback book as part of our complete 3-book Mission-Minded Family set
- Order as an instant download Ebook (in PDF format).
“The bedrock foundation for our call to world missions
is the blood of Jesus Christ.”
–Jon Dunagan
What others are saying . . .
“I have just finished reading The Scarlet Cord: Nothing but the Blood of Jesus. This powerful book has put a fresh fire in my heart for world evangelization. To those serious about world missions, I recommend this book strongly, and to those not serious about world missions, I recommend it even more.” — Timothy Johnson, Dominican Republic: foreign-based missionary for over 25 years
“I can’t say enough about this book, what a blessing. you will laugh and you will cry, but most important is you will search deep in your heart for God’s plan for you and your mission field. We won’t all go to other countries, but with out a doubt this little powerful book will make you want to look deeper into you own mission field. It will help make you understand that your mission’s start the minute you rise in the morning until you close your eye’s in prayer at night. And every where you go throughout your day you are on your mission field. And The Lord is right there with you and will lead and guide you every step of the way. Thank you Jon and Ann, for all this book offers to us in our daily walk on our mission fields.Thank you so very much!” —Terri Trobridge, East Olympia Community Church, Olympia, Washington
“I am slowly reading a new book called The Scarlet Cord: Nothing but the Blood of Jesus, by Jon and Ann Dunagan. WHAT A WONDERFUL BOOK! A must read if you are a Christian.”–Juanita Rouse, Olympia, Washington
Read more about THE SCARLET CORD . . .
Special Offer: THE SCARLET CORD (paperback edition) is not available for individual purchase; however, you can order this book with our Mission-Minded SET.
Click here for Harvest Ministry’s 3-book offer > > >
MEATY: A Vision for Souls – by Amy Carmichael
Give me the Love that leads the way
The Faith that nothing can dismay
The Hope no disappointments tire
The Passion that will burn like fire . . .
-Amy Carmichael
Ezekiel 3:18-19 says, “When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity but you have delivered your soul.”
These verses stress the vital importance of our Christian and biblical command to share the Gospel with the “heathen” (this term is outdated and unpopular, yet it is vital for mission-minded focus. “Heathen” refers to precious unsaved people who have never yet heard the Gospel message of God’s salvation through Jesus Christ). So often, we are distracted by good and busy activities, even in the church. The following vision, received by Amy Carmichael, compares these activities to making “daisy chains.” As you read this, may you allow the Lord to challenge your heart. May we “see” the waterfall of souls who so desperately need Him, and may we be more aware of God’s passionate love for these people, and allow His love to flow through us . . . through our prayers, our giving, and our obedience.
Amy Carmichael
Missionary to India (1867-1951)
Amy Carmichael was born in Northern Ireland to a wealthy family. When she was eighteen, her father died, and as the eldest of seven children, Amy received much of the family responsibility. In 1892, at the age of twenty-four, Amy Carmichael received a “call to missions,” and soon left for Japan, and later, Ceylon. After returning home for a brief time, she finally set sail for the country that would become her long-term home: INDIA!
Within twelve years, Miss Carmichael had 130 children in her care and had rescued many hundreds more. For fifty-five years, she sacrificially lived and ministered in India…without even a furlough. Many others were inspired to join with her, and together with these co-workers, she established an Indian mission work called “The Dohnaver Fellowship”.
Amy Carmichael is best remembered for her life work of saving precious Indian children (especially rescuing many young girls from Hindu temple prostitution). Even today, through her books and writings, the impact of her life and testimony continues to challenge many to a deeper walk with the Lord, and a deeper commitment to His service.
Thy Brother’s Blood – A Vision for Souls
The tom-toms thumped straight on all night, and the darkness shuddered ‘round me like a living, feeling thing. I could not go to sleep, so I lay awake and looked; and I saw, as it seemed, this:
That I stood on a grassy precipice, and at my feet at crevice broke down into infinite space. I looked, but saw no bottom; only cloud shapes, black and furiously coiled, and great shadow-shrouded hollows, and unfathomable depths. Back I drew, dizzy at the depth.
Then I saw forms of people moving in single file along the grass. They were making for the edge. There was a woman with a baby in her arms and another little child holding onto her dress. She was on the very verge. Then I saw that she was blind. She lifted her foot for the next step…it trod air. She was over, and the children over with her. Oh, they cry as they went over! Then I saw more streams of people flowing from all quarters. All were blind, stone blind; and all made straight for the crevice’s edge. They were shrieks as they suddenly knew in themselves that they were falling, and a tossing up of helpless arms, catching, clutching at empty air. But some went over quietly and fell without a sound.
Then I wondered with a wonder that was simple agony, why no one stopped them at the edge. I could not, I was glued to the ground. And I could not call; though I strained and tried, only a whisper would come.
Then I saw that along the edge there were guards set at intervals. But the intervals were too great; there were wide, unguarded gaps between. And over these gaps the people fell in their blindness, quite unwarned; and the green grass seemed blood-red to me, and gulf yawned like the mouth of hell.
Then I saw, like a little picture of peace, a group of people under some trees with their backs turned towards the gulf. They were making daisy chains. Sometimes when a piercing shriek cut the quiet air and reached them, it disturbed them and they thought it a rather vulgar noise. And if one of their number started up and wanted to go and do something to help, then all the others would pull that one down. “Why should you get all excited about it? You must wait for a definite call to go! You haven’t finished your daisy chain yet. It would be really selfish,” they said, “to leave us to finish the work alone.”
There was another group. It was made up of people whose great desire was to get more guards out; but they found that very few wanted to go, and sometimes there were no guards set for miles and miles of the edge.
One girl stood alone in her place, waving the people back; but her mother and other relations called, and reminded her that her furlough was due; she must not break the rules. And being tired and needing a change, she had to go and rest for a while; but no one was sent to guard her gap, and over and over the people fell, like a waterfall of souls.
Once a child caught at a tuft of grass that grew at the very brink of the gulf; it clung convulsively, and it called — but nobody seemed to hear. Then the roots of the grass gave way, and with a cry the child went over, the two little hands still holding right to the torn-off bunch of grass. And the girl who longed to be back in her gap thought she heard the little one cry, and she sprang up and wanted to go; at which they reproved her, reminding her that no one is necessary anywhere; they gap would be well taken care of, they knew. And then they sang a hymn.
Then through the hymn came another sound like the pain of a million broken hearts wrung out in one full drop, one sob. And a horror of great darkness was upon me, for I knew what it was; the cry of the blood.
Then thundered a voice, the voice of the Lord. And he said, “What hast though done? The voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto Me from the ground.”
The ton-toms still beat heavily, and darkness still shuddered and shivered about me. I heard the yells of the devil-dancers and weird, wild shrieks of the devil-possessed just outside the gate.
What does it matter, after all? It has gone on for years; it will go on for years. Why make such a fuss about it? — God forgive us! God arouse us! Shame us out of our callousness! Shame us out of our sin!
Amy Carmichael, Thy Brother’s Blood Crieth:
(India: The Dohnavur Fellowship).
Obtained from an article from Bethany Fellowship, Inc.
Minneapolis, MN.
George Müller: Trusting God for Daily Bread
During the 1800s, missionary George Müller cared for thousands of orphan children in Bristol, England. He also traveled over 200,000 miles (by ship) across the globe, sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and encouraging Christians for world missions . . . all while maintaining a joyful example of ministry and family balance.
Over the next few months, we want to encourage you in your walk with God with examples from our missionary heritage.
The following excerpt is adapted from Ann’s book,
The Mission-Minded FamilyTrusting God for Daily Bread
George Müller (1805-1898) was a Christian missionary evangelist and a coordinator of orphanages in Bristol, England. Through his faith and prayers (and without asking for money) he had the privilege of caring for over 120,000 orphan children. He also traveled over 200,000 miles (by ship) to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in 42 countries and to challenge believers about world missions and trusting God. In his journals, Müller recorded miracle-after-miracle of God’s provision and answered prayer:
One morning, all the plates and cups and bowls on the table were empty. There was no food in the larder and no money to buy food. The children were standing, waiting for their morning meal, when Müller said, “Children, you know we must be in time for school.” Then lifting up his hands he prayed, “Dear Father, we thank Thee for what Thou art going to give us to eat.”
There was a knock at the door. The baker stood there, and said, “Mr. Müller, I couldn’t sleep last night. Somehow I felt you didn’t have bread for breakfast, and the Lord wanted me to send you some. So I got up at 2 a.m. and baked some fresh bread, and have brought it.”
Mr. Müller thanked the baker, and no sooner had he left, when there was a second knock at the door. It was the milkman. He announced that his milk cart had broken down right in front of the orphanage, and he would like to give the children his cans of fresh milk so he could empty his wagon and repair it.
. . . and an example of family-balance
At his wife Mary’s funeral, Müller’s loving words also represent a good example of the joy God gives when ministry and family priorities are balanced:
Were we happy? Verily we were.
With every year our happiness increased more and more. I never saw my beloved wife at any time, when I met her unexpectantly anywhere in Bristol, England, without being delighted so to do. Day by day, as we met in our dressing room, at the Orphan Houses, to wash our hands before dinner and tea, I was delighted to meet her, and she was equally pleased to see me. Thousands of times I told her, “My darling, I never saw you at any time, since you became my wife, without my being delighted to see you.”
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways, acknowledge Him,
And He will direct your paths.”
(Proverbs 3:5-6)
The JOY of trusting JESUS!
George Müller is featured in this month’s Harvest Ministry mission newsletter:
Can we send you our mission newsletter?
This month’s Harvest Ministry mission newsletter (with a brand-new “look”) highlights this awesome missionary hero, George Müller — along this month’s theme of TRUSTING God (and — on the inside — current HM mission praise reports and highlights for prayer). We recently sent these out in the mail, but we have quite a few extras. We would be honored and thankful if you would like to become a mission prayer-partner with us.
If you would like a (in the real-mail) just CONTACT US with your mailing address.
