Scripture:
Philippians 3:12-14
Reflection:
The church in China suffered immense persecution during the 20th century, and especially under Communist rule since 1949. Remarkably, however, throughout the century, the church has seen phenomenal growth. Open Doors estimates that there are currently 97.2 million Christians in China. Furthermore, the absence of missionaries has meant that this is an indigenous church.
In the ‘Boxer Rebellion’ of 1899-1901, hundreds of missionaries and Chinese Christians lost their lives. This was mainly in the northern provinces of China, where missionary work had been commenced by the China Inland Mission and the ‘Cambridge Seven’ (see reflection on D.L. Moody for 17th May 2021).
Gladys Aylward arrived in China in 1932 aged 27. She was a parlourmaid, and had travelled to China without any missionary society or church backing, but simply on her conviction that God wanted her there to ‘preach the gospel of Jesus Christ’. Indeed, she had been turned down by a missionary society because of her lack of theological training and linguistic ability. She travelled across Europe and Russia, eventually arriving at the home of an elderly missionary called Jeannie Lawson.
Together they opened an Inn for ‘muleteers’ (a person who drives mules), and in the evenings they told Bible stories to the men, introducing them to Jesus. In the daytime they preached in the surrounding villages. Despite the predictions, Gladys learnt the local dialect and preached in it. She adopted Chinese dress, ate Chinese food and after four years, became a naturalised Chinese subject. Her name, given to her by the local people, was ‘Ai-weh-deh, which means ‘the virtuous woman’.
After the death of Jeannie Lawson, Gladys took additional work as a ‘Foot Inspector’. She would visit the villages, unbinding the feet of young girls (for more on the practice of foot binding, click here). By this means she earned additional income, and also had further opportunity to teach about Jesus.
Many people were converted, and so Gladys opened a large room at the Inn for use as a mission hall. The believers in each village also began meeting together, thus forming churches. Gladys constantly travelled about, meeting with them for worship and teaching. Chinese leaders and evangelists were raised up, and other missionaries joined them.
Gladys Aylward, however, is best remembered for her care of orphans. Many children were abandoned by their parents or made homeless by the war. Gladys bought her first child from a child-dealer for nine pence. Eventually she had about one hundred children dependent on her.
On one occasion she intervened in a riot in the town jail. Two men were killed by an inmate wielding an axe and no one would go in to quell the disturbance. The governor sent for Gladys and she went in, trusting God, and was able to calm the man. She tended the wounded and persuaded them all to return to their cells. Gladys encouraged the governor to give the men work to do so that they could earn money. Thereafter, she regularly visited the prisoners.
In 1931 she was beaten, then later badly wounded when the Japanese invaded China. She was pulled out from the rubble following an attack and went on to give first-aid the wounded. Gladys was then persuaded to escape and she set out to walk over the mountains to Siam (Thailand) with her one hundred children. More than five weeks later they arrived exhausted at an orphanage. God used her mightily there before she finally set out for England, after twenty years away. There she spent eight years travelling around and telling the story of the church in China. Unable to return to her adopted country, she travelled to Taiwan in 1957, where some of her orphaned children had settled. She continued to care for orphans until her death in 1970.
In 1958, the film ‘The Inn of the Sixth Happiness’ was released, based on the story of her life. Gladys was not happy about the film, however, as she felt it did not stay true to her story. Nonetheless, the film brought her considerable fame, along with television appearances and media interviews.
Gladys Aylward had a clear vision of God’s will for her life, and she determined to follow it in her life. It cost her much in comfort and health, but she never gave up her desire to serve God first.
Prayer:
Almighty and everlasting God, we thank you for Gladys Aylward, whom you called to preach the Gospel to the people of China, and who served you with her whole heart. Raise up in our day, in our country and every land, evangelists of your kingdom, that your Church may proclaim the unsearchable riches of our Saviour Jesus Christ. AMEN
Songs:
Great is the darkness – Noel Richards
Facing a task unfinished – words by Frank Houghton
Food for Thought:
Pray that God, by the power of His Holy Spirit, would raise up evangelists and teachers to take his word into every corner of the world.
What is God calling you to do?