Christian Heroes: Then & Now

The icy Arctic cold stabbed at Wilfred’s fingers and toes. A howling wind was pushing the ice pan he was stranded on out to sea -- and with it hope of rescue. His clothes, soaked when his dogsled fell through the ice, were now frozen. Lying near his sled dog for warmth, Wilfred fought off sleep, knowing he might never wake up. Adventurous Wilfred Grenfell was no stranger to danger. As a new Christian, this English doctor ministered to fishermen on the deadly North Sea. And when her heard about the appalling poverty and injustice across the ocean in Newfoundland, he went to work among the deperately poor fishing communities of the wild, remote Labrador coast. There Dr. Grenfell pioneered life-saving hospitals, schools, orphanages, and fishermen’s co-ops as he shared the hope of the gospel with people whose lives has offered only despair. For good reason, everyone from heads of state to destitute children revered Sir Wilfred Grenfell for his kindness and courage.

William Carey watched from the dock as the magnificent sailing ship headed for the English Channel without him. Tears filled his eyes, and deep disappointment filled his heart. What would he tell the missionary society? So much work awaited him half a world away. He must get to India--and soon! William’s amazing journey to India would prove to be just the beginning of a missionary quest filled with hardship and heartache as well as tremendous victories. Often referred to as “the father of modern missions,” William Carey displayed a single-minded determination to set his face like a flint to the task of bringing the gospel to those lost in darkness. His life of service and sacrifice is a guidpost for Christians of all generations.

William burst into the house. “I have found my destiny!” he shouted. “I have found a place where there is so much human misery in such a small space that there is a lifetime’s worth of work there for me!” Horrified by the poverty and suffering most people took for granted in industrial England, William Booth dedicated his life to bringing the gospel to the outcasts of society who would never enter a church and weren’t welcome there. At age fifteen William vowed, “God shall have all there is of William Booth,” and not even resistance from the church and government, lack of financial support, or vicious attacks by angry mobs could stop him from spreading the light of the gospel through the streets of England. Today, all around the world, General William Booth’s Salvation Army operates thousands of evangelistic and social service centers, changing countless lives with the love of God and the courage of their convictions.

As Sundar preached the gospel to the crowd, the monastery guard marched forward and arrested him. Sundar was dragged to the edge of town and hurled to the bottom of an abandoned well. The air was putrid. Desperation and loneliness soon washed over him. Left to die, Sundar leaned against the side of the well and began to pray. Searching since boyhood for the way to God, Sundar Singh found truth in Jesus Christ. At sixteen, the former Sikh became a Christian sadhu, or holy man, and at great risk devoted his life to Christ. With bare feet and few possessions, Sundar crossed the precarious Himalayas between India and Tibet many times, sharing the gospel with Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs -- even thieves. As he traveled, Sundar constantly read the Bible, prayed, and meditated, confident that God was always with him, even in the face of death. Preaching in Asia, Europe, and as far away as America, this Indian saint impacted thousands with his quiet yet bold words and actions.

The spiritual needs of the Muslim world, long neglected by Christian missionaries, came to the world’s attention again when Samuel Zwemer dedicated himself to the advancement of the gospel in Arabia. It was a tremendous task, but a pledge the young American kept despite opposition, difficulty, and death. Zwemer founded the Arabian Mission in Bahrain to serve Muslims through medical care, Christian literture, and preaching. With a heart on fire for Muslim people, he relentlessly shared his vision worldwide, calling many to action. Zwemer’s legacy of opening a long-closed door challenges and inspires us today to love and respect Muslims and to proclaim Jesus’ name in the homeland of Islam.

The thought of a land with not one Christian and not one missionary haunted Rowland. Images of cannibals and slaves pushed away sleep, and the stranger’s words “Are you prepared to go if God calls you?” echoed over and over as he turned in his bed. Was he, Rowland Bingham, willing to go to the Sudan, where white men nearly always died? At age twenty Rowland Bingham committed hiself to serving not only in Africa, known as the white man’s grave, but in Africa’s Sudan interior, where few missionaried had ventured and those who did soon died of disease or retreated in defeat. Experience missionaries told Rowland that his dream was impossible. But when he found himself the sole surviving member of the fledgling Sudan Interior Mission, he didn’t give up - neither did God. In an amazing story of vision and faith, God used this willing servant to open a way for the gospel’s light to shine on millions of people once thought beyond reach.

“As he tried to think calmly about faith, Richard realized that he didn’t want anything to do with Christianity, even if it did turn out to be true. He could only imagine life as a Christian Jew, and what he imagined was awful. No one in his or her right mind would choose such a path. At least, Richard was sure that he would not choose it.” Richard Wurmbrand, founder of Voice of the Martyrs, was once a young atheist determined to experience everything the world had to offer. Yet he regretted that God did not exist, wishing that a heart of love beat somewhere in the universe. When the Romanian found that heart of love in Jesus Christ, he had the courage to serve Christ unswervingly even as his homeland sided with the Nazis and then sank into the new horrors of post-war Communism. Stubbornly respecting the worst enemies as fellow human beings and repaying hatred with love, the beloved pastor would spend years as a prisoner of the state, tortured and beaten, for preaching the gospel of peace.

Aboard the Aquitania, Rachel became aware of something strange happening to her. It was as if she were not on the deck of the ship anymore but was instead in a jungle clearing, looking at a group of brown-skinned, half-naked people. The people beckoned for her to come. Suddenly the scene vanished, and Rachel fell to her knees and prayed. When young Rachel Saint surrendered her life to God, she began an unimaginable journey that would span decades and radically transform a dying culture steeped in revenge. Against all odds, God would lead her to Ecuador’s Waorani Indians -- known as Aucas, or savages, and infamous for murder. Despite the martyrdom of five missionaries by Waorani spears, Rachel boldly persisted in following God. In one of the greatest testimonies to God’s grace and power in our time, this pioneering Bible translator would live for two decades with her own brother’s killers, for the joy of seeing them become brothers and sisters in Christ.

Watching his father perform medical procedures back in India had convinced Paul that medicine was about blood and guts and ulcers. To his amazement, he found that it was really about causes and cures, alleviating pain, and treating ill people with dignity. The son of missionary parents, Paul Brand did not plan on becoming a doctor. After training as a builder, he was called by God into medicine and spent a lifetime treating leprosy and restoring hope to thousands of sufferers. Dr. Paul Brand became the first surgeon in the world to use reconstructive surgery to correct the deformities of leprosy in the hands and feet. He strove to eliminate the stigma of the disease and rebuild the lives of those destroyed by it. A humble, brilliant servant, he influenced faith and medical communities around the world, reminding us that all men are created in the image of God.

Norman read the first sentence of the letter again: The whole country round seems to be really greedy to hear the Word of God, many are deciding for Christ. As he read, he heard a clear voice inside his head say, That is where you are to go. A shiver ran down Norman’s spine. He was positive God had just directed him to join C.T. Studd and his mission in the heart of Africa. That was where his lifes work lay. As a boy at boarding school in Great Britain, Norman would never have guessed where his lifes work would take him. After serving in World War I, he studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he played a key role in the beginnings of InterVarsity Fellowship. Following in the footsteps of C.T. Studd, Norman then answered God s call to join the Heart of Africa Mission in the Belgian Congo. A passionate yet humble evangelist, missionary, and teacher, Norman went on to lead the Worldwide Evangelistic Crusade (WEC) and helped found the Christian Literature Crusade. Pouring his heart into teaching the Bible and writing numerous books, he strengthened the faith of thousands.

“Seven-year-old Nate Saint peered wide-eyed over the cockpit of his older brother Sam’s Challenger biplane. The eastern Pennsylvania countryside was spread out neatly below him like a fine tablecloth. Nate was determined to remember every moment of this first high-flying adventure.” Flying soon captured Nate’s heart. His air service ministry to isolated missionaries put him on a path of destiny that would ultimately end with a final airplane flight with 4 missionary friends to the “Palm Beach” landing strip in the jungles of Ecuador. The men’s lives given that day not only opened a door to the gospel for the unreached “Acucas”; it has been said that possibly no single event of the twentieth century awakened more hearts to God’s call to serve in missions.

Standing atop a mound of rocks, Mildred wrapped her blue padded jacket tightly around her and squinted against the sand-laden wind. To her right the Great Wall wound east for fourteen hundred miles until it reached the Yellow Sea. Before her lay the rocks and sand of the vast Gobi Desert. She would enter this feared place in peace God was here too. Missionary trio Mildred Cable (1878–1952) and Evangeline and Franscesca French were the first Englishwomen to cross the infamous Gobi Desert, living for years among the diverse peoples of northwestern China in places few Europeans ever reached. Educated and rich, Mildred Cable once planned to be a concert pianist. Instead she served the people of China through wars and revolutions. Whether speaking the truth to a brutal general who held her prisoner, educating generations of Chinese girls, building self-sustaining Christian communities, or traveling the ancient Silk Road on a mule cart, Mildred followed Jesus with grit, determination, intelligence, and faith.

While many missionaries died within months, this fiery mill worker from Scotland labored in love among the unreached tribes of Africa’s Calabar region for thirty-nine years (1848–1915).

Ten-year old Lottie Moon had seen too much bitterness and gossip among churchgoers to want anything to do with religion or God. In fact, if there was a single way to waste a life, Lottie told herself, being a missionary was it. In a twist that only God could orchestrate, this spirited young girl who grew up to become the most educated woman in the American South would ultimately find her calling as a missionary to China. As Lottie watched her fellow missionaries fall to disease, exhaustion, mental breakdowns, and death, she became just as dedicated to educating Christians about the often preventable tragedies of missionary life as she was to educating Chinese people about the Christian life. The sacrificial service of the unforgettable Lottie Moon has inspired and enabled countless others to give their all for the dream of seeing the whole world reached with the gospel.

Without warning, a huge map of the world appeared in Loren’s mind’s eye. Loren blinked, but the map was still there. Soon it was covered with ocean waves beating on every shore. Then the waves turned into the faces of young people flowing over every nation. Was Loren being given a glimpse of the future? If so, what part was he going to play? Ever since he was a young boy dreaming of writing “God is Love” on the moon so that all the world’s people could see it, Loren Cunningham has committed his life to reaching the whole world with the Good News of Jesus Christ, ministering in every nation on earth. Through his unswerving belief that nothing is impossible for God, Loren’s vision of waves of young people became the reality of Youth With A Mission, unleashing young Christians in missionary service when that was unheard of. Today, through the mission he began, multiplied thousands of believers- young and old- are working together to bring the gospel to the whole earth.

“Do you mean to say you have no food for tomorrow?” the Egyptian man sputtered. “Well, yes,” Lillian replied. The man exclaimed, “How awful! Will you be able to sleep tonight?” One of the orphan girls laughed out loud and said, “Why, Mama never has any food for tomorrow, and she never loses sleep over it!” “When Lillian Trasher founded Egypt’s first orphanage, others thought that a lone American woman with no means of support would surely be killed or starve to death. But Lillian - certain of God’s guidance - stood by her earlier promise to Him, ‘If ever I can do anything for You, just let me know - and I’ll do it.’ In the midst of poverty, war, and deadly epidemics, Lillian faced each day with a heart of trust, modeling the life she hoped her children would someday live in their own homes. During fifty tumultuous years, the Mother of the Nile cared for thousands of desperate children, with unwavering faith that God does indeed look after the orphans.

It was totally dark. The lights in the city were turned off, and there were no street lamps, no neon signs, and no extra glow in shop windows. Klaus noticed that theirs was the only car on the road. How would they slip by the checkpoint? Klaus glanced at his wife Tina, whose eyes were shut in prayer. Suddenly he heard a thunderous crash, then saw a bright flash of light. Klaus-Dieter John (1960-) dreamed of becoming a medical missionary in the developing world. He would do whatever it took -- study in top universities and practice surgery in remote and dangerous places -- to reach his goal of providing health care for people who needed it most. Dr. John’s seemingly impossible vision of Diospi-Suyana, a world-class hospital for impoverished Peruvians deep in the Andes Mountains, was blessed by God to the end. Despite challenges in fund-raising, construction, moving his family from Germany, and countless roadblocks, Klaus’s dream was finally realized, bringing hope in a land loved by God.

“What would make you come back?” the Chinese people asked. “What is so important that you would risk your life to tell us?” Jonathan eagerly explained to them what had brought him back to China, even after so many foreigners had been killed: the need to share the gospel. As a poor Canadian farm boy, Jonathan Goforth had no idea that he would spend most of his life braving disaster, danger, and disease to share God’s love with the people of China. But when God led him to do just that, nothing, not even the violent Boxer Rebellion, would stop Jonathan and his family from answering God’s call. Making their home in China, the Goforths opened their doors to as many as five thousand visitors a month, all of whom heard the gospel message. Their nearly fifty years of service to a nation in need would leave behind a legacy of many thousands of Chinese Christians.

The thousands of islands scattered across the Pacific Ocean were home to fierce warriors and cannibals who sacrificed their children to the many gods they worshiped. A few islands had been dramatically transformed by the gospel, but thousands more were waiting for someone to come and teach them about the one true God. John Williams dedicated his life to bringing the message of Christ’s love and peace to these brutal islands. In the face of constant danger, he discipled and inspired Polynesians to go as missionaries to their neighbors, ultimately giving his life to see the gospel spread across the vast Pacific. (1796–1839)

Pursuing his calling with singleness of vision, John Wesley defied the strength of angry mobs and longstanding traditions to offer the hope of Christ to millions of people who were outside the influence of the churches of the day. Passionate and tireless, this Anglican clergyman rode a quarter of a million miles on horseback during his lifetime, stopping to preach more than forty thousand sermons in open fields, churches, and barns. Focused on God’s love and holy living, the movement Wesley founded quickly multiplied in vibrant Methodist societies all over England and would soon influence far-flung nations for Christ.

John Newton’s life was in a downward spiral. Impressed into the Royal Navy, John clashed with his fellow seamen and even became a servant alongside slaves in West Africa. When he found himself on a sinking ship, he called out to God for help. John began his conversion to Christianity while he captained a slave ship. Eventually he gave up his former life completely and became a minister with a deep passion for the gospel. A living witness to God’s ability to change hearts, John joined the movement to set slaves free and penned hymns of hope, such as “Amazing Grace,” sung by millions around the world today.

While studying to be a minister, John Flynn longed to apply his training to help people in practical ways. Soon he discovered that his mission field was inside his own country and the vast, dangerous outback, or Never Never, where life-and-death struggles were a constant reality.

Jim and Pete turned to see the Auca men, their deadly spears raised, running toward Nate, Ed, and Roger. Jim stood in the river, his hand on his pistol. Should he defend himself? He already knew the answer. Each man had promised the others that he would not save himself by killing those they had sought out in Jesus’ name. Jim Elliot and his coworkers surrendered their lives in Ecuador’s jungle, trusting that their sacrifice would not be in vain. Decades later, this dramatic event has challenged countless Christians to live with one great purpose: to bring the gospel to those who have never heard.

Three thousand feet above China, it was Jake’s turn to jump. He slid his pistol, knife, and ration packets into the pockets of his leather jacket and edged toward the open hatch of the B-25 bomber. He checked the tension on the harness of his parachute, made sure the handle of the ripcord was free, and then began lowering himself out of the hatch and into the darkness. One of the famous Doolittle Raiders who first attacked Japan after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Jacob DeShazer knew his one-way mission was dangerous. Indeed, it led to his capture as a prisoner of war. Beaten, malnourished, and alone in his cell, Jacob was given a Bible - and far away from home, this American soldier became a Christian. After the war, Jacob returned to Japan and served his former enemy for thirty years as a missionary. His testimony of forgiveness and reconciliation - of love over hate - inspires a powerful gospel message for our lives today.

As a fourteen-year-old intent on living a “modern” life, the last thing Isobel Kuhn wanted to grow up to be was a missionary. But as it turned out, this young agnostic’s life was redirected―from crisis and doubt to hope and strength. Convinced that God wanted her to preach the gospel as a China Inland missionary, Isobel bravely served among the Lisu people in remote mountainous regions of China and Thailand. After twenty years of ministry Isobel returned to the United States, writing stirring stories of faith and inspiring generations of readers (1901–1957).

Ida stamped her foot. Her friends were wrong. “I will not be a missionary to India like my parents!” she retorted. “Don’t any of you say I will be, because I won’t -- never, ever, ever.” Ida had never forgotten the faces of starving Indian children. She hated India -- it was full of horrible situations she could do nothing about. Ida Scudder was sure she would never follow in the footsteps of her medical missionary father. But when she witnessed Indian women dying because their religious beliefs didn’t allow male doctors to treat them, Ida heard herself pray, “God, if You want me to, I will spend the rest of my life in India trying to help these women.” Serving for nearly sixty years, Dr. Ida Scudder lived out the truth and compassion found in Christ. She pioneered a first-rate medical school and hospital, brought life-saving health care to rural people, and left an inspiring legacy that still touches missions of people each year with healing and hope.

Hudson survived his perilous maiden voyage to his beloved China. With his heart set in determined obedience to God, and trusting the provision of the One who had called, Hudson overcame persecution and almost overwhelming personal losses to bring to bring God’s truth to the “ripe harvest fields” of China. Today, Hudson Taylor’s story continues to challenge and inspire believers young and old to carry the anchoring gospel message, regardless of personal trial or hardships, to those who are adrift and without hope.

When she arrived at a clinic, usually five hundred, sometimes a thousand people were there to greet her. Helen’s reputation as the unstoppable Mama Luka had gone before her - she could do more to heal a sick child or baby than all the witch doctors in the area combined. This was the work God had called her to pioneer, and that belief encouraged her. Helen Roseveare served as a medical missionary in the Congo during one of the most chaotic periods in the nation’s history. Arriving in 1953, Helen felt God lay on her heart the task of training future nurses to provide desperately needed medical care in the Congo. Helen worked tirelessly as a doctor in the villages and jungles, training medical workers and overseeing the building of hospitals. Gifted with an incredible amount of strength and energy, Helen yearned to see the Congo flourish. Even in the face of violence during the struggle for independence from Belgian colonial rule, Helen refused to give up.

This is the powerful story of Gladys Aylward. Without formal education or a missionary organization to back her, Gladys raised her own finances for the overland trip that would bring her to the country and people that God had etched so deeply on her heart.... China! What follows is an amazing adventure of faith and determination. Gladys Aylward, a housemaid from England, dared to trust God in the face of dire and seemingly hopeless circumstances. Her amazing adventure of faith and determination is one of the truly great missionary stories of our era (1902–1970).

George Müller stared at the beggar girl. She was no older than five and was piggybacking her little brother. Her mother had died in the cholera epidemic sweeping England. Her father had never returned from the mines. Standing in the muddy street, this little girl gave a face to Bristol’s countless orphans. With scarcely enough food or money for his own family, George Müller opened his heart and home. Sustained by God’s provision, the Müller house “Breakfast Club” of thirty orphans grew to five large houses that ultimately over ten thousand children would call home. George Müller trusted God with a depth rarely seen. His faith and generosity set a standard for Christians of all generations.

“Frank felt his heart beat fast. At that moment he was certain God was calling him, asking him to give up his ties to his homeland and set out across the Atlantic Ocean. He did not hesitate to stand when John Wesley asked preachers to walk forward if they felt God was calling them to the American colonies.” One of the first Methodist bishops in America, English-born Francis Asbury devoted his life to ministry, traveling on horseback to preach and teach to those living on the vastly isolated American frontier. Alone in a new country, with no home of his own, Asbury rode over 300,000 miles -- across rivers and through rocky, overgrown roads -- shining God’s light on the fledgling colonies. When many Methodist clergy left America during the Revolutionary War, Asbury stayed. His tireless leadership saw the movement grow from 5,000 members in 1776 to 214,000 at the time of his death, fulfilling the great destiny of his call and inspiring future generations.

Once timid and unsure of her own salvation, New Zealander Florence Young rose to her calling and became a fearless and faithful witness for Jesus Christ. Eventually serving in the remote Solomon Islands and, for a season, in China during the deadly Boxer Rebellion, Florence began her service close to home. This one woman’s mission to the Solomon Islanders, or Kanakas, working on her family’s Australian plantation soon expanded to their home islands. There, as Florence and others helped Kanaka believers reach out to villages steeped in cannibalism and revenge killings, thousands of people were transformed by the love of God.

Eric’s refusal earlier that week to run on Sunday in the Olympic 100-meter race had stunned the world. Now his incredible victory in the 400-meter race further strengthened his belief in God’s promise, “He who honors Me, I will honor.” Years later, Eric Liddell would be tested far beyond mere physical ability as a missionary to China. His character, perseverance, and endurance are a challenging example for all who would obey the call to bring the gospel to the nations.

Since she was young, Elisabeth Elliot had been intrigued by missionaries who gave up so much to tell others about God s love. With a passion to translate the Bible into new languages, she followed God’s call to work among tribes in Ecuador, including the Waorani (Auca), who had killed her husband and four others. Elisabeth kept a detailed journal of her life and missionary service. She returned to the United States after many years in South America, becoming one of the most influential Christian women of our time. A prolific author, speaker, and radio host, she passes on a message of joyful surrender to the world.

As Dietrich sang the German national anthem, he contemplated the devastation Hitler and the Nazis were perpetrating on Europe. Dietrich would do whatever he could to stop them, even if it meant pulling the trigger on the fuhrer himself. He had thought about it from every angle, and his conscience was clear. Born into a loving family, Dietrich Bonhoeffer pursued a life as a pastor, teacher, theologian -- and spy. He spoke out about the trouble in Germany when Adolph Hitler came to power, urging the Christian church to rescue disparaged people groups and resist Hitler’s evil empire. Accused of being a troublemaker, Dietrich continued on fearlessly in the midst of wickedness. His work as a spy in the German resistance and participation in a plot to assassinate Hitler led to imprisonment and eventual execution. But the lesson of his life story remains: “Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”

The lion’s jaws gripped David Livingstone’s arm. Razor-sharp teeth pierced his flesh as the lion savagely shook David in the air like a rag doll. A gunshot rang out. “God help us,” David moaned, as the lion dropped him and turned to charge David’s friend Mebalwe. With the heart of an explorer and the passion of an evangelist, David Livingstone mapped vast, unexplored areas of Africa, sharing the gospel with whomever he encountered. His stamina, perserverance, and dogged determination created the legacy of a trailblazing explorer with an undying hunger to make Christ known wherever his steps led him. David Livingstone’s captivating adventures and tireless zeal continue to inspire countless men and women to bring the gospel message of God’s love to those souls who have never heard.

David listened to what the others said and thought for a few moments. He didn’t often talk to the other boys about what he was thinking, but this time he opened his mouth and said, “I’m going to be a millionaire and retire by the time I’m forty!” David Bussau grew up in New Zealand boys’ homes where expectations of the young men were grim. David shattered those expectations, emerging as an enterprising teenager running a rented hot dog stand. Numerous business ownerships and financial success followed, and with that success, a vision to provide natural disaster relief and aid to the poor in Australia, Indonesia, India, and beyond. Today David’s work continues through Opportunity International, a worldwide aid organization that offers small business loans to help the poor start and grow their own businesses. Certain of his direction, this hero to the world’s poor is looking ahead, using business to advance the kingdom of God.

Seventeen-year-old Dwight Lyman Moody changed his name, moved to Boston, and began pursuing dreams of becoming a wealthy businessman. But God had other plans for him. Instead of business, evangelism was to be his life’s work. D.L. devoted his life to proclaiming the gospel, serving the poor, and mentoring fellow ministers. A leader of great vision, D. L. Moody served his fellow man through Civil War outreach, his Sunday school and church, and revival campaigns in America and abroad. His passion for bringing souls to Christ continues to be felt today in Christian education and ministry everywhere.

Six-year-old Ludwig was sitting at the table, reading his Bible and praying, when Swedish soldiers stormed through the castle door. Ludwig looked up at the soldiers and then returned to his prayer and reading. The soldiers stopped and stared-then left. They said they could not ransack a place that God watched over. An unusually mature Christian at a very young age, Count Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf did not follow the course dictated by his noble birth but followed God’s call even to the point of being banned from his native Saxony. Once destined for the royal court, the count instead became a spiritual father to millions. Count Zinzendorf opened his estate to persecuted Moravian Christians, and under his leadership this vibrant community launched the modern missions movement. Beginning at Herrnhut and traveling as far as Africa, America, and Russia, the bold believers of the Moravian Church planted seeds that continue to bear fruit even today.

Suddenly, Corrie’s ordered life was lost in the insanity of war. With bravery and compassion, her family and countless other Dutch citizens risked everything to extend God’s hand to those innocents marked for certain execution in a world gone mad. Corrie ten Boom’s life of determination, faith, and forgiveness in the face of unimaginable brutality and hardship is a stunning testimony to the sustaining power of God.

Returning to Radio HCJB, Clarence brought up the rear as the men rode in the dark along the narrow horse trail carved from the mountainside. Suddenly Clarence’s horse stumbled and slid over the trail’s edge, taking him with it. As horse and rider fell toward the canyon floor one thousand feet below, Clarence was not even able to scream. Although born into a devout Christian family, Clarence Jones wasn’t interested in religion. It was this Midwesterner’s ear for music that led him to play trombone at Chicago’s Moody Church, where he gave his life to Christ and volunteered for mission work. Clarence’s work began in Chicago, where he helped pioneer something unheard of-Christian radio broadcasts. Soon God called Clarence to “go south with radio.” Led to Ecuador, Clarence worked unswervingly to cofound Radio HCJB and the World Radio Missionary Fellowship. His legacy of broadcasting the gospel to the ends of the earth soars on the airwaves today.

When Charles Mulli was a child, his family repeatedly abandoned him, and he lived in fear of his abusive, alcoholic father. With an extraordinary will, the young Kenyan struggled to feed and educate himself and, encountering hope in the gospel, found a reason to live and to forgive. Later, as a multimillionaire and father of eight, the entrepreneur sold his businesses to devote himself to caring for street children throughout Kenya. Since 1989, Charles and his wife, Esther, have taken into their protection thousands of the most vulnerable through Mully Children’s Family, revealing in the midst of brokenness God’s astonishing redemptive power (1949 - ).

The Cakchiquel man became indignant when Cam offered him a tract in Spanish. “Do you have one in Cakchiquel?” he asked. “There are none, I’m sorry,” replied Cam. “Well,” retorted the man, “if your God is so great, why can’t he speak my language?” In one decisive moment, Cameron Townsend understood that God had called him to translate the Bible into the language of his Guatemalan friends. For Cam, the obstacles were small when compared to the growing reward of helping the diverse people of Guatemala, Mexico, and Peru read God’s life-changing Word for themselves. Quick on his feet and slow to give up, Cam started Wycliffe Bible Translators with the dream of making the Good News available in every language. Since 1942, Wycliffe has translated Scripture into hundreds of languages, speading God’s Word to people all over the world.

C.T. and his companion were lost in the African jungle. All the warning others had given the two missionaries rushed into C.T.’s mind. He had the uneasy sensation of being watched. C.T. shivered as he stared into the dense foliage surrounding him. He was exposed on all sides, clearly visible to anything or anyone concealed in the jungle. Endowed with rare determination and a wry sense of humor, C.T. Studd unceasingly pursued a life devoted to God. A star English cricket player in his youth, C.T. did nothing halfway. When challenged by near tragedy and the words of an atheist, the wealthy young man became a missionary of exteme devotion. Serving in China, India, and finally Central Africa, C.T. Studd was the first missionary to reach numerous tribes deep in the congo. Together with the mission he founded, Worldwide Evangelization Crusade, this man who refused to retreat opened a way for Africans to hear the gospel for years to come.

From his earliest childhood, C.S. Lewis loved to hear and tell stories. Persuaded that stories could reveal the truth about the real world in a unique way, the literature professor would write more than thirty books, including science fiction, theology, literary criticism, and fantasy. (1898 -1963) In an era marked by two world wars, Lewis attacked tough questions about life and faith headfirst. Convinced that the story of Jesus Christ is the truest of all stories, and known for searching out the truth with honesty, clarity, and imagination, the former atheist would become one of the most influential Christians of the twentieth century.

When he became God’s smuggler, Brother Andrew was already familiar with risk. As a boy, the intrepid Andrew Van Der Bijl joined the Dutch Resistance against the Nazi occupation. As a young man, he fought eagerly in the Dutch East Indies - until the horror of war turned the adventure seeker to a life of alcohol and desperation. Redeemed by God, the Dutchman became a daring messenger of hope, smuggling Scripture through closed borders and equipping persecuted Christians behind the Iron Curtain. Today Brother Andrew and the ministry of Open Doors continue to shine the light of Christ in the world’s darkest places.

Betty Greene coaxed her Grumman seaplane to two thousand feet..... Suddenly, silence--total silence. The plane engine had stopped! Her passengers gasped, but Betty knew she must remain calm. They had only a slim chance for survival: the twisting jungle river below them. As a young girl growing up on the shores of Lake Washington Betty Greene had two passions: a love for Christ and a love of flying. As a young World War ll WASP pilot, Betty dreamed of combining her two passions by using wings to serve God. Betty’s dream became reality when she helped found the Mission Aviation Fellowship. Her faith-filled adventures and faithful service helped create what is today a global ministry that operates over eighty aircraft in nineteen countries.

Amy Carmichael stood on the deck of the steamer, waving good-bye once again to her old friend Robert Wilson. How could she have known she would never see him or the British Isles again? Amy was certain God had called her to India. Indeed! India would be home for the rest of her life. Amy’s life was marked by a simple, determined obedience to God, regardless of circumstances. Her story and legacy are stunning reminders of the impact of one person who will fear God and nothing else. Driven by love and compassion, and sustained by faith and determination, Amy Carmichael defied the cruel barriers of India’s caste system. The story of this young woman from Northern Ireland is a brilliant, sparkling example of God’s love generously poured out to “the least of these among us.”

Each morning patients gathered outside the clinic to see the doctor. So many suffered from the most painful medical conditions Albert could imagine. An old African man told him, “Among us everyone is ill. Our country devours her own children.” Albert found himself agreeing. Nothing could have prepared him for the conditions here. Growing up on the French-German border, son of a Lutheran pastor, Albert Schweitzer adopted a peace-loving approach to life. He studied theology, music, and philosophy and wrote numerous books. At age thirty he felt called to study medicine and eventually became a doctor. Together with his wife, Hélène, he founded a missionary hospital in Lambaréné, Gabon. Devoted to medical work in Africa, Albert was also a beacon of hope for a better future in war-ravaged Europe and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. His impact on medical missions continues to resonate today, inspiring compassionate care to the ends of the earth (1875–1965).

As America’s first foreign missionary, Adoniram Judson thirsted to see the Good News brought to the shrouded land of Burma. His thirst would be quenched, but at an unimaginable price. Adoniram survived starvation, imprisonment, and torture both on land and at sea only to watch his family, coworkers, and friends succumb to death. In spite of heartache and depression, Adoniram Judson translated the entire Bible into Burmese. To this day his work remains the only Burmese translation of the Bible available. Adoniram and his first wife Ann were the spark that spread the fire of the Gospel into Burma, and their evident love for the Burmese people is a compelling story of unswerving dedication and sacrifice.