![]() She didn’t know she’d save the lives of hundreds of children and have books written about her. Gladys Aylward didn’t know God would lead thousands to Christ through her. Our plans may fail, but God’s most certainly won’t. If we set our minds on Christ and his will, we can be confident. We often despise the thought of failure, but Aylward’s story encourages us that even our failures lead to success-when we define success as God does. Many of the prisoners trusted Christ, not because Aylward studied how to be an effective missionary, but because God opened their hearts when she boldly spoke his Word-even when she was inwardly frightened. Eventually, even convicted murderers listened with awe to the small woman who stood on a mound of dirt and fearlessly proclaimed truth. The first time she visited, she took an ax from a rowdy prisoner. Riots broke out often in the local prison, and the guards asked Aylward to come calm them. Aylward rejoiced that this was God’s doing-not hers. ![]() During the wartime, God used her to lead this group of little ones across dangerous terrain, among opposing soldiers, to safety. She trusted that this was the way God would be most glorified.Īfter adopting a child she found for sale in the street, the Lord brought hundreds of other children to Aylward. She put her hope in his sovereign plan, knowing whatever he willed would succeed. He agreed, and she had countless opportunities to share the gospel with Chinese families.Īylward’s initial plan to get to China may have failed, but God’s plan to use her there succeeded. He wanted her to travel to every surrounding village and enforce the new law that outlawed foot-binding.Īylward obliged under one condition: She would preach the gospel in every home she visited. To her surprise, a government official approached her with a mission. Since Aylward had not been born in China, she walked on unbound feet. The Chinese custom of foot-binding was a cruel practice to stunt girls’ growth. God also uniquely equipped Aylward in another way. Listening night after night to God’s Word taught in Chinese, Aylward eventually learned the language. ![]() Having not yet learned the language, she took care of the guests’ mules while the missionary taught Bible studies nearby. We May Possess Unexpected QualificationsĪt the beginning of her time in China, Aylward lived with a veteran missionary and innkeeper. ![]() Like Aylward, we set our faces where we think God wants us to serve and if God wills, he will get us there.Ĥ. Instead, we ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that” (James 4:13–17). Whether we struggle to find the missionary organization fit for us or fear the inability to raise enough support for our family, we can’t boast that we’ll get on the field no matter what. These struggles are similar to those faced by many modern would-be missionaries. Aylward eventually reached China by traveling through a war zone with a one-way ticket and a rationed amount of food. She possessed little money and had no contacts. Without the support of a missionary organization, Aylward was without qualifications. With her rejection by the missionary society, Aylward’s dream seemed impossible. They rejected her and told her the Chinese language would be far too difficult for her to learn. The missionary society committee, however, found her unfit in terms of education and intellect. This meant going to China.Īylward’s mentors insisted she join a missionary society, enroll in their college, and be sent to the mission field under their care. Aylward didn’t want to merely do good works she longed for God’s will, which meant doing the specific work he called her to. ![]() Her labors among England’s poorest citizens proved good work indeed, yet the thought of lost souls in China tormented her, making her unable to shake the sense that God wanted her there. God accomplished the rest.Īylward’s life can teach us six things about gospel success:Īylward felt God wanted her to go to China, but many people urged her to continue gospel work at home instead. She simply set her face on Christ, then toward China. Aylward didn’t set out to become a well-known missionary. God uses the weak-not the strong-so that no flesh should glory in his presence (1 Cor. When our lives feel stagnant and ordinary, Aylward’s life can encourage us. According to her credentials, it was doubtful she would affect thousands with the gospel of Jesus Christ. This small woman looked unlikely to make much of a difference in the world. As an adult, Aylward stood less than 5 feet tall in her ragged clothes, and she had little formal education. ![]()
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