Missionary Stories

William Borden (1887 – 1913)

Any life lived wholly for Jesus is a life with “no regrets.” Will it cost something? Yes, but the earthly cost fails to compare with the eternal rewards. William Borden was a young man who understood this truth and lived it out.

Though born into the wealthy “Borden Milk” family, William soon discerned that only heavenly riches are lasting and sought to use his resources to advance God’s Kingdom. While taking a trip around the world at age seventeen, William grew burdened by the spiritual darkness and needs he saw in other lands. He determined to prepare for service on a foreign field.

Darlene Deibler Rose (1917-2004)

“Lassie, whatever you do, be a good soldier for Jesus Christ.” Dr. Jaffray’s last words to Darlene Deibler filled her mind as she approached the door of her cell. She was on death row, imprisoned to face a trial and death sentence by the Imperial Japanese Army.

Many years earlier at a missionary convention, ten-year old Darlene heard God’s call to a life of total commitment. She responded whole-heartedly, “Lord, I’d go anywhere for you, no matter what it cost!”

As a young bride of twenty-one, Darlene and her husband, Russell Deibler, began missionary work in the interior of New Guinea. Taking great care to learn the language and culture of the people, the Deiblers were consumed with a desire to reach them for Christ. Working closely with other missionaries, including Dr. Robert Jaffray, they looked forward to the day they could leave believers behind to comfort and encourage one another.

James O. Frasier served with China Inland Mission from 1910 until his death in 1938.

Turning his back on a promising engineering career, 22 year old James O. Frasier went to the mountains of China to reach the Lisu tribespeople of Yunnan Province with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Intense opposition confronted him. Not afraid of primitive living, James was an adventuresome person who loved mountaineering. But the thought of working alone to start a church that could stand against such a powerful form of spirit worship was daunting. Though all God’s hosts stood with him, James realized that “he would be a missionary simpleton who expected plain sailing in any work of God.”

This church in Madanapalle, India, was built 100 years ago by Jacob Chamberlain.

With a weary sigh, Jacob Chamberlain stretched out on the floor of his bamboo hut. A long walk through the Indian jungle to reach the little village had left him tired and footsore. He opened his New Testament and commenced reading. As he let the Book slide through his fingers, Dr. Chamberlain suddenly became aware of a pair of beady eyes and a forked tongue a few feet above his face. A ten-foot snake was coiled in the rafters, descending towards the resting missionary. Bounding to the doorway, Dr. Chamberlain seized an iron spit, speared the snake to the rafter, and beat its head furiously with a bamboo cane!

Gladys Alyward
(1902-1970)
served 17 rigorous years in China without a furlough.

The silver planes that zoomed overhead sent the children scattering in all directions, falling face down and hiding behind rocks, under trees, and in tall grass. Gladys Alyward waited to see if the Japanese would return, and when she was certain the planes were gone, she called the children together again. On they journeyed, footsore, hungry, and fatigued, hoping they would soon reach their destination.

How did this petite British woman come to be mother of a hundred Chinese
children, trekking across the mountains of northern China?

For the Balangao people in the mountains of the Philippines, the spirits were in control of every aspect of life. Their lives were centered around satisfying the spirits’ demands, even if it meant great personal sacrifice. Yet still, their children and wives died in childbirth, they became sick, and their crops failed. The Balangaos were in bondage to the god of this world, whose desire is to kill and destroy.

God had given Joanne Shetler the desire to translate His Word for an unreached people. After arriving among the Balangaos and learning their language, she began to see the reality of spiritual warfare.

“Oh, Tsong-ma, aren’t you going to sacrifice to the demons? Toong is our only child; we cannot lose him!” The young mother wept as she saw her son’s little body racked with pain.

“No!” Tsong-ma replied. “What good can it do? Others have tried, and their children still died. There must be something else…” Tsong-ma sat in his hut, high on the mountains of Northern Thailand. All his Hmong village had ever known was a life of bondage,oppression, appeasing demons, darkness, and fear.

“I have heard some Hmong in China are learning a new way. I wish I remembered that Name they prayed to! Oh, I must recall it!” Tsong-ma sat in deep thought, the light of the fire showing the intensity on his dark face. Suddenly, with a voice filled with hope, he cried, “I remember! That Name—it is JESUS! Oh, Jesus, please heal my son! Oh Jesus, I don’t know how to pray to You, but please heal my son! Jesus!”

Sometimes in life we find ourselves in the midst of a series of events perceived as misfortunes. Often, however, God intends for these times, when it seems everything goes wrong, to bring us closer to Him.

Such was the case for Rosalind Goforth in the summer of 1900. She and her husband, Jonathan, had been ministering to the Chinese people since 1888, when the first of the “hurricane of horrors” struck. After previously losing three precious babies, seven-year-old Florence went to be safe in the arms of Jesus. While the presence of God was there to sustain, the pain was still very real. Only a few months following, the Goforth family was forced to flee China because of the Boxer Rebellion. Picture this missionary family hurrying to gather what little they could take with them, find passage on a crowded steamer, and keep track of five young children—and you might see the hardships of this time in their lives.

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