Women On The Frontlines: A Call To Compassionনমুনা

Gladys Aylward: Rejected by Man, Approved by God

Gladys Aylward endured many harrowing trials while journeying to China, the land where her heart longed to be, so she could lavish hungry souls with the love of Jesus. She finally arrived in China in 1932.

In 1936, Gladys Aylward became the first foreign missionary to become a Chinese citizen. Later, during Japan’s invasion of China, Gladys was interviewed by an American freelance journalist named Theodore White in 1940 or 1941. Her compelling story was published in Time magazine and was read by millions of people, which unfortunately included the Japanese army. This ended up endangering her life and the lives of those under her care, as the Japanese put her on their wanted list—offering a reward for her, dead or alive.

Once word got out about the reward for turning her in, Gladys found herself needing to find shelter for 200 children currently in her care. Half of them were safely taken by a fellow convert, but the other 100 children she had to personally guide to safety. The travelers slept in Buddhist temple courtyards, in the open air, in small homes, wherever they could find shelter. They trekked over mountains with bruised and cut feet, the younger children in great despair, crying for lack of food and afraid. The older girls, whose feet had been bound previously, had great difficulty because of weakness and abnormal bone formation. Finding enough food to feed one hundred children every day was more than just a challenge and Gladys herself was dealing with a strange tiredness—a result of the rifle blow to her head. But she refused to give up and instead kept going.

By the end of it all, Gladys was found to be suffering from fever, pneumonia, typhoid, and malnutrition. However, she still delivered every child to safety; not one of them had died or become seriously ill.

In our life and faith, may we be as courageous as Gladys Aylward, never fearing obstacles but trusting in God to find our way through.

Father, I pray that I would be so in love with You that no obstacle would keep me from doing all I can do for Your name’s sake. May man’s opinion not sway or affect my focus and determination to do all You have deposited in my heart.