A Life For China by Carol Purves

Gladys Aylward's biography is a fascinating look at how God can use an ordinary person dedicated to Him to impact the world. Gladys Aylward went from being a parlourmaid to being invited to dine with royalty and being honoured around the world.

It all began when she was caught in a crowd going to church. With her petite frame, she could not push her way through the people and found herself swept into a church service. She sat at the back and was too shy to get up and leave. There, she heard the Gospel and gave her life to the Lord Jesus.

Before long, she became concerned about the millions of people in China who had never heard the Gospel. She went to all the people she thought were important and talented and tried to persuade them to go to China as missionaries. They all turned her down. Finally, she approached her brother and tried to persuade him of the great need in China. He wasn’t interested, but in typical brother style, he flung the challenge to her that would launch one of the greatest missionaries of all time: “Why don’t you go yourself.”

Once Gladys Aylward was determined to do something, she put her whole heart into it. She applied to Hudson Taylor’s China Inland Mission but was dismissed after one semester. She couldn’t grasp the theological concepts, and they didn’t feel that she was able to learn Chinese. If no one would send her, she would send herself! She worked hard and saved to be able to afford a train ticket to China.

From then on, her life was an adventure. The Chinese people considered her a foreign devil, but over time, she earned the title of the Virtuous One. She travelled through war zones, quelled a violent prison riot, spied against the Japanese in World War II and, as the only adult, led 100 children over mountain passes to safety. Many times, her life was in danger, yet God protected her.

The Academy Award-winning movie The Inn Of The Sixth Happiness was based on her life. Gladys Aylward did not like the film, though, because, in Hollywood fashion, it introduced a love interest who wasn’t there in real life.

Carol Purves does an excellent job of presenting this thrilling true story.

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