Mary Mitchell Slessor

Women are frowned upon by the evangelical world when they are known to preach. Stemming from a portion of a letter by Paul to Timothy forbidding women not to teach, to which I agree to wholeheartedly, women do have their place in the Lord's vineyard, and that the pulpit is not one of them. But I believe to a certain point this must be taken into context, that, for one, if there is a man present who is able to preach, then the woman must keep silent. Two, if there IS NO man available and the woman IS ordained by God (not by man) for a special errand in His ministry for missions, no man has the right to hinder her. Surely God will not reprimand the soul who seeks God's glory with a pure heart. God operates as He wills, and uses whoever He wills.

 

Amy Carmichael is one such woman that comes to mind. She single-handedly confronted India's problem of young girls being offered by their families to be temple prostitutes, and was used mightily by God to stop what the Indian government cannot. 

 

Marj Saint and Elisabeth Elliot also come to mind. They are the wives of murdered missionaries Nate Saint and Jim Elliot, whose missionary journey to the unreached Waodani tribe in Ecuador cost them their lives upon early contact. Instead of withdrawing in misery, these courageous women instead continued the work of their husbands and labored among the tribe for years until they were converted to the LORD. They labored to bring the people who killed their husbands to Christ. The story of their husbands' deaths is told in Elisabeth Elliot’s book Through Gates of Splendor, and in the film End of the Spear. 

 

Helen Keller is also another woman, born deaf and blind, but was patiently educated by another iron-willed woman, Anne Sullivan, who herself was diseased and impaired in her eyes. Helen was empowered by God with wisdom that surpasses most men.  

 

Mary Slessor is a welcome addition to my affirmed list of extraordinary women used by God. Before Mary went deep into dangerous Nigerian territory, she held street meetings. One outstanding event was when she stood up unflinching against a bully who mocked her.

I can safely assume, being that God is Sovereign, how many women have selflessly offered their lives for the Kingdom's cause dying unknown in foreign lands. It is therefore my pleasure to share the following letter that I received in my email, and how I was more than blessed to hear of God's tremendous work for His kingdom, and as such, the woman He employed in His service.

"Lord, the task is impossible for me, but not for Thee.
Lead the way and I will follow."
~Mary Slessor

The bold Scottish missionary Mary Slessor went deeper into the Nigerian jungle than any other, bringing with her medicine, education, and the life-changing message of the Gospel. When a young mother arrived on her doorstep in the dead of night with newborn twins, Mary boldly stepped into the dangers of the Nigerian jungle and stood up against a witch doctor to save hundreds of newborn babies and bring the good news of a loving God to a people who had never heard the name Jesus. The Okoyong people were violent. 

 

They had murdered every missionary that had tried to reach them before, and it was a tribal custom that any accused person in a dispute would be presented with poisoned oil. If the person had lied, they would die, or so the tribe thought—but the oil was simply poisonous, and killed all who drank it. Steeped in their pagan culture, the Okoyong also practiced infanticide. Twin babies were considered evil, a sign of a curse. 

 

These children were left to die in clay pots in the forest, while their mother was sentenced to death. The deaths of innocent babies and mothers compelled Mary to help the Okoyong people turn aside from their evil ways. She approached this violent tribe, trusting that God would protect her. And He did! Mary was the first missionary to be accepted into their tribe. She rescued hundreds of infants, and adopted every child she found who was left alone. Mary rescued so many children that she opened an orphan home where she cared for them, and became well-known among tribal members and other area tribes for her love and care for all orphans. 

 

Mary helped more than orphans, she was also a healer. She brought medicine to heal the sick, and won the trust and admiration of the Okoyong people as being kind and compassionate. She didn't only heal their physical bodies, though, she brought spiritual healing. Where there were pagan rituals, Mary brought the truth of the Scriptures; where there were curses cast over people, Mary proclaimed the Word of God. 

 

The Okoyong were delivered from the darkness of death and unbelief through the power of the Gospel. Mary was, above all things, brave. She was known to wrestle guns from the hands of drunken natives who were twice her size. She became a judge, and would help handle disputes among warring tribes. From the beginning of her journey into the jungle, to the work she accomplished as a mediator, healer, and teacher, Mary Slessor was an astounding woman—a hero of the faith. 

 “If you are ever inclined to pray for a missionary, 

do it at once, wherever you are.” 

Mary Slessor 

Mary Slessor stepped into the darkness of the jungle to bring the truth of the Gospel to a people that didn't know God. She stood against evil with love. She healed the sick, cared deeply for people who were not like her, rescued the least of these, and became known for her love of others. 

As children of God, we are bearers of light and truth. If we love our neighbors, those who look like us, and those who don't, and show kindness to those who we don't see as deserving, we too can become known as a people of love. God is sure to do amazing things through us, and perhaps even use us to save people who don't know Him. 

 

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There is often a price to pay for those who will walk the path of Christ. His call to come to the cross is an invitation to die, figuratively and literally. And though his path may often end in death, but it is one that always opens to that fountain of life without regret. May the LORD grant that we remain standing in Him till the end. 

 

Service. Or Sacrifice. May we be ready for either.