Gladys Aylward - a brief biography by Michelle Buckman

03/26/20 • 55 min

Gladys Aylward (24 February 1902 – 3 January 1970) was a British-born Christian missionary to China.
From her early teens, Gladys worked as a housemaid but following a calling to go overseas she tried to become a missionary. However, due to her lack of progress in learning Chinese she was not accepted by any mission.
On 15 October 1932, Aylward spent her life savings on a train passage to Yangcheng, Shanxi Province, China. The perilous trip took her across Siberia on the Trans-Siberian Railway. She was detained by the Russians, but managed to evade them with local help and a lift from a Japanese ship. She then travelled across Japan and took another ship to China.
On her arrival in China, Aylward worked with an older missionary, Jeannie Lawson, to found "The Inn of the Eight Happinesses". She and Mrs. Lawson not only provided hospitality for travellers, but would also share stories about Jesus. For a time she served as a "foot inspector", touring the countryside to enforce the new law against foot-binding young Chinese girls.
Gladys Aylward was a revered figure among the Chinese people, taking in orphans and adopting several herself, intervening in a volatile prison riot, risking her life many times to help those in need. In 1938, during the Japanese invasion she led more than 100 orphans to safety over the mountains, despite being wounded, personally caring for them all.
She did not return to Britain until 1949 and finally settled in Taiwan in 1958 where she worked until her death in 1970.
Recorded August 26, 2018

Previous Episode

George Whitefield - a brief biography by Michelle Buckman

George Whitefield (27 December 1714 – 30 September 1770), was an English Anglican cleric and evangelist who was one of the founders of Methodism and the evangelical movement.
Whitefield was ordained after receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree at Oxford and immediately began working as an itinerant preacher and evangelist. In 1740, Whitefield traveled to North America, where he preached a series of revivals that became part of the "Great Awakening".
Whitefield received widespread recognition during his ministry; he preached at least 18,000 times to perhaps 10 million listeners in Great Britain and the American colonies. He could enthrall large audiences and was the means of bringing many people to Christ.
Recorded June 23, 2019

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Keith Green - a brief biography by Michelle Buckman

Keith Green (1953 – 1982), a pianist, singer and songwriter is best known for his strong devotion to Christ and challenging others to the same. Several of his songs are very well known around the world, including "Oh Lord, You're Beautiful", "Asleep in the Light", "Your Love Broke Through", "You Put This Love in My Heart" and "There Is a Redeemer", the last of which was written by his wife Melody.
Along with eleven others, Keith Green died in a plane crash at the age of 29, having been a Christian only 7 years.
"A radical preacher. A former child television star. A confused spiritual seeker. A passionate prophet. A musical minstrel. And arguably one of the single most important artists in the history of contemporary Christian music. His music remains a staple for the spiritually aware and his power to influence since his tragic death only proves Keith Green's lasting charisma. Elvis has nothing on him." (Rick Chromey, a tribute on the Last Days Ministries website)
Recorded January 28, 2018