Gladys Aylward
A few decades after Hudson Taylor, another Christian missionary was inspired to go to China, Gladys May Aylward.
During her teens, Gladys worked as a maid in England. She always wondered why she was short, with black hair and black eyes, while everyone she worked for seemed to have blonde hair and blue eyes. After years of prayer, she felt her unique appearance was a call to go to Asia as a missionary. She said, “Oh God, here’s my Bible, Here’s my money. Here’s me. Use me, God.”
Aylward spent her life savings to travel east on the Trans-Siberian Railway. Along the way, she was arrested by Russians, escaped with the help of local Siberians, hitched a ride on a Japanese ship, and ended up in a remote area of China.
In China, Aylward was taken-in by an older missionary named Jeannie Lawson. Together, they established “The Inn of the Eight Happinesses.” The women not only operated a hotel for travelers, but they shared stories about Jesus based on the “Eight Happinesses” — Love, Truth, Beauty, Gentleness, Tolerance, Loyalty, Devotion, and Virtue.
For a time, Aylward also served the Chinese government as a “foot inspector” by touring the countryside to help enforce new laws against the “footbinding” of young girls. Footbinding was the ancient custom of putting tight wrappings on the feet to change their size and shape over a number of years. According to most historians, the custom dates back to 10th century, when bound feet were considered a status symbol and sign of beauty in China.
In later centuries, it was more of a control thing — making women less mobile, and thus, less independent. It was a painful practice that often caused lifelong disabilities. Rural Chinese were prone to resist foot inspectors, even to the point of violence. But Gladys was very successful in relating to these traditional families, sharing stories of Jesus whenever she could.
In 1936, Gladys Aylward became a Chinese citizen herself. She was highly respected among the people — taking-in orphans, fighting for prison reform, and risking her life on many occasions to help those in need. In 1938, Japanese forces invaded her village. Despite being wounded, Gladys led more than 100 orphans to safety over a series of treacherous mountains.
In 1949, Communism rose to power in China. The Communist Revolution was violent and oppressive. Aylward was forced to return to Britain, since Communist forces were ordered to seek out and kill all Christian missionaries. By 1953, nearly all “public” Christians were driven from the land, and the church went totally underground.
In 1957, Aylward tried to return to Mainland China, but she was denied. She traveled here to serve in British administered Hong Kong instead. Finally, she made her way to Taiwan, where she opened the Gladys Aylward Orphanage, and worked until her death in 1970.
Later in her life, Gladys Aylward said: “I wasn’t God’s first choice for what I’ve done in China…I don’t know who it was…it must have been a man…a well-educated man. I don’t know what happened. Perhaps he died. Perhaps he wasn’t willing…and God looked down…and saw Gladys Aylward…and God said, ‘Well, she’s willing.’”
Gladys Aylward
Randall acts as the lead writer for ColdWater’s Drive Thru History® TV series and Drive Thru History® “Adventures” curriculum.
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