By Michelle Adserias
Amy Carmichael was born in 1867 and raised in Ireland by a wealthy family. Her father owned a thriving flour mill. He was able to send her to the best boarding schools and buy her beautiful things.
Then, something unexpected happened. Her father’s mill began losing money and, eventually, shut down. Mr. Carmichael was so overwhelmed by his business and financial concerns, he became ill and died.
Her family no longer had money to spare for private education or luxury items. Amy was forced to drop out of school to help her mother raise her younger siblings.
Amy had a life-altering encounter with God one day after church. Moved my compassion, she had stopped to help a beggar whose feet were wrapped in rags. But she was concerned her friends would see her with the old woman, so she hid her face as best she could.
Until she saw a fountain and stopped to study it. While she watched the water flow, she heard a voice say, “Gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay and straw – the fire will test what sort of work each has done. If the foundation survives, he will receive the reward.” She looked to see who was speaking but no one was there.
The moment forced her to realize her actions looked kind but her heart was in the wrong place. That evening, she promised God she would try to do only what pleased Him in the future.
Carmichael’s Ministry
Amy began ministering to people near her. The Shawlies were area residents who made so little money they couldn’t afford hats. They covered their heads with their shawls on cold days to stay warm. She wanted so desperately to help and encourage her neighbors, she moved into their neighborhood and slept in bug-infested beds. Then she prayed God would provide a church in their neighborhood – and He did! As much as she loved the Shawlies, she knew God wanted her to minister to people overseas, and she must obey Him.
Photo from Wikipedia Commons
After spending fifteen months in Japan and a brief time in Sri Lanka, Amy went to Bangalore, India. Poor health had been plaguing her for several years so this initially a place to rest and recover from illness. However, Amy decided to stay. She founded the Dohnavur Fellowship in 1901. Members respected Indian culture by dressing as any woman from India would dress.
The core of their ministry was rescuing children from prostitution. Unwanted girls were often left at Hindu temples to serve as prostitutes. Amy and her fellow workers rescued children and essentially adopted them. Again, out of respect for their culture and heritage, they were always given Indian names. In 1912, the Dohnavur Fellowship built a hospital with funds they’d received from generous donors. It served 130 girls. A few years later, they opened a home for young boys, many of whom were born to temple prostitutes.
Whan a young lady who was interested in missions wrote and asked, “What is missionary life like?” Carmichael wrote back, “Missionary life is simply a chance to die.”
Amy Carmichael died in India in 1951.
“When I consider the cross of Christ, how can anything I do be called sacrifice?”
