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Behind the Ranges: The Life Changing Story of J.O. Fraser
The stories of struggles and victories of missionary pioneers are exciting and interesting. "Behind the Ranges" is no exception. From James Fraser's days of youthful adventure in England to his glorious Home-going, among his beloved Lisu, this biography throbs with the pulsebeat of God. 26 Spirit-empowered chapters trace this godly missionary's life. This magnificent portrayal gives glimpses of his stirring call to missions, the challenge to selflessness, the guilding hand of God, and the change in heathn lives as a result of his ministry. Among the many incidents which add to the spiritual adventure are a pagan marriage festival among heathen Lisu tribespeople and a "revolution which made the cities of the Yangtze run with blood." But outstanding is the account of the remarkable answers to the prayers of the "Apostle to the Lisu." Referring to the later, W. H. Aldis writes, "The chapter, ' The Prayer of Faith,' is almost a classic commentary on intercessory prayer.
273 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1944
29 people are currently reading
228 people want to read
About the author
Geraldine Guinness Taylor
23 books9 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
(2)missionary biographies
Her books were also published under the names Mrs. Howard Taylor & M. Geraldine Guinness .
Born Mary Geraldine Guinness. She was a missionary in China and was married to F. Howard Taylor.
(2)missionary biographies
Her books were also published under the names Mrs. Howard Taylor & M. Geraldine Guinness .
Born Mary Geraldine Guinness. She was a missionary in China and was married to F. Howard Taylor.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 23, 2021
Without doubt one of the most stunning Christian books I’ve ever read.
I wept at its ending for the sheer joy of seeing a brother run the race so fully and excellently. If I could be but a 10th of such a man I will be beyond delighted.
It is not exaggeration to say the 700,000 lisu Christian’s today owe their faith to this one man’s faith, proclamation, and warrior like incessant prayer for the unreached. This book will bring you a fresh perspective on the utter necessity of prayer and drive you to your knees at the lukewarm platitudes of our own cheap prayer life.
I wept at its ending for the sheer joy of seeing a brother run the race so fully and excellently. If I could be but a 10th of such a man I will be beyond delighted.
It is not exaggeration to say the 700,000 lisu Christian’s today owe their faith to this one man’s faith, proclamation, and warrior like incessant prayer for the unreached. This book will bring you a fresh perspective on the utter necessity of prayer and drive you to your knees at the lukewarm platitudes of our own cheap prayer life.
August 9, 2025
Convicting and inspiring biography of J.O.Fraser, a missionary to the Lisu in China.
“Solid, lasting missionary work is done on our knees.”
“Solid, lasting missionary work is done on our knees.”
February 7, 2018
At first, I struggled to get through the older style and the overly detailed descriptions. Then suddenly, I was completely engrossed. All those details were painting a picture of complete misery and earthly defeat. There was no reason that Fraser shouldn’t have wallowed in self-pity, quit, and gone home. But Fraser wasn’t defeated. He learned and helps us see that God was victorious over all of that. His attitude is amazing, as is his total dedication to God.
His whole life is a wonderful encouragement to pray without ceasing. It just wasn’t his words, but also his actions that call us to a life a prayer. Through his journals and letters, we get a glimpse of the soul-racking prayer war he engaged in on behalf of all those around him. His focus though on all of this is on God and his answers. It’s so convicting and encouraging.
Unfortunately, the author suffered from partial blindness before she finished the book. It really only covers the first half of his ministry. The last few chapters give only the barest details of the last half.
Read it! It may be hard to start, but it will be worth it. It doesn’t have the speed or the conversational style favored by modern authors, but it has an amazing depth of spiritual insight. It will convict of sin and laziness, and inspire to greater heights of spiritual striving.
His whole life is a wonderful encouragement to pray without ceasing. It just wasn’t his words, but also his actions that call us to a life a prayer. Through his journals and letters, we get a glimpse of the soul-racking prayer war he engaged in on behalf of all those around him. His focus though on all of this is on God and his answers. It’s so convicting and encouraging.
Unfortunately, the author suffered from partial blindness before she finished the book. It really only covers the first half of his ministry. The last few chapters give only the barest details of the last half.
Read it! It may be hard to start, but it will be worth it. It doesn’t have the speed or the conversational style favored by modern authors, but it has an amazing depth of spiritual insight. It will convict of sin and laziness, and inspire to greater heights of spiritual striving.
February 25, 2025
Slow moving, and a little boring to be honest. But it was packed with helpful nuggets.
November 17, 2014
Truly inspiring to me! Fraser's life highlights God's strength through prayer in the midst of intense spiritual warfare in missions.
May 12, 2018
This book is a biography of James Fraser who first brought the gospel to the Lisu people group in southwest China. As a piece of literature, it is so-so, the writing is okay, but not great and the story is okay, but not riveting. As with many missionary biographies it’s a hagiography, if Mr. Fraser had any weaknesses or shortcomings, if he ever had a cross day in his life, you will not find that here. This part of the book is three star.
Where the book really shines is the parts in which the author either quotes from Mr. Fraser’s letters or summarizes their contents. These reveal a greatly-talented (he learns Chinese and Lisu very, very quickly), humble man who has a growing realization of the importance of intercessory prayer on gospel work such as he is doing. Indeed, chapter 12, which is kind of a summary of his understanding of the concept and value of intercessory prayer makes the whole book worth reading.
Mr. Fraser’s work and life were saturated with prayer, both by himself, and his prayer partners at home in England, led by his own mother. He asks them again and again for specific, focused prayer for parts of his ministry and this prayer has great effect as the Lisu begin to come to faith in family after family after family.
Here is Mr. Fraser in his own words:
“I am feeling more and more that it is, after all, just the prayers of God’s people that call down blessing upon the work, whether they are directly engaged in it or not. Paul may plant and Apollos water, but it is God who gives the increase; and this increase can be brought down from heaven by believing prayer, whether offered in China or in England.”
“Solid, lasting missionary work is done on our knees. What I covet more than anything else is earnest, believing prayer, and I write to ask you to continue to put up much prayer for me.”
Mr. Fraser was very specific in what he meant by prayer for his ministry by his prayer team in England. He was not satisfied with a mention or two as part of one’s daily prayers. He writes to his mother:
“What I want is not just an occasional mention of my work and its needs before the Lord during the morning or evening devotions, but a definite time (say half an hour or so?) set apart for the purpose every day, either during the day time or in the evening. Can you give that time to me—or rather to the Lord?”
Mr. Fraser wondered if men have their approach to gospel ministry all wrong. The author explains:
“How often Christian leaders make their own plans, work hard at them, and then earnestly ask God’s blessing on them. How much better, as Hudson Taylor felt, to wait on God to know His plans before commencing!... Much Christian work seems to have the stamp of the carnal upon it. It may be “good,” it may be successful outwardly—but the Shekinah Glory is not there.”
You get the picture. I wonder if we as followers of Christ are hardly scratching the surface with our prayers. We can learn a lot from Mr. Fraser’s life about the importance of organized, consistent, focused prayer.
Mr. Fraser passed away after a very short illness in China in the midst of his work. He had been there 30 years in ministry and the Lisu church is alive and vibrant to this very day.
Where the book really shines is the parts in which the author either quotes from Mr. Fraser’s letters or summarizes their contents. These reveal a greatly-talented (he learns Chinese and Lisu very, very quickly), humble man who has a growing realization of the importance of intercessory prayer on gospel work such as he is doing. Indeed, chapter 12, which is kind of a summary of his understanding of the concept and value of intercessory prayer makes the whole book worth reading.
Mr. Fraser’s work and life were saturated with prayer, both by himself, and his prayer partners at home in England, led by his own mother. He asks them again and again for specific, focused prayer for parts of his ministry and this prayer has great effect as the Lisu begin to come to faith in family after family after family.
Here is Mr. Fraser in his own words:
“I am feeling more and more that it is, after all, just the prayers of God’s people that call down blessing upon the work, whether they are directly engaged in it or not. Paul may plant and Apollos water, but it is God who gives the increase; and this increase can be brought down from heaven by believing prayer, whether offered in China or in England.”
“Solid, lasting missionary work is done on our knees. What I covet more than anything else is earnest, believing prayer, and I write to ask you to continue to put up much prayer for me.”
Mr. Fraser was very specific in what he meant by prayer for his ministry by his prayer team in England. He was not satisfied with a mention or two as part of one’s daily prayers. He writes to his mother:
“What I want is not just an occasional mention of my work and its needs before the Lord during the morning or evening devotions, but a definite time (say half an hour or so?) set apart for the purpose every day, either during the day time or in the evening. Can you give that time to me—or rather to the Lord?”
Mr. Fraser wondered if men have their approach to gospel ministry all wrong. The author explains:
“How often Christian leaders make their own plans, work hard at them, and then earnestly ask God’s blessing on them. How much better, as Hudson Taylor felt, to wait on God to know His plans before commencing!... Much Christian work seems to have the stamp of the carnal upon it. It may be “good,” it may be successful outwardly—but the Shekinah Glory is not there.”
You get the picture. I wonder if we as followers of Christ are hardly scratching the surface with our prayers. We can learn a lot from Mr. Fraser’s life about the importance of organized, consistent, focused prayer.
Mr. Fraser passed away after a very short illness in China in the midst of his work. He had been there 30 years in ministry and the Lisu church is alive and vibrant to this very day.
January 13, 2021
The first time I heard the expression “the prayer of faith” was in this book. (This review contains spoilers from the biography, so be advised.)
...
Fraser was a missionary to the Lisu people in the mountains of southwestern China. He translated the New Testament and witnessed to the Lisu. For years, Fraser prayed and witnessed and prayed and witnessed. Occasionally, he would get a convert, only for the convert to fall back into demonism as soon as he returned to his family.
What could be done to prevent converts from being tempted back into witchcraft by their unbelieving families? Fraser realized he needed whole families to come to Christ. He began praying for the conversion of hundreds of Lisu families.
One day, he prayed the prayer of faith. He thanked God for the hundreds of families and quit praying because he knew God had answered. But it would take time for the answer to be fulfilled, so Fraser wrote to the general director of his mission society, offering his service to another tribe in China until the time of harvest arrived for the Lisu.
Fraser decided to make one last trip through the mountains to visit each of the Lisu villages on his way out of the region. Almost as soon as they set out, the bearer who carried his luggage asked to become a Christian. When they reached the first village, all six families there were Christians. The next village they came to, a community of fifteen families, was also completely Christian when they arrived. It went on and on like that—hundreds of families, all Christians already. James Fraser had his harvest!
When the Iron Curtain went down on China in 1949, and all missionaries had to leave, there were twenty thousand Lisu Christians there, still poverty-stricken, living in the mountains, with their own language.
In 1965, I went to hear Fraser’s successor, John Kuhn, speak in Washington, D.C. He could not get into China, so he went to Burma to meet with the tribal people. There were seventy-five thousand Lisu Christians in Burma. When China opened to foreigners again, two hundred thousand Lisu Christians were discovered there.
This affected me greatly. At the time, I was managing a Christian bookstore outside the main gate of the Naval Academy in Annapolis. An excerpt from this biography, called The Prayer of Faith, had been printed as a separate booklet. I read that booklet, and I took its lessons to heart by praying for the salvation of hundreds of midshipmen at the Academy. The same thing happened. I saw more than one hundred midshipmen get saved while I was there. They came to Christ from every class. When I visited several decades later, the work was ten times as big as it had been when I was there. It was a prayer of faith.
I encourage you to read this book and take its lessons to heart for yourself.
...
Fraser was a missionary to the Lisu people in the mountains of southwestern China. He translated the New Testament and witnessed to the Lisu. For years, Fraser prayed and witnessed and prayed and witnessed. Occasionally, he would get a convert, only for the convert to fall back into demonism as soon as he returned to his family.
What could be done to prevent converts from being tempted back into witchcraft by their unbelieving families? Fraser realized he needed whole families to come to Christ. He began praying for the conversion of hundreds of Lisu families.
One day, he prayed the prayer of faith. He thanked God for the hundreds of families and quit praying because he knew God had answered. But it would take time for the answer to be fulfilled, so Fraser wrote to the general director of his mission society, offering his service to another tribe in China until the time of harvest arrived for the Lisu.
Fraser decided to make one last trip through the mountains to visit each of the Lisu villages on his way out of the region. Almost as soon as they set out, the bearer who carried his luggage asked to become a Christian. When they reached the first village, all six families there were Christians. The next village they came to, a community of fifteen families, was also completely Christian when they arrived. It went on and on like that—hundreds of families, all Christians already. James Fraser had his harvest!
When the Iron Curtain went down on China in 1949, and all missionaries had to leave, there were twenty thousand Lisu Christians there, still poverty-stricken, living in the mountains, with their own language.
In 1965, I went to hear Fraser’s successor, John Kuhn, speak in Washington, D.C. He could not get into China, so he went to Burma to meet with the tribal people. There were seventy-five thousand Lisu Christians in Burma. When China opened to foreigners again, two hundred thousand Lisu Christians were discovered there.
This affected me greatly. At the time, I was managing a Christian bookstore outside the main gate of the Naval Academy in Annapolis. An excerpt from this biography, called The Prayer of Faith, had been printed as a separate booklet. I read that booklet, and I took its lessons to heart by praying for the salvation of hundreds of midshipmen at the Academy. The same thing happened. I saw more than one hundred midshipmen get saved while I was there. They came to Christ from every class. When I visited several decades later, the work was ten times as big as it had been when I was there. It was a prayer of faith.
I encourage you to read this book and take its lessons to heart for yourself.
May 29, 2023
Wow!!! This book is so convicting about our shallow Christian life in the USA where we live in a land of plenty, with numerous Bibles and churches available to us, and have numerous Bible preachers and teachers. James Fraser, a highly talented musician and qualified engineer, put aside his career opportunities and with China Inland Mission went to a land of extreme poverty where there was no Bible or church or preacher or teacher, where people had never heard of the gospel, and were deeply oppressed by demon worship. He lived with the Chinese, he looked like the Chinese, he ate their food, he learned their language, and he preached to them. But most of all, he prayed for them, and encouraged a group at home in England to engage in intercessory prayer for him and the Lisu people. The results didn't come on his timetable, but they did come, and thousands made decisions for Christ.
Fraser died early at 52, but left behind an incredible self-sacrificial legacy of Christians in China and Burma.
I highly recommend this book.
Fraser died early at 52, but left behind an incredible self-sacrificial legacy of Christians in China and Burma.
I highly recommend this book.
March 3, 2024
I am beyond thrilled that I stuck with this! I found the first 15 pages or so a challenging read. Let me just say that I have a deeper understanding and greater apppreciation for the life of sacrifice chosen by a true missionary who lives only for God's glory. J. O. Fraser is like aore modern version of Paul from the Bible.
This biography is full of letters to his beloved mother and prayer circle. I caught his passion for the Lisu people. I am challenged to a richer prayer life; one of true communion with my Savior. I am realizing that my life is not my own. My life surrendered to God completely can have a profound impact for His Kingdom. Oh, to live like this...
.
This biography is full of letters to his beloved mother and prayer circle. I caught his passion for the Lisu people. I am challenged to a richer prayer life; one of true communion with my Savior. I am realizing that my life is not my own. My life surrendered to God completely can have a profound impact for His Kingdom. Oh, to live like this...
.
December 1, 2021
A call to prayer and demonstration of its power
This book is worth reading and reading in its motivational power to prayer and evangelism. The dedication demonsttated by Frasier is ample proof of what God can do through his Spirit and prayer in the life of a willing servant.
This book is worth reading and reading in its motivational power to prayer and evangelism. The dedication demonsttated by Frasier is ample proof of what God can do through his Spirit and prayer in the life of a willing servant.
August 30, 2017
A wonderful missionary biography with some great lessons on prayer.
August 7, 2019
A great read about a man committed to Christ and whose life of prayer and sacrifice brought a people group to Jesus.
April 9, 2023
Read many years ago, still remember it.
August 26, 2024
Not a favorite missionary biography; found the story mostly uninteresting. Was probably the author's telling of Fraser's life in a dull manor.
May 22, 2025
I was really blessed by the story of J.O.Fraser’s life. He laid down his life for the gospel and lived a life of prayer- trusting that it was the Spirit of God who changes hearts. What a legacy.
Want to read
August 15, 2025A praying life
October 26, 2015
The book is written in simple words, but the words are arranged in such way that it may take the reader several times to read it. Its an amazing book, and it is very touching. Mrs. Howard Taylor shows very well how important prayer was to James Fraser and how much God helped him because he put all his trust in him. The book includes some old black and white pictures, which were taking back in the time that Fraser lived in. It makes the book sound more real than it already is, because the reader can clearly imagine how it was when Fraser lived in China.
James Fraser wrote a diary and there’s several sections where his personal diary entries are put in.
Mrs. Howard Taylor did a very good job repeating motives over and over again, and subconsciously the reader really starts thinking about them. She goes into very tiny details when she writes about Frasers prayer life. She tells about specific moments where his prayers were answered very clearly and how that motivated him every time to keep going and to trust in the Lord.
James Fraser wrote a diary and there’s several sections where his personal diary entries are put in.
Mrs. Howard Taylor did a very good job repeating motives over and over again, and subconsciously the reader really starts thinking about them. She goes into very tiny details when she writes about Frasers prayer life. She tells about specific moments where his prayers were answered very clearly and how that motivated him every time to keep going and to trust in the Lord.
May 14, 2009
In this magnificent spiritual biography, the chapter that has helped me the most in my personal life was "Powers of Darkness."
Just before the breaking of the brilliant dawn of salvation among the Lisu people, James Fraser underwent tremendous doubts, and a depression so deep that "No one imagined that in his extremity he was even tempted, and that persistently, to end it all."
Then it tells of how Fraser overcame that depression: "...deliverance from the power of the evil one comes through definite resistance on the ground of the cross." "Now in the Lisu mountains, he responded again to the liberating power of the same cross. 'They overcame him [the great enemy:] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.'"
"Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come." I feel personally that I am alive today because I learned J.O. Fraser's lesson of how to claim the power of the blood of Jesus Christ and the finished work of the Cross over my life.
Just before the breaking of the brilliant dawn of salvation among the Lisu people, James Fraser underwent tremendous doubts, and a depression so deep that "No one imagined that in his extremity he was even tempted, and that persistently, to end it all."
Then it tells of how Fraser overcame that depression: "...deliverance from the power of the evil one comes through definite resistance on the ground of the cross." "Now in the Lisu mountains, he responded again to the liberating power of the same cross. 'They overcame him [the great enemy:] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.'"
"Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come." I feel personally that I am alive today because I learned J.O. Fraser's lesson of how to claim the power of the blood of Jesus Christ and the finished work of the Cross over my life.
October 31, 2020
What came first to mind as I completed reading this biography of James Fraser was that he seemed both incredibly inspiring as well as tremendously unintimidating. What I mean is that though Fraser was both highly motivated and sacrificing in his pursuit of God and His purposes, he was also very kind-hearted and relational in how he pursued those purposes. But it was his revelation regarding the supreme importance of prayer that I found most inspiring and instructive. I’ve already begun pursuing some of Fraser’s approaches to prayer, and I hope that the encouragement of this story touches my prayer life in many more ways.
March 14, 2011
Had always wanted to read this classic missionary biography. It didn't disappoint. Fraser was an amazing man, and had huge insights into prayer and missionary work. I loved his energy, Biblical focus, and (as previously mentioned) commitment to prayer. Favorite quote: "I used to think that prayer should have the first place and teaching the second. I now feel that it would be truer to give prayer the first, second and third place, and teaching the fourth." Highly recommended!
February 5, 2015
Fraser was a pioneer missionary among the Lisu people at the China-Burma border in the early twentieth century. The author did a good job of relating various aspects of missionary life. The narrative was a little slow at times but that reflects some of the mundane and unromantic realities of plodding mission work.
Such books can be profitable for all to read but pastors in particular should read them.
Such books can be profitable for all to read but pastors in particular should read them.
March 5, 2023
Anything by Mrs. Howard Taylor is golden. This book is no exception. Not only is it a great biography of the Lord’s work among the Lisu in China, it is a wonderful encouragement on the primacy of intercessory prayer in the Lord’s work.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews